JOPLIN, Mo. - No. 6-seed Central Methodist, the defending Heart of America Athletic Conference Championship Series champion, lost 4-1 to No. 3-seed Peru State (Neb.) in the first round Thursday at Wendell Redden Stadium. The Eagles fall into an elimination game against seven-seed Missouri Valley Saturday at 1 p.m. CT.

Jesse Zellner delivered a single in the bottom of the fourth inning and scored three batters later for Central Methodist (20-25) on a C.J. Regan RBI single.

The Eagles maintained a one-run edge until top of the sixth, when Peru State (31-17) scored all of its runs. A Michael Melendez RBI triple tied the game, and the Bobcats took the lead for good on a Tommy Barnes RBI single.

Central Methodist started the ninth with singles by Zellner and Hayden McMillon and brought the tying run to the plate but was unable to score.

Josh Alonzo had three hits, two walks and a run scored in the win.

Zellner, McMillon and Mike Wagner each tallied two hits in the loss.

Miguel Navarro (8-2) went the distance on the mound for the win, allowing one earned run on nine hits with eight strikeouts.

Pitcher Jeff King (3-7) suffered the loss, going six innings, surrendering four earned runs on seven hits with two strikeouts and four walks. Reese Johnson and Ian Walsh combined for three innings of three-hit, scoreless relief with a strikeout and walk.