Branson, Mo. - The No. 7 Central Methodist Softball program opened the 2025 season with a pair of wins over Ecclesia and Sterling College Friday afternoon at the Branson Bash Classic in Branson, Missouri. 

Central defeated Ecclesia in five innings by a final score of 11-3 in five innings before defeating Sterling College, 9-7. 

In the first game, the opening two innings were scoreless until the Eagles broke the game open with eight runs in the third. 

The inning was highlighted by a bases clearing double from junior Joely Crider. EC responded with three runs in the top half of the fourth, before the Eagles plated three more in the bottom half of the frame. 

Madison Roberts began the inning with solo shot to right field, followed by a bases loaded walk from Addison Gottman.

The final run of the inning and the game came when Crider popped up to first to allow Kendall Miller to score. 

Cassidy Brent got the start in the circle, tossing three and a third innings. Khloe Perkins came in relief for the final inning and two thirds, allowing one hit and picking up a strikeout. 

The second game of the day was filled with offense, as there were a combined 16 runs scored on 30 hits. After Sterling took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, Central's offense eventually broke through with two runs in the top of the fourth. 

Roberts picked up her second solo homerun of the day to centerfield, followed by an RBI triple from Isabella Proctor to score Daly Garland. 

CMU plated two more runs in the fifth, as Kaysie Jolley and Maddie Holly homered in back-to-back at bats. Sterling scored one run in the bottom half of the inning before Jolley hit a three-run homer to right center in the sixth. 

The Warriors would not go down quietly, plating four runs in the bottom half of the frame to trim Central's lead to 7-6. 

CMU recieved much needed insurance runs in the seventh, as both Carly Robbins and Rachel Brandt picked up RBI singles to give Central breathing room. 

Sterling plated the final run of the game in the seventh, but were unable to add anymore, as Central escaped with a 9-7 win. 

Haley Cotter picked up her first win of the year in the circle, tossing four innings and striking out two. Veronica Dearth pitched the final three innings and recorded a save. 

Central will conclude the weekend with two more games against Olivet Nazarene and Bellevue beginning at 12:00 p.m. Saturday. 

#TakeFlight