FAYETTE, Mo. – All six Central Methodist softball seniors started in a Saturday afternoon sweep of MidAmerica Nazarene.
GAME ONE (3-1 win):
The Eagles jumped out to an early 2-0 lead after one inning thanks to some heads-up base running. After Mae Mitchell (JR/Frederick, Colo.) doubled to the centerfield wall, Sydnie Harmon (SR/Raymore, Mo.) scooted home and beat the tag on a fielder's choice by Morgan Willis (JR/Carrollton, Mo.). Mitchell followed suit by scoring on a passed ball by the Pioneers.
Lexi Jones (SO/Wentzville, Mo.) got the Eagles offense rolling again in the 3rd inning with a double. Addy Reardon (SR/Boonville, Mo.) then smoked a double to the left-field wall to bring home Jones for the final Central run of the game.
For the second straight day, Ashley Wills (SR/Cameron, Mo.) was dominant in the circle, holding MidAmerica scoreless until its final out, as the Pioneers scratched one run across in the top of the 7th inning.
Through seven innings, Wills surrendered just one run on six hits. She picked up four strikeouts and only walked two batters.
GAME TWO (12-4 win):
Once again, Central raced out to an early advantage, batting around the order while picking up four runs in the 1st inning.
With the bases loaded, Jones lined a two-run single up the middle to start the scoring. A few batters later, Hannah Criswell (SO/Kennett, Mo.) drove a ball over the left fielder's head that scored two more runs for the Eagles.
In the 2nd inning, Taylor Patton (SR/Columbia, Mo.) hit a line-drive home run the hit the top of the right-centerfield wall and bounced over it. The shot is Patton's eighth of the season, a great way to celebrate Senior Day.
After the Pioneers walked two straight batters to load the bases, Jordan Jenkins (JR/Kansas City, Mo.) ripped a two-run double to the left-center field wall.
MidAmerica scored three runs in the top of the 3rd inning to narrow the gap, but the Eagles responded with two runs in their half of the inning, thanks to another RBI single from Jones and a run on a passed ball by Mackenze Gudde (JR/Cole Camp, Mo.).
The Eagles picked up more insurance runs in the 4th inning courtesy of Jenkins, who hit an RBI single, and Mitchell, who ripped a liner past the third basemen's glove to score Jenkins.
The final run of the day came on an RBI double by Criswell. Kaylee Ousman (SR/Coldspring, Tex.) picked up the win after starting the game and allowing three runs in 2.2 innings of work. Keighlan Cronin (FR/St. Charles, Mo.) came on in relief, allowing only one run in 2.1 innings.
UP NEXT:
The Eagles are currently scheduled to play their final home series of the regular season tomorrow afternoon at 2 pm against Benedictine. Stay tuned to cmueagles.com for weather-related schedule updates.
