CMU SOFTBALL VS. MVC PHOTO GALLERY
FAYETTE, Mo. – Two gutsy pitching performances combined with some timely hitting proved to be the winning combination Tuesday afternoon here at the Cox Softball Complex as Erin Enke (JR/Martinez, Calif.) fanned 13 batters and Alexis Kohrs (SR/Tilden, Ill.) overcame a shaky third frame to lead Central Methodist University to a 2-0, 5-3 sweep of Missouri Valley College in a Heart of America Athletic Conference twinbill.
The Eagles leaned on their pitching and then came up with some timely hitting to control the Vikings, as senior Alyssa Lilly (SR/Wentzville, Mo.) and freshman Hannah Steeby (FR/St. Joseph, Mo.) each crushed home runs out of the park to help push the Eagles to the twin wins.
"First of all, it starts with our pitching," said CMU head coach Pat Reardon, who was recognized for passing 700th career wins early this season before the game's first pitch. "At the beginning of the season that's what we thought we were going to rely on. Today Erin and Alexis did a great job. Alexis struggled a little bit, but shut them down after that. And the second game was set up by Erin throwing the shutout in Game 1."
And the Central Methodist offense stepped up as well.
"It was good to see Alyssa Lilly hit the home run," Reardon added. "She's a senior and she and Hannah (Blackmon) are two of our seniors in our offense and we've got a lot of young kids too. I talked with Lilly before she went up to the plate (and hit the home run) because she had been struggling a little bit today. And she can come through and that is what we've been working on.
"Offensively we did things right. We bunted and we executed. We had a couple of base running mistakes, but we'll work on that and get better. I thought it was a good team effort."
GAME 1 RECAP
Enke grabbed the win in Game 1 to improve her season record to 5-3. She threw a two-hit shutout, striking out 13, while not walking any batters. Makenzie Hombs (0-3) took the loss for MVC.
On offense, Lilly, Addyson Reardon and Kylee Foster (SR/Sturgeon, Mo.) each connected with doubles, while Sydnie Harmon (SO/Raymore, Mo.) and Bailey Fidler (SO/Pleasant Hill, Mo.) drove in the game's two runs when they pushed Crystal Flagg (JR/Erie, Pa.) and Kylee Foster across the plate.
Harmon was a perfect 2-for-2 at the dish, while stealing a base. Taylor Patton (SO/Columbia, Mo.) also recorded a hit.
Madison Finley led the Vikings with a hit and a pair of stolen bases.
GAME 2 RECAP
Central Methodist outhit Missouri Valley 9-5 in Game 2. In addition to the round-trippers by Lilly and Steeby, Harmon posted a 2-for-4 effort, with a pair of runs scored. Steeby was 2-for-3 with her solo shot and Skyler Hime (SO/Raymore, Mo.) was 2-for-3 with a run scored. Fidler singled and drove in a pair of runs and Blackmon was 1-for-3 with an RBI.
Sabrina George led the Vikings with a 2-for-3 effort, scoring a run.
Kohrs improved her record in the circle to 5-4, as she went the distance, giving up three runs on five hits, with four strikeouts and two walks. Dana Flanagan (3-4) absorbed the loss for Missouri Valley, lasting only four innings, while giving up five runs (3 earned) on eight hits, with a walk.
CMU took a 1-0 lead in the first when Harmon singled and later scored when Blackmon singled through the hole at second base.
The Eagles added three runs to their total in the second frame on Steeby's solo shot over the leftfield fence and runs by Hime and Harmon when Fidler singled to deep right-center.
The Vikings answered with three runs in the top of the third to cut the deficit to 4-3, but Lilly homered to lead off the fifth to give CMU an insurance run.
WHAT'S UP NEXT FOR CMU?
Central Methodist will now go on the road for its next six games, starting with a visit to Graceland University Saturday at 1 p.m. in Lamoni, Iowa for a doubleheader. The Eagles will then battle Peru State University in Peru, Neb. on Sunday and then visit Baker University on March 29 in Baldwin City, Kansas. The next home games will be April 1 against Grand View University.
CMU Softball Contact: John Krueger
Phone: 936-332-9332 | jkrueger@centralmethodist.edu
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Website: www.CMUEagles.com
