Woods shuts down Central Methodist in second game as C-SC baseball team splits doubleheader

CANTON, Mo. — After giving up two runs on three hits in the first inning, Clayton Woods limited Central Methodist to one run thereafter in a 4-3 victory for Culver-Stockton College in the second game of a Heart of America Athletic Conference baseball doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Nichols Field.

The victory snapped a five-game losing streak for the Wildcats (7-11, 1-5 Heart), who lost four games to MidAmerica Nazarene last weekend and lost Saturday’s opener 5-2.

Woods entered Saturday’s game with an earned run average of more than 12, but he allowed just three hits after a rocky first inning. The Eagles threatened to tie the score in the seventh when leadoff hitter Gavin Whitehurst reached on an error by C-SC third baseman Kannon Kirk. However, Woods retired the last three batters himself — one on a sacrifice bunt and the others on comebackers to the mound.

C-SC had only six hits in the second game, and all of them came in a four-run third inning. 

Dallas Slayton singled and advanced to third on a throwing error, then moved to third on a flyout. Tristan Meny’s opposite field single to left scored Slayton.

After Kirk popped up for the second out, Jordan Scott singled to center to put runners on the corner. Bryan Barretto then singled to left to score Meny. Harry Oden singled to center to score Scott, and Ryan Osso singled in pinch-runner Eli Friend.

The Eagles led 3-0 after 2½ innings of the nightcap, but C-SC cut the deficit to 3-2 when Kirk tripled to left-center to drive in two runs with two outs.  Central Methodist added two runs in the top of the seventh. The Wildcats brought the tying run to the plate in the seventh inning but Kirk flew out to center.

C-SC’s Davin Meyer dropped to 0-3 this season, allowing three earned runs while striking out seven. Slayton was the only Wildcat with two hits in the opener.

The two teams will meet again at 1 p.m. Sunday for another doubleheader.