CBC Comes Up Just Short In AMC Tournament Title Game

Erik Holth, CBC Sports Information Director

            Conway, Ark. – Carrying a 21-inning scoreless streak into today's American Midwest Conference Softball Tournament Championship game, Central Baptist College took on the top-seed Missouri Baptist Spartans at City of Colleges Park this afternoon. The Mustangs (31-25) only got a runner to third base twice, falling 1-0 to MBU (44-6) to finish as the runners-up in the AMC Tournament.

            Both teams went down in order in the first inning before Abi West posted the first hit of the game in the second. Following a wild pitch to move West to second, Anna Marie Sternisha singled up the middle to put runners on the corners before a pop out ended the inning. Starting pitcher Alex Jeter got around a one-out double in the second to keep the game scoreless and Taviah Bradley would triple with two outs in the third but was left stranded. The lone run followed in the bottom of the inning when Jeter walked the leadoff batter, allowed a sacrifice, put two in scoring position on a single and an advance on the throw before the game's first run scored on a single to center. Ryleigh Keele then came into the contest and induced an inning-ending double play to end the threat. CBC's final hit came in the fourth inning on a one out single by Elizabeth Stoufer. The Spartans would retire 11 in a row following that hit and CBC came away with a runner up finish.

            The season is not over for the Mustangs as they earned the second automatic bid into the NAIA National Championship Opening Round despite the loss. CBC will find out where they are headed for the national tournament on May 7, at 5 p.m., on the NAIA YouTube channel.