Fayette, Mo. - The Central Methodist Softball team punched their ticket to the Opening Round Championship game with a 4-3 victory over No. 1 LSU-Alexandria Tuesday afternoon at Cox Softball Complex. 

Central plated the first run of the day in the second inning courtesy of an RBI single from Daly Garland to score Lauren Hill. 

CMU added another run in the fifth following an RBI single from Hill, plating Madison Roberts. Central extended its lead to 3-0 after Maddie Holly singled to left center to score Elizabeth Palumbo in the sixth. 

The Eagles kept LSUA off the scoreboard until the bottom of the sixth, as the General plated three runs on four hits to tie the game at 3-3. 

Hill made sure the Eagles jumped back out in front in the top of the seventh, as the senior from California blasted a leadoff solo home run to left field to give Central a 4-3 lead. 

Sophomore pitcher Veronica Dearth sat the Generals down in order in the final half inning, giving CMU its 40th win of the year and her 11th inside the circle. 

Hill had a stellar day at the dish, going three-for-four with a single, a double, a home run while driving in two RBI and scoring twice herself. 

Roberts, Holly, and Garland all picked up two hits. 

Haley Cotter got the start in the circle, tossing five complete innings and allowing just two earned runs on eight hits while striking out two. 

Dearth got the win after throwing the final two innings with two Ks. 

Central will face the winner of LSUA/UT Southern in the Opening Round Championship game Wednesday, May 14 at 2:30 p.m. at Cox Softball Complex. 

Needing just one win, the Eagles are looking to secure their spot at the NAIA Softball World Series in Columbus, Georgia for the third consecutive year. 

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