MARSHALL, Mo. – The Central Methodist University softball team continues to struggle on the road, dropping to 15-11 away from the Cox Softball Complex, as the Eagles fell to Missouri Valley College, 8-3 and 5-0, Wednesday afternoon in Heart of America Athletic Conference action at Indian Foothills Park.
The losses dropped the Eagles (21-19, 12-12 Heart) back into a third-place tie with Baker University (20-19, 13-13 Heart), seven games behind league front-runner Evangel University (27-13, 21-7 Heart). Avila University (28-18, 19-11 Heart) is in second place in the conference, three games behind Evangel. CMU has key home doubleheaders come up this weekend against Evangel and Avila.
GAME 1 RECAP
The Vikings took a 4-0 lead in the third inning and expanded that advantage to 8-1 in the fifth as they took the opener 8-3.
The Eagles recorded seven hits in the contest, led by Skyler Hime (SO/Raymore, Mo.)'s 2-for-3 effort, with a double and a run scored. Hannah Blackmon (SR/Beaumont, Texas) was 2-for-4, while Ashley Brown (SO/Silex, Mo.) (1-for-1, RBI), Sydnie Harmon (SO/Raymore, Mo.) (1-for-2, BB) and Kylee Foster (SR/Sturgeon, Mo.) (1-for-4) each added singles. Mae Mitchell (FR/Frederick, Colo.), Brown and Alyssa Lilly (SR/Wentzville, Mo.) all drove in runs for CMU.
Mackenzie Bilger led the Vikings with a 3-for-4 outing from her lead-off spot in the lineup. She connected with a double, drove in two runs and scored another. Madison Finley went 2-for-4, with a double, two RBIs and a run scored. Autumn Hughes also had a pair of hits.
Erin Enke (JR/Martinez, Calif.) (8-8) took the loss in the circle for Central Methodist. She pitched four innings, giving up eight runs (6 earned) on eight hits, with five strikeouts and four walks. Ashley Litton (SR/Lee's Summit, Mo.) pitched the final two frames, giving up just one hit, while adding a strikeout.
Mackenzie Hombs was the winning pitcher for Missouri Valley. In 4.2 innings she surrendered one run on three hits, with a strikeout and five walks.
GAME 2 RECAP
Despite being shutout in Game 2, the Eagles outhit the Vikings 5-2. CMS pitcher Alexis Kohrs (SR/Tilden, Ill.) (10-9) gave up five runs on one hit, with four walks and absorbed the loss. Litton worked in relief, allowing just one hit, while fanning three and walking two.
Dana Flanagan (9-7) was the winning hurler for MVC. She went the distance giving up five hits of shutout ball, with three strikeouts and three walks.
Fidler led the CMU offense with a pair of singles. Blackmon, Hime and Harmon also had singles.
Missouri Valley scored all five of its run in the first inning on one hit and an error, but that was all the offense the Vikings would need.
WHAT'S UP NEXT FOR CMU?
Central Methodist will return home for doubleheaders this weekend against Evangel (Saturday at 2 p.m.) and Avila University (Sunday at 1 p.m.) at the Cox Softball Complex.
CMU Softball Contact: John Krueger
Phone: 936-332-9332 | jkrueger@centralmethodist.edu
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Website: www.CMUEagles.com
