The No. 3 Central Methodist softball team completed a perfect regular season in the Heart of America Athletic Conference on Saturday with a doubleheader sweep of Benedictine College, 8-2 and 2-1, in Atchison, Kan.

The Eagles finish the regular season 43-3 overall with a perfect 24-0 record in the Heart of America. It marks the first perfect regular season for the Eagles in conference play since 2015.

The Eagles offense was stifled in the first five innings of play in game one, as Benedictine held a 2-0 lead entering the top of the sixth. That’s when senior infielder Madison White smashed a two-run home run to tie the game at 2-2. In the seventh, Central’s offense exploded for six runs on three hits with the help of three Benedictine errors.

Lauren Hill started the inning with a solo home run, putting Central in front 3-2. CMU reached base in their next two plate appearances before Benedictine recorded a strikeout to put one out on the board.

A walk from Kaysie Jolley loaded the bases, followed by a single from Palumbo. On the same play, the Eagles’ Emily Sheffield and Makayla Albert scored on an error by the left fielder. The next three batters would reach base via a hit-by-pitch from White and back-to-back bases-loaded walks to Joely Crider and Madison Roberts.

The final run of the inning came on an error by the Benedictine catcher to score Roberts.

Fayette native and CMU ace Jordyn Ball improved her unblemished record to 21-0 in the circle. She allowed just two earned runs on four hits and a walk.

Game two was a pitcher’s duel, with Central jumping out in front with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning.

Palumbo doubled to score both Jolley and Oots while ultimately advancing to third on an error by the catcher. Benedictine eventually broke through in the fifth on an RBI single.

However, Haile Farris was on lockdown in the circle. She surrendered just one earned run on seven hits. The senior also struck out six batters through seven complete innings on the way to her 16th win of the year.

Central now turns its attention to the postseason. The Heart of America Conference Tournament begins tomorrow (Thursday) in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. CMU’s opponent had not been announced when the Advertiser went to press on Tuesday morning.