CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — After a tough loss to open a double-header against Mount Mercy on Sunday afternoon, the (RV) Central Methodist softball team rebounded for a strong 7-1 victory in the series finale to conclude the Iowa road trip with a 3-1 mark.

GAME ONE (6-4 loss):

All of the Eagles offense came in the top of the 3rd inning. Hannah Criswell (SO/Kennett, Mo.) hit an RBI double to get Central on the board.

Taylor Patton (SR/Columbia, Mo.) went deep on the very next pitch, clobbering a three-run homer to give the Eagles a one-run lead. Patton is now tied with Kelli Gorman (SO/St. Charles, Mo.) for the team lead with six long balls on the season.

The Mustangs scored three runs down the stretch to emerge victorious. Ashley Wills (SR/Cameron, Mo.) took the loss after throwing six innings and giving up four earned runs while striking out four.

GAME TWO (7-1 win):

Morgan Willis (JR/Carrollton, Mo.) got the ball rolling with an RBI double in the top of the 3rd inning. Later in the inning, Gorman scored on an RBI single by Lexi Jones (SO/Wentzville, Mo.) to give the Eagles a 3-0 lead.

In the 4th inning, Willis picked up another RBI on a single up the middle. The Mustangs scored one run in the bottom of the frame, but Central put the game on ice with three runs in the top of the 7th.

Sydnie Harmon (SR/Raymore, Mo.) scored on Gorman's RBI double for the first run of the inning. Gorman ended the weekend with a team-high 38 RBIs on the season to go along with nine doubles. Two batters later, Criswell hit a two-run double for the final runs of the ballgame.

Keighlan Cronin (FR/St. Charles, Mo.) got the win after going seven strong innings while only allowing four hits and one earned run. Cronin is now 9-1 on the season.

UP NEXT:

Central (19-11, 11-5 Heart) is set to take on Benedictine on the road Tuesday afternoon. First pitch in the doubleheader is scheduled for 2 pm in Atchison, Kan.