The Central Methodist softball team ended a fantastic season with a pair of losses in the NAIA World Series in Columbus, Ga. After dropping the opening game 8-3 to perennial NAIA power Science and Arts of Oklahoma on Thursday, the Lady Eagles fell 3-2 in an elimination game to No. 10 seed and defending national champion Southern Oregon on Friday.

It was Central’s second trip in two years to the NAIA World Series, the first time the team has made back-to-back appearances.

But despite the disappointing finish, the Eagles still won 52 games, the most by any team in program history. Those 52 wins go against just seven losses.

In Thursday’s opener, CMU, seeded third, jumped out in front against sixth-seeded Drovers in the bottom of the second inning. Senior outfielder Kelena Oots doubled to centerfield to score Daly Garland to give Central a 1-0 lead.

However, USAO responded in the top half of the third with four runs on five hits while capitalizing on an Eagle error. Highlighting the inning for the Drovers was a two-run home run.

Science and Arts added two more runs in the fourth, and runs in both the fifth and seventh innings to extend their lead to 8-1.

The Eagles trimmed the deficit in the final half inning with RBI doubles from Garland and Kaysie Jolley. But, Central was unable to cut into USAO’s lead any further, as the Drovers would go on to earn the 8-3 win.

Science and Arts scored its eight runs on 12 hits compared to three runs and six hits for the Eagles.

Both Oots and Jolley picked up two hits in four at-bats, while both Garland and Makayla Albert each recorded a hit. In addition, Garland drew two walks and crossed the plate twice.

Fayette native and CMU ace Jordyn Ball surrendered four earned runs on five hits and a walk with two strikeouts in two and a third innings. The loss was only her second against 27 wins this season.

Senior Haile Farris pitched the final four and two thirds innings in relief. She allowed four runs (3 earned) on seven hits with two walks and a strikeout.

With the season on the line in Friday’s elimination game against the defending national champion Southern Oregon, CMU once again coughed up an early lead and fall by one run, 3-2

The Eagles jumped out in front with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Sophomore Joely Crider induced a bases-loaded walk to score Jolley from third. Then, Madison Roberts rocketed a single back up the middle to score Elizabeth Palumbo and take a two-run lead.

Southern Oregon cut the deficit in half on a solo home run to left field in the second inning. The Raiders ultimately tied the game in the fifth via a single back up the middle, then scored the go-ahead run on an error in the sixth to lead 3-2.

CMU finished the day scoring two runs on 10 hits.

Kelena Oots, Jolley, and Palumbo picked up two hits in four at bats, while Crider drew a pair of walks.

Farris pitched a complete game in her final start in an Eagle uniform, finishing her senior season with a 19-3 record. She gave up just two earned runs on 10 hits while picking up one strikeout.