The No. 11 Central Methodist softball program completed doubleheader sweeps of Clarke and Mount Mercy at home on Friday and Saturday. 

With the victories, Central improves its overall record to 27-4 and 19-1 in conference play. The Eagles are currently riding an 18-game winning streak and remain atop the Heart standings with a .950 winning percentage in the conference. 

Friday Game 1

Clarke-1

CMU-7

 In the first game against the Pride, Central jumped out in front in the first inning on an RBI double to centerfield by sophomore Micaela Harcrow. Clarke evened the score in the top of the second, before the Eagles added two runs in the third to jump back out in front 3-1. 

Central plated two runs in the fifth and two in the sixth to complete the six-run victory. Sophomore Kelena Oots and junior Katelyn Kiser led the CMU offense with two hits apiece and two runs scored. Kiser hit her second homer of the season in the fifth inning. 

Harcrow and sophomore Madison White each picked up doubles. Kiser and teammate Chloe Clarke put on a double steal in the bottom of the sixth, highlighted by Clarke stealing home.

Senior ace Keighlan Cronin earned her 12th win of the year, pitching a complete game and giving up only one earned run on six hits.

Friday Game 2

Clarke-3

CMU-6

Each team scored a run in the first inning before Central broke the deadlock with three runs in the second, highlighted by a solo home run by freshman Abbie Marshall, an RBI double by classmate Lauren Hill and a sacrifice fly from Madison White.

Clarke trimmed the lead to one with a run in the fifth and a run in the sixth, before CMU plated two runs in the bottom half of the sixth via a two-RBI single from Harcrow. 

Senior Madison Love started the game in the circle, tossing 5.1 innings and giving up two earned runs on seven hits. Freshman Mykala Johnico recorded a save, finishing out the final 1.2 innings of work with five strikeouts.

White led the Eagle offense going three-for-three with a double while Harcrow went three-for-four with three RBI’s. 

Saturday Game 1

MMU-0

CMU-1

On Saturday the Eagles turned their attention to 2021 NAIA World Series participant Mount Mercy. 

The two teams remained scoreless through the first seven innings of play. MMU starter Jayna Witzany gave up eight hits and struck out eight. CMU starter Keighlan Cronin pitched eight innings and gave up only three hits while striking out 10. After seven scoreless innings, game two was to be decided in extra innings. Central broke the deadlock in the bottom of the eighth on walk off single from Love to score senior Kelli Gorman from second base. 

Senior Madison Love playing first base, paced the Eagles going two-for-four with the game winning RBI.

Saturday Game 2

MMU-0

CMU-8

After the 1-0 nail biter in the first game, the first two innings of the second game seemed like more of the same. But when Central put up five runs in the bottom of the third, that all changed. Adding two in the fourth and another in the fifth sealed the 8-0 victory for the Eagles. 

The third inning was highlighted by back-to-back doubles from White and Harcrow, followed by three consecutive singles from Gorman, freshman Mikayla Pennell, and Love. 

White led the Eagle offense, going three-for-four with three RBI. Oots, Harcrow, Love, and Kiser each picked up two hits.

Johnico tossed a one-hitter inside the circle with nine strikeouts for her 10th win of the year.

Central remains at home to host MidAmerica Nazarene tonight beginning at 3 p.m. at Cox Softball Complex.  The Lady Eagles then head to Lamoni, Iowa for a doubleheader against Graceland on Thursday before returning home for weekend double headers against Benedictine on Saturday and Baker on Sunday.