Central Methodist softball (photo, CMU athletics)
14th ranked Central Methodist’s record-breaking 2014 season came to an end Wednesday with a 6-1 loss to No. 2 LSU Alexandria (La.) in the Columbia, Mo. Bracket championship game in the NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round.
The Eagles lost for the second time in this regional to the Generals who advance to the 2014 NAIA Softball World Series in Columbus, Ga.
Down 3-0 in the bottom half of the second inning, Central Methodist (43-8) cut the deficit to one run with two outs when Alyssa Lilly’s RBI single scored Lauren Geringer. The Eagles put the tying run in scoring position, but a groundout ended the threat.
The Lady Generals also scored in the third, fourth, and sixth innings to take a commanding five-run lead.
The 43 wins is a new single-season school record, and the 2014 Eagles’ senior class of Utley, Ford, Robbins, Mary Kate Townley, Bri Kirkland and Melanie Wilmsmeyer exits Fayette as the all-time winningest four-year class in school history with 160 triumphs and the only Eagles’ class to win four Heart of America Athletic Conference championships and three Championship Series titles.