#MustangsWin! Strong Offense Helps CBC Advance In AMC Tournament!

Erik Holth, CBC Sports Information Director

            Ozark, Mo. – Opening play in the American Midwest Conference tournament this afternoon, Central Baptist College baseball took on Mission today at the Ozark Mountain Sports Complex. CBC (32-18) pounded out 16 hits in an 11-3 win over MU (29-22) to advance in the winner's bracket of the AMC Tournament.

            Aaron Prince started the scoring for CBC in the second inning when he doubled home Jaxon Kirkhuff to make it 1-0 Mustangs. Mission took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third before CBC responded and retook the lead, 3-2, in the fourth on a single by Garrett Fitts that scored Prince and a double by Preston White that scored Josh Lumsden. A sacrifice fly by Fitts in the sixth made it 4-2 and a passed ball in the seventh that scored George Astacio gave CBC a 5-2 lead. A sac fly by Mission made the score 5-3 before a single by Braydon Mayencourt and an error gave CBC a 7-3 lead in the eighth. An hour-and-a-half weather delay followed, but it had no effect on the Mustang bats as CBC put up four runs in the ninth on Kirkhuff's first home run of the season, a single by Lumsden that scored Cesar Franco, Fitts' third RBI on a single that scored Prince and a wild pitch that brought home White. Dylan Parton picked up his 10^th win of the season, and the record-breaking 20^th of his career, throwing eight innings and scattering 11 hits and three runs while striking out six. Jamin Smith pitched a perfect ninth, striking out two.

            The Mustangs will play in the AMC semifinals for the third year in a row when they face Williams Baptist. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.