Oklahoma City, Okla. - The Central Methodist University softball team won four of five games, including an upset victory over No. 20 Morningside University this past weekend at the Red Dirt Classic in Oklahoma City, Okla.
The Eagles won three-straight games to open the classic, upsetting No. 20 Morningside, 3-1, in the first game of the day. Central then defeated Mid-America Christian, 2-0, and NCAA DII member Lincoln University, 9-1.
CMU concluded the tournament with a Saturday split, claiming a 12-0 shutout victory over Our Lady of the Lake, before falling to No. 2 nationally ranked University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, 6-2 in the finale.
Central improves their overall record to 12-1 through the first 13 games of the year, with five of those wins being shutouts.
In the tournament opener, CMU squared off against nationally-ranked Morningside University. After two complete scoreless innings, the Eagles jumped out front with a run in the third and two runs in the fourth to take a 3-0 lead. The first run came via an RBI single from Madison White that scored Kelli Gorman. In the next inning, Kelana Oots singled to shallow left to score Micaela Harcrow and Morgan Willis hit a sacrifice fly which brought home Adalia Sewell.
Despite the Spartans trimming the lead to two on a solo home run in the sixth, the Central pitching staff held the MBU bats scoreless for the remainder of the game, eventually earning the 3-1 win. Keighlan Cronin pitched a complete game, allowing only one run on two hits and 13 strikeouts.
Against Mid-America Christian, CMU needed only two runs in the bottom of the third to come away with the win. Willis hit a two-run home run to pick up two RBI. Madison Love had another solid start in the circle, tossing a complete-game shutout and striking out 12 batters, and allowing only five hits.
The final game on Friday came against NCAA DII member Lincoln University-Missouri. Central's bats remained hot as they scored three runs in the second, third, and fourth innings respectively, earning a convincing 9-1 victory. Megan Lundt led the offense with three RBI including a two-RBI single in the third inning. Taylor Dial and Jordan Jenkins each picked up two RBI.
Freshman pitcher Montana Stangel earned her first career win as an Eagle, throwing five complete innings and giving up just one run on five hits and two walks.
Saturday morning's opener featured CMU against Our Lady of the Lake University. The Eagles' offense peppered the Saints' pitching staff with six runs in the second and fourth innings, taking the fourth game of the tournament, 12-0 in fiving innings. Gorman led the offense batting three-of-four with two doubles and three RBI. As a team, the Eagles collected five extra-base hits and 12 hits overall, compared to just two for OLLU.
Sophomore Cortnee Brink-Baugh kept CMU's pitching staff sharp, as the Goodyear, Ariz. native pitched all five innings, allowing no runs on just two hits along with 10 strikeouts.
The Eagles looked to knock off No. 2 nationally ranked University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma in the finale. After giving up two runs in the second inning, Central responded with two runs in the next half inning to tie the ballgame at 2-2. However, the Drovers scored four runs in the final four innings to earn a 6-2 win over CMU.
Central returns to Cox Softball Complex for a non-conference doubleheader against the University of Saint Mary Thursday, March 11 beginning at 2:00 p.m. It will mark the first home games for CMU since April 14, 2019.
#TakeFlight
