CMU VS. GRAND VIEW PHOTO GALLERY
FAYETTE, Mo. – Central Methodist University junior Alyson Fuemmeler (JR/Glasgow, Mo.) came off the bench when the Eagle softball team needed her the most Saturday afternoon. Coming into Game 2 with 20th-ranked Grand View with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning and the score tied. Fuemmeler took off running from second base on Hannah Steeby (FR/St. Joseph, Mo.)'s single to leftfield, beating the throw to the catcher, scoring the game-winning run and leading the (RV) Eagles to a split with the Vikings. Grand View took Game 1, 4-1, but CMU rallied for an emotional 4-3 victory in Game 2.

The split left Central Methodist having won six of its last seven games, sitting at 16-8-1 on the year and in second place in the Southern Division of the Heart of America Athletic Conference action with a 7-3 record. Grand View, which is in second place in the Northern Division, is now at 16-6, 4-2 in league play.

Standing on second base in place of Alyssa Lilly (SR/Wentzville, Mo.), who had singled and moved to second, Fuemmeler watched head coach Pat Reardon as Steeby hit the ball to left field. Despite starting the inning with two quick outs, Crystal Flagg (JR/Erie, Pa.) had already scored off Hannah Blackmon (SR/Beaumont, Texas)'s double to left-center and Blackmon plated when Lilly's single up the middle. But Reardon showed no hesitation as he sent Fuemmeler home for what was the third run of the inning and the play that turned a tough contest into a CMU win.

"I had told the girls, even though (Fuemmeler) doesn't have her name in the lineup every day, Aly was one of the big stars today by scoring that winning run," Reardon said in a postgame interview. "I had told her this was it. And I questioned myself when the ball was in the leftfielder's hand and she was still on third base. But nine out of 10 girls don't make that play and Aly got in there and it made the difference for us."

GAME 1 RECAP
Central Methodist could muster only three hits in the opener, falling by a 4-1 count. Blackmon, Taylor Patton (SO/Columbia, Mo.) and Skyler Hime (SO/Raymore, Mo.) all went 1-for-3 for the Eagles.

Erin Enke (JR/Martinez, Calif.) (6-4) took the loss in the circle despite striking out 10 and walking five. She allowed four runs on seven hits. Claudia Farrell (8-3) was the winning pitcher for GVU, fanning eight and walking two, while giving up an unearned run on three hits.

Kate Crow led the Viking offense with a 2-for-4 outing, recording a pair of doubles, driving in a run and scoring another. Lexi Merrit was also 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

Grand View took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third, but Blackmon drove in Hime in the bottom of the frame to cut the deficit in half.

But the Vikings added an insurance run in the fourth and another in the fifth and kept the Eagles at bay.

GAME 2 RECAP
Seven different Central Methodist players recorded hits in Game 2, with Blackmon tagging a double, driving in a run and scoring another, while Jordan Jenkins (FR/Kansas City, Mo.) hit a double. Addyson Reardon went 1-for-2, with a walk, and Steeby, Lilly and Sydnie Harmon (SO/Raymore, Mo.) all finished 1-for-3 with a run driven in.

Alexis Kohrs (SR/Tilden, Ill.) ran her season mark in the circle to 7-4 as she scattered three runs on eight hits, with three strikeouts and three walks. Libby Yenger (8-3) took the setback for Grand View. In six innings she allowed four runs on seven hits, with four strikeouts and four walks.

CMU fell behind 2-0 in the top of the third, but Patton plated in the bottom of the frame on a Harmon single.

After the Vikings stretched their lead to 3-1 in the top of the fifth, the Eagles made their comeback in the bottom of the frame.

"We made some good plays, but we still didn't play perfect," Reardon added. "We left a lot of doors open and didn't do a lot of great things offensively, but I have to give the girls credit for getting the job done."

WHAT'S UP NEXT FOR CMU?
Central Methodist will be at home on Sunday, weather permitting, hosting William Penn University in a 1 p.m. doubleheader. The Eagles will then be on the road Tuesday for a twinbill at MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, Kan. at 2 p.m.

CMU Softball Contact: John Krueger
Phone: 936-332-9332 | jkrueger@centralmethodist.edu
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Website: www.CMUEagles.com