The Central Methodist University softball team picked up a pair of shutout wins at Avila University Sunday afternoon to improve to 4-0 in Heart of America Athletic Conference play. The Lady Eagles swept the doubleheader by scores of 8-0 in game one and 7-0 in game two.

After being held scoreless in the first inning of game one, Central Methodist scored at least one run in each of the final six innings in the win. Junior Rebecca Lipsey (New Hartford, Mo.) led the Lady Eagles by finishing 3-for-4 at the plate, including a double and a homerun, with two RBI and two runs scored. Senior Stephanie Sullivant (Liberty, Mo.), sophomore Jordyn Tolliver (Centralia, Mo.), and freshmen Melanie Wilmsmeyer (Franklin, Mo.), Briana Ford (Branson, Mo.), and Megan Robbins (Las Vegas, Nev.) each drove in one run in the win. The Lady Eagles left eight baserunners stranded in the game, while Avila had seven left on base. Freshman Aubrey Utley (Trenton, Mo.) scattered seven hits and recorded six strikeouts to earn the win for CMU.

In game two, CMU busted open a 0-0 game with five runs in the top of the third inning. The Lady Eagles added one run in the fourth and another in the sixth to pick up the 7-0 win. Ford finished 1-for-2 with three RBI and a run scored. Tolliver and sophomore Holly Adams (Arnold, Mo.) finished with two RBI each. Ford and Tolliver each had a homerun in the game. CMU had nine left on base in the game, while Avila had seven. Senior Danielle Taylor (Milan, Mo.) earned the win for Central Methodist, scattering five hits, all singles, in the complete-game shutout.

The Lady Eagles improved to 19-7 overall and 4-0 in the HAAC with the sweep, while Avila dropped to 5-18 and 0-2 in conference play. Central Methodist will be back in action Monday in a makeup doubleheader rescheduled from Saturday at Benedictine College. Game one is scheduled to start at 2 p.m.