WEEK 9: BIG SERIES OF THE WEEK

The NAIA BALL Big Series Of The Week heads to the state of Missouri for a Top 15 showdown in the Heart Of America Conference between No. 6 Central Methodist (25-4) and No. 15 Mid-America Nazarene (22-7). These two programs have represented their conference extremely well in recent years, with Central Methodist finishing as the national-runner up in 2021 and MNU having reached the World Series in back-to-back seasons. Coming into the matchup this season, both teams are playing their best ball with the Eagles entering on a 15 game win streak, while the Pioneers enter with an 11 game win streak of their own. Bragging rights won’t be the only thing on the line this weekend, as the winner of this four game series will firmly put themselves in the driver’s seat for a Heart Conference Regular Season title. 

History

Mid-America Nazarene currently leads the series 32-25, with the last matchup coming last season in the Heart Conference Tournament that resulted in a 9-8 Pioneer victory that eliminated CMU from the tournament. These two powerhouse programs have been going at it since 2007, and will renew this very intense matchup again this weekend as CMU looks to cut into the overall series record. 

Schedule

All times local

Friday, March 29th 1pm & 4pm

Saturday, March 30th 1 & 4pm 

The Teams

Mid-America Nazarene enters the series red hot having won their last 15 games. You can’t talk MNU Baseball without first bringing up the name Zach Trevino. Now in his senior season, the right-hander from Santa Clarita, California has cemented his name in the Pioneer record books already, holding the record for all-time wins and strikeouts and is continuing to add to those totals. Trevino has been stellar once again in 2024, and enters with a 7-0 record and a 2.83 ERA along with 52 strikeouts in 54 innings of work, and will look to be the key piece again as MNU looks to secure a huge series victory. On the offensive side of things, we start with another Pioneer record-holder in SS Brycen Sherwood. Also a senior, Sherwood currently holds the program record for hits, doubles, runs scored, on base percentage, walks, and hit by pitches and enters the series hitting at a .427 clip. Two-way man Noah Castillo, who has emerged as a very good Game 3 starter, also does damage at the plate as he leads the team with 8 home runs and 49 RBI along with a .382 average. MNU will need a big weekend from their captains in order to secure this series. 

Central Methodist is also playing its best baseball coming into the pivotal series contest, as they enter with a 11 game winning streak, and that is part of what makes this matchup so good. Under the tenure of three-time Heart Conference Coach Of The Year in Nate Breland, the Eagles have certainly cemented themselves as a perennial power at our level, and 2024 looks to be no different. Player Of The Year candidate Carlos Negron has been at the top of the offensive leaderboards all season long, and has a real shot at a triple crown chase as we reach the halfway point. On the year, Negron is hitting at an absurd .460 clip with 15 HR and 47 RBI. He burst onto the scene before our own eyes at the Cajun Collision as he blasted 3 home runs across the two days, and has not slowed down since. Around him in this lineup are some familiar names in Tanner Sears and Bobby Nichols, who both enter with an average  north of .340 while Nichols leads the team with 12 stolen bases. On the mound is where this team is really dangerous, with a trio of starting pitchers that have put up some incredible numbers. Clayton Burke has been electric in the Friday night role, having won conference pitcher of the week four times this season and comes in with a 6-1 record along with a 1.87 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 43.1 innings. Burke has pinpoint command and has allowed only 7 free passes this season and will look to lead CMU to victory yet again. Sebastian Escobar and Foster Seitz back up Burke in the rotation, with Escobar holding a 2.43 ERA in 40.2 innings while Seitz has impressed in his first season after transferring from Radford with a 3.72 ERA. These three starters will be crucial to the success of the Eagles this weekend as they try to defend their home turf. 

Staff Picks

Conner- CMU

Taylor- CMU

Tyler- CMU

Robby- CMU