PERU, Neb. – The Central Methodist University softball team used its hot bats to pound out 19 hits, including nine extra-base hits, and complement that with a pair of stellar pitching performances by Erin Enke (JR/Martinez, Calif.) and Alexis Kohrs (SR/Tilden, Ill.) to roll past Peru State College. The Eagles stretched their Heart of America Athletic Conference win streak to five games with a pair of road wins, 5-1 in the opener and 12-1 in five innings in Game 2.
CMU improved its season mark to 15-7-1 and its Heart record to 6-2 with the double wins. Peru State dipped to 10-15 on the season, 5-5 in conference play.
Enke and Kohrs threw a pair of four-hit complete-game victories in the sweep. Enke improved to 6-3 on the year in Game 1, fanning 11 batters, while allowing only two walks. Kohrs improved her season mark to 6-4 in the circle, striking out five batters and walking only two in the second game. Each hurler gave up one run.
Left fielder Alyssa Lilly (SR/Wentzville, Mo.) (left photo below) led the strong offensive performance by Central Methodist, recording a pair of home runs in Game 2, while finishing the day 4-for-7, with four RBIs and three runs scored. Shortstop Hannah Steeby (FR/St. Joseph, Mo.) (pictured on right, below) had a 2-for-5 afternoon, with a home run, a triple, four runs driven in and two runs scored.
CMU lead-off hitter and second baseman Sydnie Harmon (SO/Raymore, Mo.) posted a 2-for-5 day, with three runs scored and a pair of stolen bases. Addy Reardon went 3-for-7, with a double, two runs scored and a stolen base. Third baseman Bailey Fidler (SO/Pleasant Hill, Mo.) picked up a double and a single, drove in a run and scored another, and right fielder Hannah Blackmon (SR/Beaumont, Texas) connected with a home run, scored three times and drove in three other runs.
GAME 1 RECAP
Blackmon hit a solo shot over the left field fence in the third inning to give Central Methodist a 2-0 lead and the Eagles never relinquished the advantage as Enke kept the Bobcats at bay with her work in the circle.
Seven different CMU players posted one hit apiece, with Fidler and Reardon each cashing in on doubles, in addition to Blackmon's hit out of the park. Central Methodist stole five bases, led by Harmon with two. Fidler, Blackmon, Taylor Patton (SO/Columbia, Mo.), Kylee Foster (SR/Sturgeon, Mo.) and Meredith Adam (FR/Foristell, Mo.) each drove in a run in the contest.
Nicole Reznicek took the loss in the circle for Peru State. She went the distance, allowing five runs (4 earned) on seven hits with three strikeouts and a walk. Chelsea Reznicek went 2-for-2 to lead the Bobcat offense.
The Eagles led 3-1 heading into the sixth inning. Steeby and Alyson Fuemmeler (JR/Glasgow, Mo.) plated in the top of the frame to ice the contest.
GAME 2 RECAP
Steeby hit a three-run home run in the first frame to help Central Methodist to a 4-0 lead after one inning. And then Lilly added a solo shot in the third frame to stretch the advantage to 4-0. CMU then put the game out of reach with seven runs on five hits in the fourth as the Eagles cruised from there.
While Kohrs kept the Peru offense in check, Lilly had a perfect 3-for-3 game at the dish. She also drove in four runs, adding a three-run homer in the fourth. Steeby finished 2-for-3, with a triple, in addition to her home run. Reardon also cashed in a pair of hits in the game, scoring a run.
Taylor Moya was the losing pitcher for PSC, allowing nine runs on nine hits, with two strikeouts and a walk in 3.2 innings. She was 1-for-1 at the plate to lead the Bobcats' offense.
WHAT'S UP NEXT FOR CMU?
Central Methodist will continue its road trip on Wednesday when the Eagles visit Baker University at 4 p.m. in Baldwin City, Kansas. The Eagles will then be at home on Saturday and Sunday, hosting Grand View University and William Penn University in a pair of 1 p.m. doubleheaders.
CMU Softball Contact: John Krueger
Phone: 936-332-9332 | jkrueger@centralmethodist.edu
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Website: www.CMUEagles.com
