The No. 17 CMU Eagles have now won seven straight games after sweeping MidAmerica Nazarene and Culver-Stockton in Heart doubleheaders Saturday and Sunday.

The Eagles took advantage of timely hitting and a late-game surge in Friday’s opener before riding an offensive explosion in game two to complete a doubleheader sweep of MidAmerica Nazarene Saturday afternoon in Olathe, Kan.

The Eagles won a 5-3 extra-inning game one, followed by a 15-10 victory in Saturday’s finale.

Saturday

Game 1 - 8 innings

CMU 5

MidAm 3

After coughing up a three-run lead, Central scored in the top of the eighth to secure the opener. With the game tied 3-3, Brianna Craig delivered the decisive blow, lining a two-run single down the left field line to score Kaysie Jolley and Elizabeth Palumbo for a 5-3 victory.

Jolley paced the Eagles offensively with a perfect 4-for-4 performance, adding two runs scored and an RBI. Craig finished 3-for-4 with two RBI, while Palumbo doubled twice and scored two runs.

CMU struck first in the second inning on a single by Craig, paired with a MidAm error. The Eagles extended the lead to 3-0 in the third behind RBI singles from Maddie Holly and Jolley.

MNU answered with a two-run home run in the third and tied the game in the fourth on an RBI triple.

In the circle, Haley Cotter earned the win in relief, tossing three scoreless innings while allowing just three hits. Karlie Barnum started and struck out six over five innings.

Saturday

Game 2

CMU 15

MidAm 10
The Eagles’ offense erupted for 17 hits in the second game, scoring in five of the first six innings to complete the sweep.

Central wasted no time plating four runs in the opening frame, highlighted by RBI hits from Palumbo, Jolley, Holly, and Emma King.

The Eagles continued to build their lead with a two-run second inning and three runs in the third to go ahead 9-1 before MidAmerica Nazarene responded with five runs in the bottom half of the third.

Despite the Pioneers closing within three runs (9-6), Central answered with two runs in the fourth inning and four in the fifth. Jolley’s two-run double and a sacrifice fly from Holly pushed the lead to 15-7.

MidAmerica Nazarene scored four runs across the fourth and fifth innings but could not complete the comeback.

Madison Roberts led the offensive onslaught with a 4-for-4 performance, scoring three times and driving in a run. Palumbo added three RBI, while Jolley and Craig drove in three and two runs, respectively.

In the circle, Barnum picked up the win in relief, improving to 8-0 after tossing 2.1 scoreless innings to close out the game.

The Eagles returned home for a dominant Sunday at Reardon Family Field, sweeping Culver-Stockton in a doubleheader in 9-0 run-rule victory in game one followed by a 3-0 shutout in game two.

With the sweep, the Eagles improve to 19-8 overall and 6-2 in conference play.

Central controlled the day from the circle and the batter’s box, outscoring the Wildcats 12-0 while allowing just six hits across 12 innings.

Sunday

Game 1 - 5 innings

CSC 0

CMU 9

Back home on Reardon Family Field on Sunday, the Eagles parlayed a balanced offensive attack with a big fourth inning to secure a run-rule win in the opening game.

After taking a 1-0 lead in the second on an RBI double from Kinlei Boley, Central broke the game open with three runs in the third. Maddie Holly delivered an RBI single before Emma King launched a two-run home run to right, extending the lead to 4-0.

The Eagles erupted for five runs in the fourth inning to put the game out of reach. Elizabeth Palumbo highlighted the frame with a two-run double, while Holly drove in two more runs on a single. King capped the scoring with an RBI fielder’s choice.

Palumbo led the offense with a perfect 3-for-3 performance, including two doubles and a triple, while driving in two runs. Holly and King each tallied three RBI, with King adding two hits and a home run. Boley also contributed a two-hit effort.

In the circle, Karlie Barnum remained unbeaten, tossing a complete-game shutout. She allowed just three hits while striking out three to improve to 9-0 on the season.

Sunday

Game 2

CSC 0

CMU 3

The nightcap featured another strong pitching performance and timely scoring early.

CMU took advantage of Wildcat errors to plate all three runs in the first two innings. In the opening frame, Madison Roberts scored on an error following a fielder’s choice by Palumbo.

The Eagles added two more runs in the second inning as Joely Crider’s single helped bring home Roberts and Rachel Brandt, both runs scoring unearned.

Crider paced the offense with a perfect 3-for-3 day, while Brandt accounted for one of Central’s six hits and scored a run.

Haley Cotter was dominant in the circle, throwing a complete-game shutout. She scattered three hits, struck out four, and allowed just one walk in the winning effort.

Central heads back out on the road for a non-conference doubleheader at Columbia College today (Wednesday) in Columbia. The first pitch is set for 1 p.m.