Fayette, Mo. - The No. 8 Central Methodist Softball team secured a doubleheader split with future Heart member and No. 17 nationally ranked Missouri Baptist Monday afternoon in St. Louis, Mo.
Central fell in game one to the Spartans, 6-5, before responding with a 12-0 shutout in five innings in the second game.
Game 1: No. 17 Missouri Baptist 6 - No. 8 CMU 5
After a scoreless first inning, the Spartans struck first in the bottom of the second, scoring two runs on two hits.
Central responded in the fourth with five runs to claim a 5-2 lead. Ainsley Feller pushed across the first run via a single through the left side. One batter later, Madison Roberts got hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to tie the game at 2-2.
The clutch hit for the Eagles came immediately after, as Daly Garland hit a bases clearing double to center field to put Central up 5-2.
Missouri Baptist would make a run of their own right after, scoring four unanswered runs in the bottom of the fourth.
The bats would stay quiet for the remaining three innings of play, giving the Spartans a one run, victory.
Game 2: No. 8 CMU 12 - No. 17 MBU 0
The Eagles jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in game two of the doubleheader thanks to a Joely Crider solo home run.
CMU continued their hot start, adding five more on the board in the second.
Kaysie Jolley led off the inning with a single to left and made her way to third after Lauren Hill doubled to center field.
With no one away and the bases loaded, Makayla Albert connected on an RBI-single.
One batter later, Garland drove in two more followed by a sacrifice fly from Crider to score Albert, and an RBI single from Elizabeth Palumbo to plate Garland.
Garland drove in the sixth run of the day in the third on an RBI-single to centerfield.
The Eagles showed off their long ball power in the fourth, with Palumbo, Roberts, and Hill all hitting home runs to secure a 12-0 lead. Hill highlighted the inning with her three-run blast toleft field.
Up Next:
The Eagles will prepare for the start of conference play on Saturday, March 22, welcoming MidAmerica Nazarene for a doubleheader at Cox Softball Complex.
First pitch of game one is set for 1:00pm.
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