OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – The Central Methodist University softball program got back on track with a pair of wins on Saturday afternoon against No. 3-ranked Oklahoma City and Avila.
GAME ONE vs No. 3 OKLAHOMA CITY (W 9-8)
Central opened the day with a massive victory in extra innings over the No. 3-ranked Oklahoma City Stars, earning the program's first win of the 2020 season.
Kelli Gorman (JR/St. Charles, Mo.) made her mark early with a two-run homerun over the right field fence to get the Eagles on the board. OCU tacked on one run in the opening frame after a runner scampered to the plate on a steal.
The Stars took the lead after with five runs through the third and fourth innings. Central plated two runs after Katelyn Kiser (FR/Kansas City, Mo.) scored on a wild pitch and Gorman plated one run with an RBI single through the hole at second.
OCU responded again with a two-run showing in the bottom of the fifth, building an 8-4 advantage heading into the final two frames. Central mounted a rally with one run in the sixth frame and a three-run showing in the final inning of regulation that knotted the score. The trio of runs that extended the game were batted in by Mae Mitchell (SR/Frederick, Colo.), Emily Lawler (FR/Columbia, Mo.), and Jordan Jenkins (SR/Kansas City, Mo.).
Teams remained scoreless until Morgan Willis (SR/Carrollton, Mo.) reached second on a double to deep left and eventually scored on a wild pitch.
Madison Love (JR/Holts Summit, Mo.) collected the win after 8.2 innings pitched. She surrendered eight runs on nine hits while striking out five batters and walking six. Keighlan Cronin (SO/St. Charles, Mo.) closed out the final 1.1 innings by striking out three of the five batters she faced.
GAME TWO vs AVILA (W 13-4)
Central closed out the nightcap with a short win over Avila after run-ruling their opponent in the fifth inning.
CMU trailed early in the contest after Avila notched three runs in the opening frame. AU plated one run for Central after a walk with the bases loaded in the second inning but responded by plating one run of their own in the same frame.
Central cracked the game open in the third inning with a massive 9-run performance, highlighted by Mitchell's three-run homer to deep left center. Meredith Adam (SR/Foristell, Mo.) also went the distance for her first homerun of the season just one batter later. Lexi Jones (JR/Wentzville, Mo.) and Hannah Criswell (JR/Kennett, Mo.) also recorded RBIs during the run. CMU scored an additional three runs through the final two innings to secure the win.
Keighlan Cronin earned the win after spending 4.2 innings in the circle. She surrendered just one earned run on one hit while knocking out four batters and walking three.
UP NEXT
The Eagles are set for a road trip to face the University of St. Mary on Saturday, February 29th.
