LSU Alexandria

National Championship Opening Round Central

Adam Hildebrandt's postgame report, LSU Alexandria

COLUMBIA, Mo. - No. 14 Central Methodist's record-breaking 2014 season came to an end Wednesday with a 6-1 loss to No. 2 LSU Alexandria (La.) in the Columbia Bracket championship game in the NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round.

With the win, the Lady Generals advance to the 2014 NAIA Softball World Series in Columbus, Ga.�

LSU Alexandria (35-3), the No. 1-seed in the Columbia Bracket, seized control at Antimi Sports Complex's Black Field with a three-run second inning that included a two-run double by Heather Bunn.

Central Methodist (43-8), the two-seed, cut the deficit to one run with two outs in the bottom of the second inning when Alyssa Lilly's RBI single scored Lauren Geringer. The Eagles put the tying run in scoring position, but a groundout ended the threat.

The Lady Generals also scored in the third, fourth, and sixth innings to take a commanding five-run lead.

Bunn added a double and solo home run to finish 3-for-3 with three RBIs on the day.

Lilly, Geringer and Michele Rupard each had one hit. Megan Robbins walked once.

Logan Hebert (19-0) retired the final 15 Eagles' hitters to earn her second complete game victory in three days after allowing just one earned run on three hits with two strikeouts and a walk.

Aubrey Utley (26-3) suffered the defeat in the circle, allowing five earned runs on seven hits with a walk in 3.1 innings pitched. The 26 wins ties her 2012 record for most in a season in Central Methodist history, and the Trenton, Mo., native concludes her Eagles' career as the all-time leader in wins (94) and strikeouts (559). Her 1.50 career earned run average ranks second all-time.

Ford tossed 3.2 innings of relief, giving up just one earned run on two hits with four strikeouts.

The 43 wins is a new single-season school record, and the 2014 Eagles' senior class of Utley, Ford, Robbins, Mary Kate Townley, Bri Kirkland and Melanie Wilmsmeyer exits Fayette as the all-time winningest four-year class in school history with 160 triumphs and the only Eagles' class to win four Heart of America Athletic Conference championships and three Championship Series titles.