Houston - Playing in the Major League Baseball stadium Minute Maid Park, the Maryville baseball team opened the 2022 season by dropping a 10-3 decision to No. 3 Central Missouri.
 
Dominic Connolly gave the Saints the lead in the top of the first when he singled to plate Brad Willis. The Mules answered with three in the bottom of the first. Maryville scored in the top of the third when Ben Hopkins singled in Michael Gould. In the top of the fourth, Alex Hoff blasted a homer to left to draw the Saints to within 5-3 but Central Missouri pushed across three runs in the bottom of the frame.
 
The Saints are back on the diamond Saturday at the home of the Houston Astros as they face Arkansas Tech in a 5 p.m. first pitch.