FAYETTE, Mo. – Benedictine Softball earned a split over (17) Central Methodist University on Saturday to close out the regular season.

After the Eagles took game 1, 5-2, the Ravens came alive in game 2 for an 11-2 win.

The win over the NAIA-ranked Eagles gave Benedictine its fifth win of the season over a ranked or receiving votes program and allowed them to clinch the No. 5 seed in the upcoming Heart Softball Championship Series.

Game 1: CMU 5, Benedictine 2
Benedictine scored twice in the top of the first on a 2-run home run from Madison Zaccardo. That would be all they could muster against the Eagles as CMU scored 4 in the fourth inning to earn the win.

Kera Willoughby suffered the loss inside the circle for the Ravens. She went 6 innings, giving up 5 runs off 8 hits in the loss.

Kassidy James set the table offensively for the Ravens, finishing the game hitting 3 for 4 at the top of the order for Benedictine. Willoughby recorded the Ravens remaining hit.

Game 2: Benedictine 11, CMU 3
Megan Medhus and Zaccardo opened the game with back-to-back home runs that allowed the Ravens to jump out to a quick 3-0 lead. Halley Rindom added an RBI since that scored Clare Heitz before Willoughby scored on a wild pitch to make it 5-0 headed to the bottom of the first.

Benedictine added a 4-run fifth inning and then two more runs over its final two at-bats to run away with the win.

Lacey Foster and Abby Pressgrove combined inside the circle for the Ravens. Foster went 2 and one-third, giving up 3 runs off 5 hits while Pressgrove went 4 and two-thirds, holding the Eagles scoreless off 4 hits.

James, Medhus, Zaccardo, Chloe Strickland, and Willougby all finished the game with 2 hits as Pressgrove joined Medhus with a double.

Benedictine will make the trip to Baldwin City for the 2023 Heart Championship Series starting play at 9:30 a.m. May 4 against No. 4 seed Grand View University. Baker University is hosting this year's Championship Series.

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