Iowa - The No. 6 Central Methodist Softball program completed doubleheader sweeps over Mount Mercy University and Clarke this past weekend.
Central took care of business against the Mustangs Friday in Cedar Rapids by scores of 15-2 and 7-3, before closing the weekend with a pair of wins over Clarke, 7-0 and 5-3, Saturday in Dubuque.
CMU now stands at 23-5 and are currently in a tie for first place in the Heart Regular standings with a 7-1 record.
Game 1: No. 6 CMU 15 - Mount Mercy 2
Central's offense was firing on all cylinders in game one of the week, scoring one run in the first, four in the second, and five in the third and fourth innings to secure a run-rule victory in six innings.
Senior Daly Garland led the offense, batting two-for-two with two singles, a sacrifice fly and four total RBI. Elizabeth Palumbo batted two-for-three with two home runs and three RBI.
Sami Picha doubled to left field in the second inning to score one.
Haley Cotter earned her ninth win of the year in the circle, tossing five complete innings and giving up just two earned runs on six hits. She finished the day with three strikeouts.
Game 2: No. 6 CMU 7 - Mount Mercy 3
After Central plated a pair of runs in the top of the first inning, courtesy of a two-run home run by Palumbo, Mount Mercy responded with two runs in the bottom half of the frame to tie the game.
After a scoreless second inning, CMU took the lead with three runs in the top of third. Maddie Holly singled to left field to score Madison Roberts, while Rachel Brandt single to right, plating two.
Mount Mercy got one run back in the sixth on a double, but an RBI triple from Lauren Hill and sacrifice fly from Brandt in the seventh put the game away for Central.
Khloe Perkins secured her third win of the year, pitching five innings and allowing just two earned runs. Cassidy Brent came in relief, tossing the final two innings and allowing one earned run.
Game 1: No. 6 CMU 7 - Clarke 0
CMU opened their Saturday doubleheader with two runs in the first and second innings to take a 4-0 lead over Clarke.
The Eagles scored runs in each of the fourth, sixth, and seventh innings to come away with a 7-0 shut out victory.
Roberts went a perfect five-for-five at the plate, including a double and four singles. She finished the game driving in three runners while crossing the plate three times herself.
Kaysie Jolley also had an excellent day at the dish, batting four-for-five with four singles and three RBI. Joely Crider picked up two doubles and drew one walk from the leadoff spot.
Veronica Dearth pitched a complete game shut out, giving up just three hits and striking out seven in her best game of the year.
Game 2: No. 6 CMU 5 - Clarke 3
As they did all weekend, Central jumped out in front early with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. The inning included an RBI single back up the middle from Roberts and an RBI double to right center from Jolley.
The Eagles third run of the day didn't come until the fifth inning, as a sacrifice fly from Holly was deep enough to score Palumbo from third.
Clarke cut Central's lead to 3-1 in the bottom half of the frame on an RBI single back up the middle. But CMU responded with two runs in the sixth off the bats of Garland and Crider.
The Pride scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth, but were unable to come any closer as Central secured the doubleheader sweep with a 5-3 win.
CMU got production from up and down its lineup, as seven different Eagles tallied at least one hit. Crider, Roberts, Holly and Garland all finished the day with two hits, including a pair of doubles for Garland.
Cotter picked up win No. 10 in the circle, pitching the first five innings and giving up two earned runs with four strikeouts.
Perkins earned a save after tossing the final two innings and keeping Clarke from scoring in the latter stages of the game.
Up Next:
Central makes the short trip to Marshall, Missouri to face Missouri Valley College for a doubleheader Wednesday, April 2. First pitch of game one is set for 2:00 p.m.
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