BALDWIN CITY, Kan. – The Central Methodist University softball team battled back to force extra innings in Game 1 of Monday's Heart of America Athletic Conference dual with Baker University with a run in the top of the seventh. But a suicide squeeze in the bottom of the 10th inning gave the Wildcats a 3-2 win. The Eagles then responded with a 12-hit attack in Game 2, rolling to a 9-0 victory in five innings for the split.
CMU shortstop Hannah Steeby (FR/St. Joseph, Mo.) (right photo) ignited the Eagles in Game 2, blasting a pair of home runs in a 4-for-4 game at the plate, driving in four runs and adding a double and scoring four runs herself. Left fielder Alyssa Lilly (SR/Wentzville, Mo.) (left photo) was also 4-for-4 in the second game, connecting with a double, pushing in a run and scoring another. Designated player Skyler Hime (SO/Raymore, Mo.) led Central Methodist in Game 1, finishing 3-for-4, with a run scored.
The split enabled to stay in third place in the league's Southern Division, sitting at 21-15 overall and 12-8 in conference play. The Eagles are two games behind Evangel University (23-13, 17-7 Heart) and one game behind second-place Avila (26-18, 17-11 Heart). Baker (20-17, 13-11 Heart) continues to trail CMU by one game.
GAME 1 RECAP
Erin Enke (JR/Martinez, Calif.) (8-7) took the tough loss in the circle for Central Methodist in Game 1. She worked 9.1 innings, allowing three run (2 earned) on seven scattered hits, while fanning seven batters and walking four. Olivia Brees was the winning hurler for the Wildcats. In 10 frames she gave up two runs on eight hits, with five strikeouts and a pair of walks.
In addition to Hime's effort at the dish, Sydnie Harmon (SO/Raymore, Mo.) went 2-for-5, with a stolen base. Lilly went 1-for-3, with a walk and Hannah Blackmon (SR/Beaumont, Texas) doubled and drew a walk in four at-bats. Jazzmine Thorpe led Baker with a 2-for-5 effort, driving in a run.
Baker took a 1-0 lead after the first inning and still held a one-run lead (2-1) after the second. Then, in the top of the seventh, Hime singled to the shortstop and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Bailey Fidler (SO/Pleasant Hill, Mo.). She scored when Harmon singled to left with two outs.
The Wildcats left two runners stranded in the bottom of the eighth, but managed to push the winning run across the plate with no hits in the tenth frame.
GAME 2 RECAP
Alexis Kohrs (SR/Tilden, Ill.) (10-7) picked up the win in the circle in Game 2. She pitched four innings, giving up just three hits, while fanning one and walking eight. Ashley Litton (SR/Lee's Summit, Mo.) did not allow a hit in the final inning.
Teagan Louthan was the losing pitcher for Baker. She pitched just one inning, allowing four runs on four hits, with a strikeouts and two walks.
In addition to the power games by Steeby and Lilly, Haron went 1-for-3, with a walk and three runs scored. Allyson Fuemmeler singled, Hime went 1-for-3, with a RBI, and Meredith Adam (FR/Foristell, Mo.) singled.
This game was all Central Methodist from the first inning, as the Eagles scored four runs in the top of the first frame, keyed by Steeby's two-run home run. CMU then added two runs in the second and in the third on Steeby's two run homer. Central Methodist scored an insurance run in the fifth.
WHAT'S UP NEXT FOR CMU?
Central Methodist will continue its six-game road trip on Tuesday, traveling to Springfield, Mo. to take on Evangel University for a makeup twinbill on Tuesday at 2 p.m. and then visit Missouri Valley College on Wednesday for a 2 p.m. doubleheader.
CMU Softball Contact: John Krueger
Phone: 936-332-9332 | jkrueger@centralmethodist.edu
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Website: www.CMUEagles.com
