CMU SOFTBALL SENIOR DAY/ AVILA DH PHOTOS
FAYETTE, Mo. – The excitement of Senior Day at the Cox Softball Complex might have been a distraction for players on the Central Methodist University squad, but after dropping an 11-6 decision to Avila University in the opener Sunday, the Eagles came roaring back to force a split with a 4-2 Game 2 victory.
Freshman Hannah Steeby (FR/St. Joseph, Mo.) led the way with four hits on the day, including a pair of doubles, four RBIs and three runs scored. Sophomores Sydnie Harmon (SO/Raymore, Mo.) and Bailey Fidler (SO/Pleasant Hill, Mo.) also recorded three hits in the afternoon twinbill.
The split left Central Methodist University sitting at 24-20-1 on the year and alone in fourth place in the Heart of America Athletic Conference Southern Division standings with a 15-13 mark. Evangel University (27-17) leads the division with a 21-11 league record, followed by Avila (29-19), which is one game back at 20-12. MidAmerica Nazarene University (25-17) is in third place, 3.5 games out of first with a 16-13 record. CMU is four games out of first.
The six CMU senior who were recognized between Sunday's two games included: Hannah Blackmon (SR/Beaumont, Texas), Kylee Foster (SR/Sturgeon, Mo.), Alyssa Lilly (SR/Wentzville, Mo.), Ashley Litton (SR/Lee's Summit, Mo.), Alexis Kohrs (SR/Tilden, Ill.) and Brenna Russ (SR/Wenatchee, Wash.).
GAME 1 RECAP
Four different Eagles produced two hits apiece in the opener, as CMU finished the game with 11 total. Steeby was 2-for-4, with four RBIs on a pair of doubles and two runs scored. Harmon was 2-for-4, with two doubles, as well. She also scored two runs. Fidler punched out two hits in the game, going 2-for-3, with a run scored, and Addy Reardon (SO/Boonville, Mo.) was 2-for-4, with a run batted in. Taylor Patton (SO/Columbia, Mo.), Lilly and Foster also picked up hits in the game.
Samantha Dexter paced Avila with a 4-for-5 game at the dish. She tripled and added two doubles, while driving in four runs and scoring one herself. Sam Castoldi was 3-for-3, with a pair of walks, two RBIs and three runs scored.
Kayleigh Behymer (16-8) was the winning pitcher for Avila. She went the distance, allowing six runs on 11 hits, with four strikeouts and a walk. Ashley Litton (4-3) took the loss for CMU. In six innings in the circle she gave up five earned runs (8 total) on 10 hits, with five strikeouts and four walks.
Central Methodist looked to be in control early on, building a 6-1 lead after the second inning. But Avila pushed in four runs in the third, two in the sixth and four more in the seventh to secure the win.
GAME 2 RECAP
Erin Enke (JR/Martinez, Calif.) threw a five-hitter in Game 2 to improve her record in the circle to 10-8 for Central Methodist. She allowed one earned run (2 total), with seven strikeouts and four walks. Abby King (7-3) was the losing hurler. She gave up four runs on eight hits, with a pair of strikeout and three walks in five innings.
Steeby led CMU with a 2-for-3 game at the plate, scoring a run. Jordan Jenkins (FR/Kansas City, Mo.) went 1-for-2, with a double, a walk and a pair of runs driven in. Harmon (1-for-4, run), Lilly (1-for-1, 2 BB), Blackmon (1-for-2, RBI, BB), Fidler (1-for-3) and Foster (1-for-3) also had singles in the game.
Avila led this game 2-0 after the top of the first frame, but CMU came back with a run in the bottom of the second and three more in the fifth to ice the contest.
WHAT'S UP NEXT FOR CMU?
Central Methodist will be at home on Tuesday afternoon, battling Baker University in a 4 p.m. doubleheader at the Cox Softball Complex. The Eagles will then travel to Olathe, Kan. on Wednesday to battle MidAmerica Nazarene University in a 4 p.m. twinbill.
CMU Softball Contact: John Krueger
Phone: 936-332-9332 | jkrueger@centralmethodist.edu
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Website: www.CMUEagles.com
