Central Methodist has claimed the Heart of America Conference Tournament title for the second straight season with four straight victories. Central defeated Culver-Stockton 11-3 on Thursday, Grandview 8-0 on Friday, and Mount Mercy 8-1 and 14-3 on Friday and Saturday.

This marks the second consecutive year that the Lady Eagles have swept both the Heart regular season and tournament championships.

Freshman and Fayette native Jordyn Ball picked up two of the four wins for CMU. She pitched a six-inning gem in game one against Culver, striking out nine batters while allowing just three earned runs on nine hits.

Ball earned her second win of the tournament with a seven-inning complete game in the third bout of the series against Mount Mercy on Friday. She allowed just one earned run on five hits with seven strikeouts and a walk. 

Ball is now 17-3 on the season in 20 games started with a team-best ERA of 1.41 heading into the NAIA National Tournament.

Game 1

8. Culver-Stockton 3

1. CMU 11

In the tournament opener, Kaysie Jolley got the scoring started early with a three-run home run to left center in the bottom of the second inning. After the Wildcats responded with a two-run fourth inning, Jolley answered right back with her second homer of the game, this time a solo shot to right field to push Central’s lead to 4-2. 

In the same inning, Joely Crider homered to right to plate three, followed by a two RBI-single from Montana Stangel.

A Wildcat home run trimmed the Eagles’ lead to 9-3, but Central would score two additional runs in the sixth to earn the eight-run victory in six innings.

Overall, Central plated 11 runs on 13 hits, including four for extra bases and five walks.

Game 2

4. Grand View 0

1. CMU 8

Central continued to roll in the Heart Conference Tournament, defeating fourth-seeded Grand View University 8-0 in five innings Friday afternoon. 

CMU scored eight runs on nine hits, including doubles from Joely Crider, Madison White, and Lauren Hill. The big inning for CMU came in the final inning, where the Lady Eagles scored seven runs to put away the game early.

Central received consistent batting from up and down the lineup, as six different Eagles recorded at least one hit, with seven players picking up an RBI. Crider, Palumbo, and Hill picked up two hits in three at-bats, including a two-RBI double from Crider close out the game.

Haley Cotter earned her fifth win of the year, tossing a complete game shutout and giving up just two hits and one walk while striking out six.

Game 3

3. Mount Mercy 1

1. CMU 8

Freshman Joely Crider led the Eagles’ offense with two hits in four plate appearances, including a three-run home run in the sixth to put the game out of reach. Junior Madison White also homered in the third to plate a pair of runs, while Kelena Oots and Madison Roberts drove in an RBI each. 

The win advanced the Eagles to the championship series Sunday where they needed just one win to claim the title. Mount Mercy knocked off No. 2 seeded Baker in an elimination game to punch its ticket to the Heart title game and secure a rematch with the Eagles.

Game 4

3. Mount Mercy 3

1. CMU 14

Central’s bats remained hot in the championship game as the Eagles cruised past the 2021 Heart Tournament champs 14-3 in five innings.

After trailing 2-0 after the first half inning of play, Central scored five runs, highlighted by a grand slam from senior Montana Stangel.

The Eagles plated four runs in the second, two in the third, and three in the fourth to cruise to an 11-run win in five innings.

Elizabeth Palumbo homered to right center in the fourth inning to score three. Madison Roberts, Kaysie Jolley, and Lauren Hill drove in two runners each. 

Central and Mount Mercy clinched automatic berths into the NAIA Softball National Championship tournament.

The Lady Eagles were to learn where and who they will be playing in next week’s Opening Round after the Advertiser went to press on Tuesday.

Last year, Central finished 2-2 in the national tournament to finish the season at 42-7 overall. So far this year, the Lady Eagles are 38-10 overall.