SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – With a number of games to play in a short amount of time, the Central Methodist University softball team doesn't have much time to celebrate wins or to bounce back from loses. The Eagles came up short twice Tuesday afternoon at Crusader Field to Evangel University, falling 8-7 and 12-11, in a Heart of America Athletic Conference makeup doubleheader.

Despite the setback, Central Methodist outhit the Crusaders 23-20, but Evangel was able to come from behind in Game 1 by scoring two runs in the bottom of the seventh. In Game 2 the Crusaders broke an 11-11 tie with a run in the bottom of the seventh when Kiara Carrier plated on a wild pitch with the bases loaded and one out.

The setback leaves the Eagles at 21-17-1 on the season and 12-10 in Heart action. They slipped back into a third-place tie with Baker University (20-17, 13-11 Heart) and five games out of first place. Evangel (25-13, 19-7 Heart) now holds a three-game lead over Avila University (26-18, 17-11 Heart) in the Southern Division standings.

GAME 1 RECAP
Central Methodist battled back from behind early, overcoming a 2-0 deficit in the second frame, and watched the Crusaders tie the score at 6-6 with a four-run bottom of the sixth. The Eagles scored the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh when Addy Reardon (SO/Boonville, Mo.) reached base on a walk and scored when Alyssa Lilly (SR/Wentzville, Mo.) doubled to deep left-center.

Trailing 7-6 heading into the bottom of the seventh, the Crusaders plated two runs on a pair of hits and an error to escape with the 8-7 victory.

Nine different CMU players recorded hits in the game, led by Hannah Blackmon (SR/Beaumont, Texas)'s 3-for-4 effort, with a double and a run scored. Hannah Steeby (FR/St. Joseph, Mo.) hit a two-run home run in the third inning, finishing 1-for-4, with a pair of RBIs and a run. Reardon tagged a double, drew a walk and scored a run, while Lilly doubled and punched in a run.

Other Eagles recording hits included Mae Mitchell (FR/Frederick, Colo.), Bailey Fidler (SO/Pleasant Hill, Mo.), Skyler Hime (SO/Raymore, Mo.), Kylee Foster (SR/Sturgeon, Mo.) and Sydnie Harmon (SO/Raymore, Mo.).

Megan Washam led Evangel with a 2-for-4 effort, connecting with a double, driving in a run and scoring another.

Ashley Litton (SR/Lee's Summit, Mo.) (3-2) took the loss in the circle in relief for CMU. In 0.2 innings she gave up two runs (1 earned) on two hits. Erin Enke (JR/Martinez, Calif.) started the game for the Eagles and worked 5.2 innings. She allowed six runs on three hits, with four strikeouts and a pair of walks.

Kyra Parker (13-6) was the winning pitcher for the Crusaders in relief. In one inning she gave up one run on one hit, with two strikeouts and two walks.

GAME 2 RECAP
Both teams were on the offensive in the second game, as they combined for 25 hits in the contest. It was like a boxing match of heavyweights, as CMU took a 4-0 lead in the top of the first, but the Crusaders bounced back to take their first lead, 7-6, in the bottom of the second.

The Eagles tied the score at 7-7 in the top of the third, only to see EU grab a 10-7 advantage heading into the fourth. CMU pulled within 10-9 in the top of the fourth and Evangel scored again in the bottom of the frame for an 11-9 lead.

Hime and Crystal Flagg (JR/Erie, Pa.) plated for Central Methodist in the top of the sixth to force an 11-11 tie, but the Crusaders once again scored on their last at-bat.

Eight different CMU players recorded hits in the game. Blackmon (pictured), who was 3-for-4 in the opener, went 3-for-5 in the second game, tagging a home run, a pair of doubles, three RBIs and a run scored. Steeby posted a 2-for-4 performance at the dish, with a triple, a double, a walk, one run batted in and two runs scored. Harmon singled twice, drew a walk, drove in two runs and plated twice from her lead-off spot in the lineup.

Reardon doubled, drove in three runs, walked and scored for Central Methodist, Lilly doubled, drove in a run and scored and Jordan Jenkins (FR/Kansas City, Mo.) slapped a double, walked twice, scored and pushed a run in. Hime and Adam also had singles in the game.

Six different Evangel players had multiple hits in the contest. Kiara Carrier went 3-for-4, with a home run, a double, a walk, three runs batted in and two runs scored.

Alexi Kohrs (10-8) was the losing pitcher in relief. In 4.2 innings she gave up five runs on six hits with a strikeout and five walks. Allison Jordahl (SO/Rantoul, Ill.) started the game in the circle for CMU. In 1.2 innings she surrendered seven runs (2 earned) on seven hits, with a walk.

Taylor Kister (2-0) picked up the win for the Crusaders. In 3.2 innings she gave up two runs on four hits, with four walks.

WHAT'S UP NEXT FOR CMU?
Central Methodist will conclude its six-game road trip on Wednesday, traveling to Marshall, Mo. to take on Missouri Valley College for a 2 p.m. doubleheader. The Eagles will then return home for weekend doubleheaders against Evangel (Saturday at 2 p.m.) and Avila University (Sunday at 1 p.m.).

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