Fayette, Mo. - In a key Heart of America Conference doubleheader, the No. 3 Central Methodist Softball team came away with two wins against (RV) Baker University by scores of 6-2 and 3-2 Friday afternoon at Cox Softball Complex.
The Eagles now stand at 25-3 and 6-0 in the Heart, while Baker falls to 19-7 and 4-2 in conference action.
Central jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning of game one. Highlighting the inning was an RBI-double through the right side from Lauren Hill that plated both Joely Crider and Madison White.
A ground out from Carly Robbins was enough to bring Madison Roberts around to score for the third run of the inning.
Baker battled back and was able to score twice in the top of the fifth. The Wildcats capitilized on a wild pitch followed by an RBI-double to trim the deficit to one.
Hill shut the door on any hope of a Wildcat comeback with a three-run home run to centerfield in the sixth inning. The junior catcher would finish the day a perfect three-for-three with a team-high five RBI in the win.
Roberts matched Hill with three hits and crossed the plate twice.
Jordyn Ball pushed her perfect record in the circle to 13-0. The sophomore from Fayette pitched a complete game, giving up just two earned runs on four hits and one walk. She also struck out six batters in the victory.
Game two was a pitcher's duel from start to finish, as the first four complete innings were scoreless. Baker plated a run in both the fifth and seventh innings to take a 2-0 lead heading into the final half inning of play.
Baker retired two of the first three Eagle batters in the bottom of the seventh, before Central strung together three consecutive hits. With Kelena Oots already on base via a single, Elizabeth Palumbo would single to score Oots and drive Central's first run across home plate.
Madison White then singled to put runners at the corners with two outs.
Crider put the finishing touches on the comeback win with a two-RBI double to right center to score two and give CMU the 3-2 win.
Palumbo led the Eagle bats with three hits in three trips to the plate.
Haile Farris earned the win in the circle with a complete game performance. She allowed just two earned runs on four hits while striking out a career-high nine batters. Farris is now 7-1 on the season.
Central will continue conference play against Missouri Valley College Wednesday, April 3 for a doubleheader beginning at 3:00 p.m. at Cox Softball Complex.
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