Baldwin City, Kan. - For the second straight year, the No. 1 Central Methodist Softball program claimed the Heart of America Conference Tournament Championship this weekend in Baldwin City, Kan.
In addition, it marks the second consecutive year that the Eagles have swept both the Heart regular season and tournament championships.
Following wins over Culver-Stockton College Thursday and Grand View Friday, the Eagles would continue in the winner's bracket heading into the weekend. Central would face No. 3 seeded Mount Mercy Saturday, coming away with an 8-1 victory over the Mustangs.
Freshman Joely Crider led the Eagle bats with two hits in four appearances, including a three-run home run in the sixth to put the game out of reach. Junior Madison White also homered in the third to plate a pair of runs, while Kelena Oots and Madison Roberts also drove in an RBI each.
Fayette native Jordyn Ball tossed a complete game, giving up just one earned run on five hits and a walk in the circle. She also tallied seven strikeouts en route to her 17th win of the year.
The Eagles would advance to the championship series Sunday where they needed just one win to claim the title. Mount Mercy knocked off No. 2 seeded Baker in an elimination game to punch their ticket to Heart title game and secure a rematch with the Eagles.
Central's bats remained hot as they did all weekend, cruising past the 2021 Heart Tournament champs, 14-3, in five innings. After trailing 2-0 after the first half inning of play, Central scored five runs highlighted by a grand slam from senior Montana Stangel.
The Eagles never looked back as they plated four runs in the second, two in the third and three in the fourth to cruise to an 11-run win in five innings.
Elizabeth Palumbo homered to right center in the fourth inning to score three. Madison Roberts, Kaysie Jolley, and Lauren Hill also drove in two runners each.
Both Central and Mount Mercy have clinched automatic berths into the NAIA Softball National Championship tournament.
Central will learn where and who they will be playing in next week's Opening Round Tuesday, May 9 at 4:00 p.m. (CST) during the NAIA Selection show on the NAIA YouTube page.
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