FAYETTE, MO. – The No. 17 nationally ranked Central Methodist softball team split the home series against Benedictine College, winning game one 9-1 and falling in game two 10-5, Tuesday evening.
NOTES
• The Eagles move to 27-6 on the season and 17-4 in the Heart action.
• The Ravens are currently 20-14 on the year and 10-12 in Heart play.
• The Eagles are currently tied for first in the conference standing with Grand View University.
STANDOUT PERFORMERS
• Alexis Jones (FR/Wentzville, Mo.) connected for her first home run of the season, in game one. Hannah Steeby (SO/St. Joseph, Mo.) added her 16th home run of the season, finishing the day 2-of-5 with three runs scored and four RBIs.
• Morgan Willis (SO/Carrollton, Mo.) finished the day 4-of-6 for two RBIs and three runs scored.
• Erin Enke (SR/Martinez, Calif.) picked up her 15th win of the year, allowing only four hits for one run and four strikeouts in six innings of action.
HOW IT HAPPENED GAME ONE
• Neither teams were able to add a run, as both were scoreless after one inning. However, Benedictine struck for the first run of the game in the top of the second. Central Methodist answered with a run of their own on a single by Willis that plated Gorman.
• Central Methodist added another run on back-to-back singles by Jones and Criswell, that scored Willis from second in the fourth inning. Central Methodist led 2-1.
• Central Methodist exploded for five more additional runs in the bottom of the fifth, as Fuemmeler doubled to lead off the inning. On the first pitch, Steeby connected for the two-run homer to put Central Methodist up 4-1.
• With runners on first and second, Jones tallied a three-run homer as Central Methodist stretched the lead 7-1 after five innings.
• Enke popped out the Splane for the final out in the top of the sixth inning. As Fuemmeler and Steeby drew a walk, Reardon doubled to shallow left-center to score both runners to end the game with the 9-1 victory.
HOW IT HAPPENED GAME TWO
• The game was scoreless through the first two innings, until Central Methodist added three runs in the bottom of the third. A single up the middle by Steeby added two runs. Moments later, with the bases loaded, Willis drew a walk that scored Steeby.
• One more run was added for Central Methodist in the fourth, as the bases were loaded once again and Harmon drew a walk. Central Methodist led 4-0
• Benedictine capitalized with five huge runs in the top of the sixth inning. Three straight doubles by Benedictine scored two runs. Followed by another double from Hyde and a single by Harding to put three more runs on the board. Central Methodist trailed 5-4 heading into the seventh.
• Down 5-4, Willis led off the bottom of the seventh with a single and later advanced to second a ground out. A single by Jenkins scored Willis from second to tie up the game at 5-5. A double by Hime would place Stoneking on third with two outs. Gilham came in to replace Ricke for Benedictine, who was able to get the third and final out of the inning on a ground out.
• Benedictine responded with five runs in the top of the eighth inning, as a single by Burris scored two followed by a double from Shanks and a single by Ray, that plated three more runs. Central Methodist dropped game two 10-5 in extra innings.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• The Eagles tallied 20 hits for 14 runs, while the Ravens recorded 14 hits for 11 runs in the series.
• The Eagles added six extra base hits on the day.
• The Ravens had five extra base hits against the Eagles.
UP NEXT
• The Eagles will return to action on tomorrow, April 18th as they travel to Missouri Valley College for a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader match-up. Game time is scheduled for 4:00pm.
