Alexandria, La. - The No. 8 Central Methodist Softball program split a pair of games in its season opening tournament at Louisiana Christian University, Friday afternoon.
The Eagles took care of business in game one, defeating Texas A&M Texarkana, 3-2, before falling to No. 7 nationally ranked Our Lady of the Lake (Texas), 4-3 in the night cap.
Game 1 vs. Texas A&M Texarkana
Central found themselves trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning following a two-RBI single to right field. Sophomore pitcher Jordyn Ball settled in after the first, tossing six scoreless innings and racking up 12 strikeouts.
CMU tied the game in the top of the fifth on a two-RBI double from Madison Roberts through the left side to score both Elizabeth Palumbo and Kelena Oots.
In the top of the seventh, a leadoff walk from Palumbo put the go ahead run on base for the Eagles. A wild pitch then moved Palumbo up to second base and into scoring position.
A Joely Crider single to left field was enough to score Palumbo from second and put Central out in front, 3-2.
Ball sat down the side in order in the bottom of the seventh to secure a one-run win for CMU.
Game 2 vs. No. 7 Our Lady of the Lake
The Eagles fell in the second game of the day in a top 10 matchup against No. 7 Our Lady of the Lake.
It was a scoreless first two innings for both teams, before the Saints plated a run in the bottom of the third on an RBI-double, up the middle.
Central responded in the next half inning as Crider blasted a two-run home run to put Central ahead, 2-1.
OLLU tied the game in the bottom of the fourth on an error by the Central defense. The Eagles were able to get out of the inning with minimal damage, as Haile Farris struck out the final batter of the inning to keep the game tied.
In the top of the fifth, a single from Kelena Oots followed by a stolen base put the Eagles in position to once again go ahead. Central took advantage of a single from Palumbo followed by an error by the Saints' first basemen to score Oots from second.
OLLU continued to find answers as the Saints drew a lead-off walk to begin the fifth. The next batter tripled to left to register the game tying run.
The next one and a half innings were scoreless, before the Saints scored the game winning run on an RBI single to right field in the bottom half of the seventh, giving OLLU a 4-3 win.
Farris pitched four complete innings, giving up two earned runs on three hits with one strikeout. Haley Cotter came in relief for the final two and third innings of work, allowing one earned run on two hits.
Both Oots and Palumbo picked up a pair of hits while Crider hit her first home run of the year.
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