Central Methodist University softball closed out the regular season with a 3-1 record across a pair of doubleheaders, splitting with Baker on Friday before sweeping Graceland on Saturday.

On Friday, the Eagles celebrated their second set of seniors as part of two senior day ceremonies held during the month of April. Central Methodist finished the regular season at 33-15 overall and 19-8 in Heart of America Athletic Conference play.

Friday Game 1

CMU 5

Baker 2

Central Methodist rallied past Baker 5-2 in the opener at Reardon Family Field. Trailing 2-0 through three innings, the Eagles erupted for five runs in the fifth. Maddie Holly started the rally with an RBI single, Madison Roberts delivered a two-run double, and Kinlei Boley and Rachel Brandt added RBI singles.

Central Methodist collected 12 hits, paced by Elizabeth Palumbo’s 3-for-4 performance and a two-double, two-RBI outing from Roberts. Karlie Barnum pitched a complete game, allowing two runs on eight hits while improving to 16-3 on the season.

Friday Game 2

Baker 2

CMU 0

Baker evened the series with a 2-0 victory in the nightcap. The Eagles were limited to four hits. Brianna Craig led Central Methodist with two hits. Haley Cotter took the loss in a complete-game effort.

Saturday Game 1

CMU 10

Graceland 0

The Eagles responded with a dominant 10-0 run-rule victory over Graceland on Saturday in Lamoni, Iowa. Central Methodist scored seven runs in the first inning, highlighted by a two-RBI single from Joely Crider and RBI hits from Madison Roberts and Emma King. Maddie Holly added a two-RBI single in the third.

Central Methodist racked up 14 hits. Crider and Roberts each went 3-for-3 with two RBIs. Barnum tossed a two-hit shutout with three strikeouts.

Saturday Game 2

CMU 6

Graceland 0

Central Methodist completed the sweep with a 6-0 victory in the regular-season finale. The Eagles broke through with an RBI single from Elizabeth Palumbo in the third inning before adding four runs in the fifth. Palumbo finished with three RBIs. Central Methodist totaled 13 hits.

Haley Cotter pitched a complete-game shutout, scattering eight hits while striking out four.

Central Methodist earned the No. 2 seed in the Heart of America Athletic Conference Tournament. The Eagles will open postseason play against No. 7 seed Mount Mercy at 5 p.m. tomorrow (Thursday) in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Central lost both games of a regular-season home double-header against Mount Mercy on April 11 by a combined two runs (4-3 and 6-5).

Thursday’s winner will advance to take on the winner of the round-one game between third-seeded Grand View and sixth-seeded William Woods. The Eagles swept both teams in regular-season action this season.