The Culver-Stockton softball team used the long ball to capture the second game of a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader with 17th-ranked Central Methodist University Thursday afternoon at Himsl Field.

After the Eagles won the first game 12-3, the Wildcats got home runs from Sophia Ashby and Baylee Schneider to lift C-SC to a 6-3 game two victory in the Wildcats' final home game.

CMU starter Haile Farris and C-SC starter Emma Roseberry were enthralled in a pitcher's duel through the first four innings before the Eagles finally broke through against Roseberry in the fifth inning with a single and a bloop double for a 1-0 lead.

However, the Wildcats answered that run in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Brylee Throgmorton began the inning with a soft line drive back to the circle that was dropped by Farris.

Farris retired the next two batters; however, pinch hitter Samantha Robles singled to left to bring Ashby to the plate.

Ashby quickly fell behind 0-2 in the count before staying alive with a foul ball. Ashby deposited the next pitch over the left-center field fence to give the hosts a 3-1 lead.

CMU, showing why they are leading the conference, answered Ashby's blast with a power surge of its own with two solo home runs in the top of the sixth inning to tie the game at 3-3.

C-SC didn't waste time answering the bottom of the inning.

Katelyn Felt led off with a double and scored the go-ahead run on a double by Alle Thompson to go up 4-3. Schneider followed Thompson by jump on the next pitch by Farris and sent it over the right-center field fence for a two-run homer and a 6-3 lead.

The Eagles threatened in the seventh by putting two runners on base and bringing the tying run to the plate. However, Roseberry closed out the game when Throgmorton made a diving stop at short and flipped the ball to Thompson for a force out at second base to end the game.

Roseberry improved to 11-10 overall by scattering eight hits, walking one and striking out six. Ashby led the offense with two hits.

In the opener, CMU scored in every inning but the third to pick up an easy victory.

C-SC trailed 12-0 in the fifth when it put together a mini rally to try and keep the game afloat.

Selina Guzman doubled and Faith McCoskey singled to put runners at the corners. 

Guzman then scored and McCoskey moved to second on a wild pitch before Robles drilled a pinch hit double to score McCoskey.

Thompson finished the scoring with a double to right-center to score Robles for the third run of the game.

Thompson finished with two hits for the Wildcats, giving her three hits in the doubleheader.

The Wildcats are scheduled to conclude the regular season Saturday, April 29, with a doubleheader at Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa. First pitch for game one is set fr 1 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Park.