Fayette, Mo. - The No. 25 Central Methodist Baseball team battled No. 22 Bellevue University in a Friday doubleheader, dropping both ends of the twin bill by scores of 12-8 and 11-1.

With the losses, the Eagles move to 5-6 overall, while the Bruins improve to 10-2 on the season.

Game 1: No. 22 Bellevue 12 - No. 25 Central Methodist 8

Bellevue struck early in the opener, plating five runs in the top of the first inning including a solo home run, a two-run double and a two-run single to give the Bruins a quick 5-0 advantage.

Central responded in the bottom half when Ryan Malzahn lifted a sacrifice fly to score Jordan Vazquez and cut the deficit to 5-1.

After Bellevue extended its lead to 6-1 in the third, the Eagles erupted for six runs in the bottom of the inning. Malzahn delivered the big blow—a grand slam to right that scored Gavin Whitehurst, Simon "JJ" Yoakum IV, and Vazquez. Justin Smith tied the game with a sacrifice fly, and Zeb Wede came home on a wild pitch to cap the rally and give CMU a 7-6 lead.

The Bruins answered immediately with an RBI triple in the fourth to even the score at 7-7. Bellevue then tallied an RBI double in the fifth to go back in front for good at 8-7.

Bellevue added two runs in the sixth, including a solo home run. They then tacked on two more in the seventh to build a 12-7 cushion. Justin Smith's RBI double in the bottom of the seventh scored Dariel Rios, but the Eagles could not draw closer.

Malzahn paced the CMU offense, finishing two-for-two with a home run and five RBI. Justin Smith drove in two, while Wede and Vazquez each scored twice.

Chase Schnieders got the start on the mound for the Eagles, tossing 3.2 innings.

Game 2: No. 22 Bellevue 11 - No. 25 Central Methodist 1 (8 innings)

Bellevue carried its momentum into game two, scoring three runs in the second inning.

The Bruins added a run in the third on a sacrifice fly to take a 4-0 lead.

CMU broke through in the fifth inning when Sean Mitchell singled to left field to score Dariel Rios and trim the margin to 4-1. However, that would be the Eagles' lone run of the contest.

Bellevue extended its lead to 5-1 in the sixth before breaking the game open with a six-run eighth inning. The Bruins capitalized on timely hits and free passes, highlighted by RBI singles and a bases-loaded walk. A sacrifice fly and a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded pushed the advantage to 11-1.

Kenji Miller went the distance for Bellevue, allowing just one run on five hits while striking out 11 in the eight-inning complete game.

Dariel Rios recorded a hit and scored CMU's only run, while Mitchell drove in the Eagles' lone RBI.

Up Next:

Central closes the weekend out with two more games against the Bruins Saturday, Feb. 28 beginning at 12:00 p.m.

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