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FAYETTE, Mo. - Central Methodist dropped the first two contests Friday of its series against Evangel (Mo.) by scores of 2-1 and 7-4 at Estes Field. The Eagles trail the Crusaders by three games entering Saturday's Senior Day doubleheader, which starts at 1 p.m. CT.

Central Methodist (19-19, 11-9) staked to a 1-0 lead in game one in the bottom of the first inning on a Jesse Zellner sacrifice fly, scoring Mike Wagner.

Evangel (26-13, 14-6) tied the contest in the next half-inning, which was extended with two outs on an Eagles' fielding error and resulted in a Darin Francis RBI single in the next at-bat.

The Crusaders pieced together the winning run in the sixth, which started with a Christian Maciel single. Pinch runner Schuyler Carter advanced to third in the next at-bat, a Nathan Jones single through the right side, and scored on a Michael Headlee sacrifice fly. The Eagles managed only one base runner in the final three innings.

Jones had two hits and one run scored.

Zellner and Wagner each had one hit. Zellner drew a walk, and Wagner scored one run.

Koby Gaddis (11-0) outdueled Jeff King (3-5) on the mound in game one, as both pitchers went the distance and handcuffed opposing batters all day. Gaddis allowed one earned run on two hits with three strikeouts and a walk. King surrendered two runs, one earned, on six hits with six strikeouts and two walks.
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The Crusaders scored six unearned runs in the second inning of game two and eventually led 7-0 after four innings. Alex Hunter struck out consecutive Crusader batters in the second, but two passed balls put Jones into position to score the first run of the contest. Leading 2-0, doubles by Jacob Garrison and Maciel scored three runs to make the score 5-0. Wes Clay scored on a wild pitch for the final run of the second inning and had a RBI double in the fourth.

The Eagles' comeback attempt began in the fifth, as Hayden McMillon drew a one-out walk for the first Eagles' baserunner of the affair. In the next at-bat, Kyle Poynter turned the Eagles' first hit of the game into his fourth home run of 2014 to cut the deficit to five runs.�

The Green and Black added two more runs in the sixth with two outs. McMillon plated T.J. Singh on a single to right for the Eagles' third run of the game. Poynter followed with a RBI single through the left side, scoring Zellner.

Nick Galenti and Wagner reached base in the home half of the seventh with only one out, bring the potential tying run to the plate. However, back-to-back pop-ups ended the rally.

Maciel and J. Garrison each had two hits. Maciel drove in two runs. Garrison plated one and scored twice.�

Poynter ended game two with two hits, three RBIs and a run scored. Six different Eagles each posted one hit. Singh, Zellner, McMillon and Poynter each scored once. Singh, McMillon and Galenti each drew a walk.

Sam Garrison (5-6) picked up the win in game two on the mound, allowing four earned runs on seven hits with two walks. Deric Link (2) got a save with one inning of one-hit, scoreless relief with a walk.

Hunter (3-3) suffered the defeat, giving up six unearned runs on five hits with three strikeouts and two walks in an inning and two-thirds. Grant Davis and Colby Lovelace combined to limit the Crusaders to only one earned run on four hits with five strikeouts and a walk in the final three and one-third innings.