Fayette, Mo. - The No. 3 Central Methodist Softball program continues to cruise in the regular season, as they completed doubleheader sweeps of Mount Mercy and Clarke this past weekend at Cox Softball Complex to open Heart of America Conference play.
Game 1: No. 3 CMU 5 - Mount Mercy 2
The first game against the Mustangs did not see its first run scored until the sixth inning. Mount Mercy struck first with a pair of runs in the top half of the frame to take a 2-0 lead.
Central responded with two runs in the bottom half of the inning, highlighted by back-to-back RBI-doubles from Madison White and Lauren Hill.
CMU began the bottom half of the seventh with back-to-back singles from Kelena Oots and Kaysie Jolley to put runners on with no outs.
A pitching change for the Mustangs in between batters could not stop the bleeding. Sophomore infielder Elizabeth Palumbo ended the game with a walk off three run home run to right field.
Haile Farris got the start in the circle, pitching five complete innings and striking out six batters. Haley Cotter came in relief for the final two innings of work, holding Mount Mercy scoreless and picking up one strikeout.
Cotter would earn the win in the circle, improving her 2024 record to 4-2.
Game 2: No. 3 CMU 9 - Mount Mercy 1
Central's bats came alive in the second and final game of the doubleheader, as the Eagles scored nine runs on 12 hits. Daly Garland led the way for Central, batting three-for-three with an RBI single in the fifth.
Joely Crider and Palumbo each picked up two hits while Crider drove in two baserunners. Lauren Hill also picked up a two-RBi single to right field to end the game in the bottom of the sixth.
Jordyn Ball pushed her perfect record to 11-0, tossing all six innings for the Eagles and giving up just one earned run on six hits. She also struck out six batters.
Game 1: No. 3 CMU 1 - Clarke 0
CMU found themselves in a pitching duel in the first game Saturday against the Clarke Pride. Both teams combined for just one run on seven hits with no errors in the field of play. Central broke through with the lone run of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Jolley drew a walk and then stole second to put Central in scoring position. Following a flyout to right for the second out of the inning, Madison White singled to centerfield to score Jolley and give CMU the narrow 1-0 win.
Ball had another stellar showing in the circle, pitching a complete game shut out and giving up just three hits while striking out seven Pride batters.
Game 2: No. 3 CMU 8 - Clarke 0
Similar to game two against Mount Mercy, the Eagle bats got hot in the second and final game of the weekend. Central plated eight runs on nine hits including doubles from Oots, Jolley, White, Madison Roberts, and Garland.
White also homered in the bottom of the fourth inning to push CMU's lead to 6-0, while Jolley opened the game with a bases clearing double in the second.
Cotter earned her fifth win of the year in the circle, tossing all five innings and giving up just three hits and one walk. She matched her season high with eight strikeouts in the win.
Up Next:
Central now stands at 23-3 and 4-0 in Heart action. They will remain at home to host (RV) Baker Friday, March 29 for a doubleheader beginning at 12:00 p.m. at Cox Softball Complex.
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