Puchalski Fires Another No-No

April 28, 2001

DEKALB, Ill.--Amber Puchalski did it again!

The freshman sensation tossed her sixth no-hitter of the season to give Central Michigan a doubleheader split with Northern Illinois on Saturday afternoon.

The Huskies took game one by a 4-2 count while the Chippewas took the nightcap, 9-0.

Game one started as a pitching duel between CMU's Jenni Rasmussen and the reigning MAC "Pitcher of the Year" Courtney Witvliet.

Rasmussen retired the first seven batters of the game before an error allowed Bethany Carroll to reach base. A walk and a single loaded the bases with one out. An infield single by Kelly Redican scored Carroll and NIU took a 1-0 lead.

Witvliet didn't allow a hit until the fourth inning when Amy Morrison led off with a triple to right. Hope Robertshaw drove in Morrison with a long fly to center that was misplaced by the centerfielder.

The Chippewas were in good position to add more runs with a runner on second and no outs but Michelle Brander grounded out and Robertshaw was doubled up trying to take third. Kim Burke then hit what appeared to be a two out double down the leftfield line but third base and home plate umpires were in disagreement about the call and it was ruled a foul ball. Burke grounded out to end the inning.

The Huskies posted two runs in the bottom in the inning while ripping three hits. A single and back-to-back walks loaded the bases with one out and Rasmussen was replaced by Wendy Stephens. She surrendered two straight RBI singles.

CMU got one run back in the fifth when Jen Skuta led off the inning with a single up the middle. A throwing error by NIU's third baseman during Karly McCormack's sacrifice attempt moved Skuta all the way to third and allowed McCormack to reach safely. After a Lindsay Horvath walk loaded the bases, Stephens hit a sac fly to shallow right that scored Skuta.

A two-out RBI double by Shelby Bernard in the fifth gave the Huskies a two-run cushion.

NIU retired the last six CMU batters for the 4-2 win. Central managed only two hits in the game and committed one error. The Huskies had eight hits and three errors.

The loss snapped CMU's 13-game MAC winning streak.

The Chippewas picked up a split in the doubleheader on a no-hitter by Amber Puchalski.

Puchalski struck out seven in the 9-0 victory to improve her record to 19-7 on the year. The win was Puchalski's sixth no-hitter of the season, which is a CMU career record.

Her 19 wins ties her for fifth in the CMU season record books while Puchalski's 12 shutouts ties her for second.

CMU scored in the second when Burke walked and a sacrifice by Skuta moved pinch runner Melissa Luplow to second. A two-out single up the middle by Sarah Hamilton scored Luplow on a close play at the plate.

Morrison led the third off with a bloop single to right-center. She was out at second on a fielder's choice by Robertshaw. Brander then blasted a two-run homer into the outfield bleachers in left-centerfield. It was her third round-tripper of the year and gave CMU a 3-0 cushion.

The fourth inning was a productive one for Central as the Chippewas added six runs. Hamilton led off with a walk and an error on Becky Manson's sacrifice attempt put runners at first and second. Morrison loaded the bases with a bunt single.

Robertshaw then drove in two runs with a single. Brander walked and then Burke added an RBI single. Skuta also picked up an RBI with a bases loaded walk. The final run of the inning came on a deep foul ball by Hamilton that allowed Burke to score on the tag.

Morrison went 3-for-4 to lead the CMU 10-hit attack. Robertshaw and Burke each had two hits.

The Chippewas win two-of-three in the weekend series with the Huskies.

Central (28-18 overall and 17-4 Mid-American Conference) hosts Eastern Michigan in a weekend series on May 4-5.