Timely hits by Union University (Tenn.) were the difference in the game as the Central Methodist University baseball team lost to the NAIA No. 13 Bulldogs 12-4 Wednesday afternoon at William Woods University.

The Eagles started off the game with back-to-back doubles by junior Matt Gessner (Lykens, Pa.) and senior Thomas Brown (Columbia, Mo.) to score the first run of the game. Brown advanced to third on a fly-out and scored on an RBI by sophomore Steve Bazner (Waterford, Mich.) to give CMU a 2-0 lead. Union answered in the bottom of the first, taking advantage of a pair of CMU errors to score four runs on four hits and take a 4-2 lead. Union added to its lead in the bottom of the third with four runs on three hits to make the score 8-2. In the top of the fourth, Bazner drew a lead-off walk, and junior Brennen Wood (West Plains, Mo.) followed with a single. Senior Adam Arnette (Pacific, Mo.) then hit a two-out double to score both Bazner and Wood, cutting Union's lead to 8-4. The Bulldogs extended the lead with three runs on two hits in the bottom of the fourth, and scored their 12th run in the bottom of the six to make the final score 12-4.

CMU finished with seven hits in the game, including four doubles, compared with 10 for Union. The Bulldogs left five runners on base, while CMU left three stranded. The Eagles used five pitchers in the game. Sophomore Zach Hoffman (St. Clair, Mo.) took the loss for the Eagles, allowing four runs in two innings, while striking out two.

Central Methodist dropped to 15-19 on the season with the loss, while Union improved to 26-8. The Eagles will be back in action with a four-game Heart of America Athletic Conference series against Missouri Valley College Friday and Saturday. Game one of Friday's doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. at Estes Baseball Field.