Fayette, Mo. - The No. 11 Central Methodist softball team claimed a key cross-division matchup with No. 13 Grand View Saturday afternoon at Cox Softball Complex in Fayette, Mo.
The Eagles took game one by a final score of 3-0 before cruising to an 8-0 victory in the second game.
With the pair of wins, Central improves to 15-4 and 7-1 in conference play, while the Vikings fall to 17-5 and 6-2 in the Heart. CMU now sits in sole possession of the top spot in both the Heart South Division and overall conference standings.
The Eagles jumped on the scoreboard in the first inning of game one, courtesy of an RBI single by Micaela Harcrow to left field to score Kelena Oots. Central padded its lead in the fourth with two additional runs. Katelyn Kiser singled to centerfield which scored Daly Garland followed by a single from Kelli Gorman to score Kiser.
Senior ace Keighlan Cronin was masterful inside the circle, tossing a complete game shut out. The native of Saint Charles, Mo. gave up only three hits, retiring 22 of 25 batters faced en route to her seventh win of the year.
Gorman and Oots each collected a pair of hits while Oots drew the only walk of the game.
CMU's offense picked up the pace in game two, scoring four runs in the first and three in the second. The Eagles closed the game out in sixth inning with a run, making the final score 8-0 in six innings.
Kiser drove in three runners including a two-RBI double in the first inning. Gorman recorded her third home run of the season in the second on a no-doubter to left field, and Harcrow picked up two hits including an RBI-single in the first.
Madison White finished game two batting three-of-four, including an RBI double and two runs scored.
Freshman pitcher Mykala Johnico continues to shine for CMU, as she tossed a complete game shut out to push her record to 5-0. Johnico gave up only three hits against 21 batters faced. She also struck out four batters.
Central will return to action when the host William Penn University Sunday, April 3 for a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m. at Cox Softball Complex.
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