Central Michigan University Athletics
Softball Wins MAC Tournament Championship
5/13/2000 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 13, 2000
DEKALB, IL--The Central Michigan University softball team won its seventh Mid-American Conference tournament championship with a 9-4 win over Bowling Green State University on Saturday afternoon at Northern Illinois' Mary M. Bell Field.
The win gives the Chippewas the MAC's automatic bid to the NCAA regionals. CMU will be making its 10th appearance in the NCAA regionals that are set for May 17-19 at a site yet to be determined.
The Chippewas got on the scoreboard first with a pair of runs in the first inning. CMU loaded the bases when Becky Manson (Rockford/So.) hit a single, Nicole Weston (Grand Ledge/Sr.) walked and Tina Kinney (Glendale, CA/Sr.) was hit by a pitch. Jen Skuta (Pinconning/So.) walked to drive in the first run and Hope Robertshaw (LaCrescenta, CA/Jr.) hit an RBI single to give CMU the 2-0 lead.
The Falcons tied it up with a run in the third and a run in the fifth inning but the Chippewas broke the game open with five runs in the fifth inning to take a commanding 7-2 advantage.
Robertshaw hit a triple that scored one run and later scored on an error and Kim Burke (Mount Pleasant/Jr.) hit a triple that scored three runs.
CMU extended its lead to 9-2 with two runs in the seventh inning. The Chippewas again loaded the bases and scored their first run when Wendy Stephens (Mira Loma, CA/So.) walked. Amy Morrison (Fenton/Jr.) had an RBI single to score Skuta to round out the scoring.
The Falcons rallied in the top of the seventh inning, scoring a pair of runs to cut the lead to 9-4 but it wasn't enough to catch the Chippewas. Jenny Domschot and Nikki Rouhana both had RBI singles for the Falcons.
Kinney again recorded the win for the Chippewas to maker her record 22-6. Kinney went 4-0 in the MAC tournament for the second straight year. She went six innings and gave up 10 hits and four runs while striking out a pair.
Kinney's 22 wins ties the Chippewa season record. Karen Wongstrom (1986) and Linda Paggett (1982) each also posted 22 victories.
Stephens came in the seventh inning and didn't allow a hit to shut down the Falcon scoring.
Burke and Robertshaw led the Chippewa nine-hit attack. Burke went two-for-four with three RBI while Robertshaw went three-for-four with two RBI.
CMU had four players named to the all-tournament team. Kinney, Skuta, Robertshaw and Morrison were picked while Robertshaw was named the tournament MVP.
Robertshaw hit .462 (6-13) with four RBI and a triple during the tourney while Skuta hit .500 (5-10) with a triple and four RBI and Morrison hit .364 (.411) with an RBI. Kinney posted a 4-0 record with a 1.30 ERA and 15 strikeouts.
The Chippewas will have to wait until tomorrow evening to find out where they will play in the NCAA regionals.
