Story by Central Methodist Athletics

BALDWIN CITY, Kan. - Lauren Geringer belted two homeruns Saturday, breaking Central Methodist's (Mo.) all-time record as the 17th-ranked Eagles swept a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader at Baker (Kan.) by scores of 6-5 and 10-6 in eight innings.

Geringer tied the school mark with a solo shot to left to lead off the top of the seventh inning of game one that tied the contest at five, as Central Methodist (28-5, 11-1) erased a 5-0 deficit. The O'Fallon, Mo., native crushed her 18th career jack, a three-run shot to left, and fifth of 2014 that broke a 5-5 tie in the top of the eighth of game two and also broke Stephanie Sullivant's (2008-11) previous mark of 17.

Baker (16-20, 6-6) jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth of game one following a Brooke Plummer two-run double. The Eagles' Michele Rupard cut the deficit to one run with one swing of the bat in the sixth, belting a grand slam over the center field fence for her second bomb of the season. Geringer tied the score in the next frame, and a Mary Kate Townley RBI double three batter later plated Bri Kirkland for the winning run.

The Wildcats had the tying runner in scoring position in the bottom of the frame, but an Alysa Menghini line out to Lindie Adair turned into a double play to end the game, as she doubled up Tara Chumley at first base.

Rupard had three hits, four RBIs and one run scored. Bri Boatwright tallied two hits and a run scored.

Mallorie Nelson had three hits, two RBIs and a run scored in the game-one loss.

Aubrey Utley (17-0) went the distance in game one for the win, allowing five earned runs on 10 hits with three strikeouts.

Nelson (5-11) took the loss in the circle, giving up four earned runs on four hits with eight strikeouts and five walks in five and two-third innings.

In game two, the Eagles' Jessica Wilmes broke a scoreless tie in the third with a leadoff homer to left, her third of the season. Wilmes made the score 3-0 in the top of the sixth with a two-run double that scored Townley and Adair. Boatwright singled to center in the next at-bat, driving home Rupard and Wilmes to push the margin to five runs.

Baker responded with four runs in the bottom of the sixth, highlighted by a Menghini two-run homerun to left. Menghini tied the contest in the next frame with her second homer of the game, a solo shot to left, but Geringer's record-breaking bomb in the top of the eighth started a five-run frame for the visitors. Megan Robbins delivered a two-run single to make the score 10-5.

Ilona Miller scored on an Eagle error in the bottom half-inning to trim the Wildcats' deficit to four runs, but a Nelson line out to Townley in the next at-bat ended the rally.

Wilmes, Boatwright and Geringer each had two hits. Wilmes and Geringer each drove in three runs, while Boatwright had two. Wilmes scored three times, and Geringer scored once.

Robbins had one hit and two RBIs. Rupard scored twice and drew three of the team's nine walks.

Menghini ended game two with two homers, four RBIs, two runs scored and two walks.

Utley earned a win in game two with two and two-third innings of relief, allowing four runs, one earned, on five hits with one strikeout and walk. Bri Ford started game two in the circle but took a no decision, giving up three earned runs on four hits with three strikeouts and two walks in five and one-third innings.

Pitcher Katt Cooper (7-7) dropped game two, surrendering eight runs, seven earned, on eight hits with seven strikeouts and a career-high nine walks in seven and one-third innings.

Central Methodist travels to Missouri Valley for a doubleheader on Tuesday, April 15, at 4 p.m. CT.