Baseball | 5/12/2016 7:39:34 PM

St. Charles, Mo. – Top seeded Central Missouri benefited from some power hitting as they defeated eighth seed Northwest Missouri 10-3 in the first round of the MIAA Baseball Tournament.
 
Northwest Missouri struck early in the top of the first scoring two runs on a double to left field by Kevin Handzlik. Jake Lewis would then make it a 3-0 lead as he grounding out to score James Holler.
 
The Mules would answer in the bottom half of the inning as Matt Elliott led off with a home run to right field. Bennett Oliver would then drive in a run via a fielders choice before Derek Cornell hit a two-run shot down the left field line. UCM would make it back to back as Cole Distler hit a home run over the right field wall.
 
UCM would tack on a run in the bottom of the second as Jake Alexander drove in a run with a sacrifice bunt. Dylan Farrell would keep the inning going with a run on a wild pitch. Distler would then single and drive home Oliver as the Mules made it an 8-3 lead heading to the third.
 
No one would score again until the bottom of the eighth inning when Elliott doubled to right center plating two.
 
For the Mules Elliott went four for five with two runs scored and three runs driven in while Derek Cornell and Cole Distler also added two RBI each. For the Bearcats Kevin Handzlik was three for four with two runs driven in.
 
On the mound Tyler House went seven innings allowing three earned runs and striking out seven to pick up the victory.
 
Central Missouri will face the winner of Missouri Western and Missouri Southern at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow while Northwest Missouri will face the loser of that game at 12:30 p.m. from Lou Brock Sports Complex in St. Charles, Mo.