Pride fall twice in doubleheader at No. 3 Central Methodist

FAYETTE, Mo. - Wrapping up their first weekend road trip in the Heart of America Athletic Conference, the Clarke University softball team dropped both ends of their Saturday afternoon doubleheader to No. 3 Central Methodist University.

The Eagles eked out a 1-0 win in the opener as they pulled away to win the finale 8-0 in five innings as the Pride offense struggled to get any thing going in either contest with three hits in each game and only having multiple baserunners on in one of the 12 total innings on the day.

Both CMU starting pitchers finished with complete games and similar lines with the game two starter Haley Cotter finishing with the higher strikeout game despite pitching fewer innings as game one starter Jordyn Ball struck out seven in seven innings. 

Ball was matched from another strong performance from CU's Malarie Huseman as she pitch her own complete game allowing just four hits and one earned run while walking two and striking out one over her six innings of work.

Central Methodist scored their one run in the opener in the bottom of the fifth on a two-out RBI single from Madison White after a one-out walk and stolen base put Kaysie Jolley on second base for the Eagles.

Lily King was the only member of the Pride to record a hit in both games as she finished the day 2-for-5 from the leadoff spot, recording 33 percent of the CU hits on the day.

Clarke softball will get ready for their next Heart matchup when they play their home opener next Friday, Mar. 29 when they host Graceland University at Veterans Memorial Park for a 1:00 p.m. CT schedule first pitch of game one against the Yellowjackets.