ATCHISON, Kan. – Central Methodist University softball dropped a pair of conference contests on Tuesday evening on the road against Benedictine College.

Taylor Patton led CMU, going 2-for-4 on the day with four RBIs and one run. Kelli Gorman, Mae Mitchell, and Lexi Jones also recorded multi-hit appearances in at least one of the two games.

GAME ONE (Loss 9-5)

The offensive start was slow for both sides in the opening game of the doubleheader. Benedictine scored first in the third, plating three runs after a pair of doubles.

Central (19-13, 11-7 Heart) responded in the fourth with a big five-run rally. The comeback attempt was sparked after Patton smashed a grand slam over the right field fence on a 1-2 count. A single from Morgan Willis (JR/Carrollton, Mo.) up the middle plated another run, but a pitching change late in the inning ended things with two on base.

The Ravens put together a comeback of their own and took the lead back in the bottom of the fourth, recording six runs on six hits and forcing three pitching changes in the frame.

Ashley Wills (SR/Cameron, Mo.) earned the start and took the loss at the mound after 3.1 innings pitched. Sabrina Otzenberger (SO/Cedar Hill, Mo.) made a brief appearance at the rubber in the fourth, followed by Kaylee Ousman (SR/Coldspring, Tex.) who entered to attempt the save.

GAME TWO (Loss 4-2)

The Eagles left several scoring chances on the bases in the second game, stranding 12 in the loss. Central took a one-run lead in the third inning after Gorman knocked a single to shallow left, plating Sydnie Harmon (SR/Raymore, Mo.) for the go-ahead run.

Both teams remained scoreless in the fourth before Benedictine responded with three runs in the fifth and one in the sixth to build a lead.

Jones got into scoring position after bashing a double to deep center in the top of the seventh on a 1-0 count. Hannah Criswell (SO/Kennett, Mo.) followed with an infield single, putting runners on the corners with one out and forced a pitching change. Rene Burkland (FR/Peoria, Ariz.) earned an RBI and cut the Eagles' deficit with a single down the left field line, but a pop fly to deep left center stranding the run to even the score.

Keighlan Cronin (FR/St. Charles, Mo.) was in the circle for the entirety of the contest, tossing six innings. She struck out five but gave up four earned runs in five hits during her tenure.

UP NEXT

Central will return home for a packed, six-game weekend. The first game will take place with the squad hosting Evangel in a doubleheader on Friday at 1 PM.