FAYETTE, Mo. – Timely hitting and a pair of strong pitching performances by Central Methodist University hurlers helped the Eagle softball team take over sole possession of third place in the Heart of America Athletic Conference with a twinbill sweep of Baker University, 2-1 and 7-3, here at the Cox Softball Complex Tuesday night.
Hannah Steeby (FR/St. Joseph, Mo.), who was named the HEART Player of the week on Monday, slammed her ninth home run of the season in Game 2 to help the Eagles overcome a 2-1 deficit early and keyed a four-run second with her three-run bomb. Addy Reardon (SO/Boonville, Mo.) connected with her second home run of the year in Game 1 in the third inning, as CMU tied the score at 1-1 and then pushed the go-ahead run of the game across the dish in the sixth.
Central Methodist (26-20-1, 17-13 Heart) now sits three games out of first place, while moving up one spot to third in the Southern Division chase. Evangel University (28-18, 22-12 Heart) is in first place, followed by Avila University (30-20, 21-13 Heart), which is one game back. MidAmerica Nazarene University (26-18, 17-14 Heart) is just one-half game behind CMU and in fourth place.
GAME 1 RECAP
After the teams battled to a 1-1 tie heading into the fourth inning in Game 1, it was a pair of timely hits in the sixth inning that pushed across the winning run in the 2-1 opener. With two outs, Hannah Blackmon (SR/Beaumont, Texas) doubled to deep right-center and then plated when Skyler Hime (SO/Raymore, Mo.) hit a single to left field for the winning run.
In addition to Blackmon's two-bag hit, Kylee Foster (SR/Sturgeon, Mo.) (1-for-2), Sydnie Harmon (SO/Raymore, Mo.) (1-for-3), Reardon (1-for-3, HR, RBI, run) and Hime (1-for-3, RBI) added singles in the game for the Eagles.
Savannah Bellem led the Wildcats with a 1-for-2 effort at the plate.
Erin Enke (JR/Martinez, Calif.) (11-8) picked up the win in the circle. She went the distance, giving up one unearned run on three hits, with nine strikeouts and five walks. Olivia Brees (17-9) was the losing pitcher for Baker. In six innings she allowed two runs on five hits, with 11 strikeouts and one walk.
GAME 2 RECAP
Central Methodist pounded out 10 hits in Game 2, led by Steeby's 2-for-4 effort, with a home run, a double, three RBIs and two runs scored. Hime was 2-for-2, with a double and a run scored and Harmon was 2-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base. Taylor Patton (SO/Columbia, Mo.) finished 1-for-2, with a double, a run pushed in and another scored. Blackmon was 1-for-3 with a run scored, Kylee Foster picked up a double and drove in a run and Alyssa Lilly (SR/Wentzville, Mo.) singled and plated for CMU.
Three Baker player posted two hits apiece, as the team tallied eight hits in the game. Madison Allen was 2-for-3, with three runs batted in, while Riley Swickard singled and doubled in three at-bats, while scoring a run.
The Wildcats took a 2-1 lead after the first inning, but Steeby's three-run blast gave the Eagles the lead for good, 5-2, in the bottom of the second. Baker scored a run in the top of the fifth, but the Eagles answered with two runs in the bottom of the frame to put the game out of reach.
Ashley Litton (SR/Lee's Summit, Mo.) raised her season mark to 5-3, as she pitched a complete-game eight-hitter. She allowed just one earned run (3 total), while fanning four and walking one. Lexi Korte (1-1) took the loss for Baker. In 4.2 frames she gave up seven runs on 10 hits, with one strikeout and a pair of walks.
WHAT'S UP NEXT FOR CMU?
Central Methodist will travel to Olathe, Kan. on Wednesday to battle MidAmerica Nazarene University in a 4 p.m. twinbill. CMU is scheduled, weather permitting, to host Grand View on Saturday in its final home doubleheader of the year at 1 p.m.
CMU Softball Contact: John Krueger
Phone: 936-332-9332 | jkrueger@centralmethodist.edu
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Website: www.CMUEagles.com
