The No. 3 Central Methodist softball team pushed its winning streak to 20 with doubleheader road sweeps of William Penn on Saturday afternoon in Oskaloosa, Iowa, and Grand View in Des Moines, Iowa, on Sunday.

Central routed the Statesmen by scores of 6-0 and 10-1 on Saturday before escaping with a 4-2 victory in extras to open Sunday’s doubleheader and a 4-0 shutout to close out the weekend.

In game one, Central broke through in the top of the fourth on an RBI-double from Lauren Hill to center field to score Joely Crider. The Eagles would score five runs in the seventh to put the game away late.

The seventh inning was highlighted by RBI-singles from Crider, Madison Roberts, and Daly Garland. Makaya Albert drove in two on a double to centerfield with the bases loaded.

Crider finished the game batting 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Additionally, Elizabeth Palumbo picked up two hits in four at-bats.

Fayette native and CMU ace Jordyn Ball tossed a complete game shutout, surrendering just five hits on two walks with seven strikeouts. It marks her 16th complete game of 2024.

In the finale, Central’s offense exploded for 10 runs on 16 hits. Both Roberts and Hill finished the day with three hits in four trips to the plate. Hill collected a pair of doubles, including a RBI-double in the fifth inning.

Makayla Albert picked up two hits, including an RBI-double in the fifth. 

Kirsten Dunn came in to pinch-hit for the Eagles in the seventh, joining the double club with a two-RBI double.

Kelena Oots batted 2-for-4 with an RBI single, and a run scored. She also picked up a stolen base, adding to her own program record of 75 career stolen bases in four seasons.

Haile Farris tallied her 12th win of the year, throwing a complete game and giving up just one earned run on six hits while striking out six.

Central closed out the weekend with a Sunday doubleheader sweep over the Grand View Vikings.

Tied 2-2 after seven innings, the Lady Eagles scored two clutch runs in the top of the eighth to go up by two. The defense then turned a double play in the bottom of the frame to escape with a two-run victory.

Jordyn Ball kept her perfect record intact at 18-0 inside the pitching circle. She allowed two earned runs on eight hits with a walk and retired eight batters on strikes.

After two and a half scoreless innings, Grand View broke the stalemate with two runs in the bottom of the third. After leading off with a double, the Vikings scored on a passed ball and a sacrifice bunt to go up 2-0.

Central answered with one run each in the fourth and fifth innings. After leading off the fourth inning with a walk, Lauren Hill later scored on a double from Daly Garland to cut the lead in half.

Madison White reached with a leadoff single in the top of the fifth and moved to third on a walk of Joely Crider and a bunt single by Madison Roberts. She came home on a foul out by Hill to tie the game at two apiece.

Tied at the end of regulation, Central scored two runs in the top of the eighth on two singles and a Vikings’ error. With two outs, Roberts drove in pinch-runner Cassidy Brent with a single. In the next at-bat, Hill reached on a center-fielder error, allowing White to score and give CMU a two-run lead.

Ball allowed one baserunner with a walk in the bottom of the eighth. But the Eagles’ defense mopped up with put out and a double play to keep the win streak alive.

That streak extended to 20 games with a 4-0 shutout in the nightcap. Reining Conference Pitcher of the Week Haile Farris dominated with a seven-inning shutout performance to preserve Central’s perfect Heart record. She allowed just three baserunners all game on two singles and a walk while striking out seven.

After three scoreless innings, the Central bats went to work with four hits, including back-to-back doubles from Joely Crider and Madison Roberts to plate three runs.

The Lady Eagles added an insurance run in the top of the seventh with an RBI-double from Elizabeth Palumbo to go up 4-0.

After walking the leadoff batter, Farris shut down the Vikings’ offense with three consecutive strikeouts to put the game away.

Central is now 37-3 overall and holds a perfect 18-0 record in the Heart. The Lady Eagles returned home Tuesday to host rival Missouri Valley in a doubleheader after the Advertiser went to press. On Friday, Central hosts Culver-Stockton for games at 2 and 4 p.m.