Fayette, Mo. - The Central Methodist softball program earned a doubleheader sweep over Heart South Division foe Park University Tuesday afternoon at Cox Softball Complex.
The Eagles improve their overall record to 23-4 and 15-1 in conference play. Park falls to 16-16 and 10-12 in the Heart. Central also pushes its winning streak to 14 consecutive games.
After a scoreless first two innings of game one, Central's offense exploded for 13 runs in the third. The inning was highlighted by a two-run home run from Katelyn Kiser, a solo home run from Madison White, and a three-run bomb from Kelli Gorman.
Senior first basemen Madison Love also picked up a two-RBI double to centerfield.
In the inning, Central scored 13 of its runs on eight hits, including five for extra bases. Both teams exchanged runs in the fourth inning, making the final score 14-1 in favor of CMU.
Gorman, Kiser, and Kaylee Parker all picked up two hits for Central including two doubles from Parker. Senior ace Keighlan Cronin tossed the first four innings of the game, giving up one earned run on two hits with two walks. She also struck out five batters.
Central continued its hot hitting in game two, scoring two runs in the first and three in the second. However, the Pirates' bats used a three-run home run from Lexie Duncan and a solo home run from Shelby Sanders in the third to trim Central's lead to 5-4.
CMU held off the Pirates in the fourth with runners on the corners to preserve their one run lead. In the bottom half of the frame, the Eagles scored four runs on three hits with one Park error. After Mikayla Pennell drew a bases loaded walk to plate one run, Love singled to score both Gorman and Harcrow, while Pennell scored on an erant throw by the Pirates' pitcher.
After the Pirates' plated one run in the fifth, Central scored its final two runs in the bottom half of the frame. First, on a solo home run from sophomore shortstop Madison White, and then and RBI single from Taylor Dial.
Mykala Johnico earned her ninth win of the year in the circle, tossing the first three innings. Cronin came in relief and pitched the final four frames to earn the save. The native of Saint Charles, Mo. gave up only one earned run on four hits and taliied another four strikeouts, bringing her season total to 126.
White led the offense, batting a perfect four-of-four with two home runs, including a three-run blast to centerfield in the second inning. Micaela Harcrow also homered to centerfield in the first inning.
Central will next face Evangel University in a rescheduled doubleheader Thursday, April 14 beginning at 1:00 p.m. in Springfield, Mo.
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