The No. 1 Central Methodist softball team saw its season come to an end Wednesday afternoon, falling to No. 2 Tennessee Wesleyan the NAIA Opening Round Championship game, 8-7. 

The Eagles finish their season with an overall record of 42-7, while the Bulldogs advance to the program's first-ever NAIA World Series. 

TWU took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when leadoff hitter Callie king singled over short and advanced to second on a single to left by third baseman Emily Mikkola. Following a foul out, CMU senior pitcher Keighlan Cronin gave up a walk to load the bases. Mikkola then scored on a fielder’s choice to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead at the end of the first frame.

The score remained 1-0 until the top of the fifth when CMU junior Katelyn Kiser launched a home run to left center to tie the game. Freshman designated player Mikayla Pennell followed with a double, and then advanced to third on a single by classmate Daly Garland. Junior Kaylee Parker then singled, driving home Pennell and advancing Garland to second.

Sophomore Kelena Oots bunted down the third base line, advancing both runners on the sacrifice. Shortstop Madison White then lofted a sacrifice fly to center allowing Garland to score. Head coach Pat Reardon then opted to have freshman Cassidy Brent pinch run for Parker. Sophomore Micaela Harcrow drove in Brent to make the score 4-1 in favor of the Eagles before senior Kelli Gorman popped up to end the inning.

Tennessee Wesleyan wasted no time clawing back into the game, knotting the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the fifth, with three runs scored on three hits. An error by the normally-reliable senior Madison Love at first base, contributed to the Bulldog uprising.

After being unable to score in the top of the sixth, the wheels came off for Central in the bottom of the sixth when leadoff hitter Destiny Painter singled to left. Reardon went to the bullpen to have freshman Mykala Johnico come on in relief of Cronin with a runner on first and no outs. The first batter Johnico would face was leadoff hitter King. The right fielder delivered a single over short, advancing Painter to second. Johnico walked Mikkola to fill the bases before left fielder Courtney Sneed flew out to left, scoring Painter on the sacrifice fly. Loryn Sherwood grounded out to first to advance the runners to second and third.

Bulldog second baseman Haley Hinshaw scored Mikkola and King with a double to right to make the score 7-4 with two outs. Shortstop Allee West then sent Hinshaw home with a single to center.

The Lady Eagles proved they would not go down without a fight in the top of the seventh. Parker led off with with a single before giving way to junior Chloe Clarke who pinch ran. Oots followed with a single, advancing Clarke to second.

Madison White stepped to the plate and delivered a three-run home run, drawing the Lady Eagles to within one. The inning and season ended there, however, as Harcrow, Gorman, and Love all flew out to the outfield. The game ended with Central falling one run short, losing 8-7.

Cronin started in the circle for Central, allowing four earned runs on nine hits in five innings. Johnico gave up three earned runs on three hits in relief. Uncharacteristically, neither of the two hurlers recorded a strikeout.

At the plate, Madison White went one-for-four with a three-run home run while Katelyn Kiser was one-for-three with a solo shot. Three Eagles, Harcrow, Pennell, and Parker, recorded two hits each during the game. One of Pennell’s hits was a double.

Central’s spectacular season came to an end with a 42-7 overall record while going 27-1 in the Heart Athletic conference.

During a nearly two-month stretch dating from March 16 through May 6, the Lady Eagles did not suffer a loss. That win-streak covered 28 games and 14 doubleheaders.

The Lady Eagles finished the season with a .350 batting average while scoring 317 runs and powering 40 home runs. 

As impressive as the Eagle offense was, one could make an argument the pitching was even better. In 47 games, Central pitching sported an earned run average of 1.63, with 382 strikeouts in 318 innings pitched, while giving up only 206 hits.