ST. LOUIS—MBU Baseball (6-7) saw its three-game winning streak halted by No. 20 Central Methodist (15-3) on Thursday afternoon in non-conference action. The Eagles jumped out to an early lead in route to a 9-4 victory at Spartan Field.
 
The MBU defense was slow out of the gates on Thursday, committing two errors in the top of the first inning. Central Methodist took full advantage, tagging Mo. Bap starting pitcher Josh Sieglitz for three runs.
 
Sieglitz settled in and allowed just one hit in the next four innings. He did run into trouble in the sixth however. Three singles, two passed balls, and another error led to four more CMU runs and a 7-0 deficit for the Spartans to battle back from.
 
A solo home run from Vincent Napolitano put the Spartans on the board in the bottom of the sixth before the Eagles immediately responded to make it 9-1 in the seventh. Mo. Bap would score two in the seventh and one in the eighth but it wasn't enough.
 
Sieglitz took the hard-luck loss despite allowing just two earned runs. The senior struck out three in six innings. Freshman Sam Lehmkuhl made his home debut with one relief inning before Francisco Urena entered in the eighth and held the Eagles off the scoreboard with two clean frames.
 
For Central Methodist, Nick Merkel earned the win with seven solid innings. Merkel had the Spartan hitters guessing all day. He allowed only one earned run and three hits while striking out six.
 
Missouri Baptist will continue with non-conference action on Saturday afternoon against Olivet Nazarene. First pitch of the doubleheader at Spartan Field is scheduled for noon.