ST. LOUIS—Missouri Baptist Baseball defeated St. Xavier but fell to No. 2 Central Methodist on Saturday afternoon in day two action of the Clay Pfeiffer Memorial Tournament.
 
GAME ONE VS. SAINT XAVIER (7 INN.)
 
The Spartans scored two runs in each of the first three innings and held off the Cougar comeback attempt late. Cesar Soto's two-run single in the second and Manny Garcia's two-run double in the third amounted to a 6-3 MBU lead.
 
Micah Diamond made the start on the mound and pitched well for six innings to earn the win. Ryan Brown entered in the seventh with a 6-4 lead to protect. Brown allowed a one-out single but worked around it, striking out the side to record a save.
 
GAME TWO VS. NO. 2 CENTRAL METHODIST
 
The final game of the weekend was a pitcher's dual with the wind blowing in and both offenses seemingly running on fumes. Central Methodist was coming off an extra innings loss to St. Xavier in the first game of the day.
 
The turning point of the day was a big third inning for the Eagles. MBU starter Matthew Hess hadn't allowed a hit through the first 2.2 innings but loaded the bases with three walks. The big bat of shortstop Robbie Merced capitalized on a mistake and scorched a line drive over the centerfield fence. The grand slam opened the scoring at 4-0 CMU.
 
While the Eagles added another in the fifth, the Spartans didn't put their first runner on base until Carter Mize singled with two outs in the bottom of the fifth. Central Methodist starter Beau Atkins allowed just three hits and struck out. The Spartans finally broke the shutout on an Alex Adams triple in the seventh, but it was consolation in a 5-2 defeat.
 
UP NEXT
Missouri Baptist will travel to Georgetown College (Ky.) for a midweek doubleheader on Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for noon.