Branson, Mo. - The No. 8-ranked Central Methodist softball team closed the weekend at the Branson Bash with two strong performances on Saturday, defeating Doane 6–3 before blanking McPherson 8–0 to improve to 4–0 on the season.
Game 1: No. 8 Central Methodist 6 - Doane 3:
Central Methodist scored early and built a steady lead behind timely hitting and strong pitching to earn a 6–3 win over Doane in the opening game of the day.
The Eagles struck first in the opening inning, capitalizing on a Doane error to take a 1–0 lead. CMU added another run in the third when Kinlei Boley drove in Elizabeth Palumbo on a fielder's choice. A two-run fifth inning, highlighted by a Boley single to left, pushed the advantage to 4–0.
Central added insurance in the sixth, as Palumbo singled home a run before Maddie Holly followed with a sacrifice fly to make it 6–0.
Doane plated three runs in the seventh, but the comeback attempt was halted as CMU closed out the victory.
Palumbo led the offense with two hits and an RBI, while Boley drove in three runs. Holly also added an RBI.
In the circle, Karlie Barnum earned the win, allowing just one run on five hits over six innings. Anna Stasia Ballew worked the final inning to secure the victory.
Game 2: No. 8 Central Methodist 8 - McPherson 0:
The Eagles carried their momentum into the afternoon, scoring four runs in the first inning and never looking back in an 8–0, five-inning win over McPherson.
CMU wasted no time offensively, using a pair of RBI hits from Holly and Madison Roberts, along with a run-scoring double by Boley, to jump out to a 4–0 lead in the first. An RBI sacrifice fly by Palumbo in the second extended the margin to five.
CMU added two more runs in the fourth, including an RBI triple from Palumbo, before Emma King capped the scoring with a solo home run in the fifth.
Jolley finished with two hits, including a triple, while Palumbo drove in two runs. King, Holly, Roberts, and Boley each added RBI as part of a nine-hit attack.
Haley Cotter was dominant in the circle, tossing a complete-game shutout. She allowed just two hits while striking out four to improve to 2–0 on the season.
Up Next:
The Eagles return to action in the NAIASB Invitational beginning Friday, Feb. 20 in Shawnee, Oklahoma.
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