For the first time since 2021, the Culver-Stockton College baseball team will be a participant in the Heart of America Athletic Conference Tournament.

The Wildcats ended their three-year postseason drought by sweeping a doubleheader from Benedictine College by scores of 1-0 and 5-3 Saturday afternoon at Olsen Stadium in Atchison, Kan.

C-SC, which finished the regular season with a 21-23 overall record and a 15-17 mark in the league, is the seventh seed and will play eighth seeded Clarke (Iowa) at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 1, at the Ozark Mountain Sports Complex in Ozark, Mo.

If the Wildcats win, they will play second-seeded MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) at 8:30 p.m. later that night. If it loses, C-SC will play the loser of the Mount Mercy (Iowa)/Park (Mo.) game at 10 a.m. Friday, May 2.

The Wildcats entered Saturday needing just one victory to clinch their playoff berth and starting pitcher Cole Parkhill made sure C-SC wouldn't have to sweat it out in a pressure-filled fourth game.

Parkhill hurled a complete game, seven-hit shutout to put the Wildcats in the tournament so everyone could rest easy. Parkhill, a Quincy, Ill., native, walked four and struck out seven to earn his third victory in seven decisions.

But it wasn't easy.

The Ravens collected three singles in the first inning but did not score as a runner was cut down at the plate and Parkhill recorded a strikeout to end the threat.

In the fourth, Benedictine loaded the bases with two outs before Parkhill induced a ground ball to end the inning.

Finally, in the seventh, Parkhill retired the first two batters before walking the next two batters to put the winning run on base. However, Parkhill got a popup for the final out to secure the victory. Benedictine stranded 10 runners in the game.

The Wildcats needed everything Parkhill gave them as the offense was limited to three total hits in the game. C-SC scored its only run in the fourth inning when Jaison Andujar led off the frame with a solo home run. It was Andujar's 22nd career home run, tying him with teammate Jordan Scott for third all-time on the C-SC career list.

With the postseason secure, the Wildcats jumped out to a 5-2 lead after four innings to guarantee the seventh seed and win the series.

Kendall Rivero and Tim Meyer collected two hits each, while Jack Linenfelser drove home two runs with a single and a hit by pitch to end the offense.

Josh Martini and three relievers scattered six hits and allowed three runs to keep the Ravens at bay.

Martini hurled the first three innings, giving up two hits and two runs, before handing off to senior Clay Street.

Street pitched the next two innings, allowing two hits and one run before giving way to Jared Marty, who allowed a hit and a walk in one inning of work.

Isaiah Naylor pitched the seventh inning and allowed one hit, but struck out two to earn his fifth save of the season.