Central Michigan University Athletics
Softball Advances To Championship Game
5/11/2001 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 11, 2001
MOUNT PLEASANT--Amber Puchalski threw a three-hit shutout to lead Central Michigan to a 2-0 win over Northern Illinois on Friday afternoon in the Mid-American Conference tournament.
With the win, the Chippewas advance to the championship game of the tournament set for Saturday at 1:30 p.m. Central is going for its third straight conference tourney title.
Central scored both of its runs in the fourth inning.
Hope Robertshaw led off the inning with a double to center and scored Central's first run on a triple by Michelle Brander. Kim Burke doubled down the left field line to score Brander to give the Chippewas a 2-0 advantage.
Puchalski handcuffed the Huskies in the final four innings to pick up her 24th victory of the year. Her record stands at 24-7 on the year.
NIU had their best chance to score in the third inning when the Huskies got a runner to second base but couldn't get a run across the plate.
Puchalski not only picked up the win but also etched her name in the CMU record books. Her four strikeouts gives her 238 for the season to set the CMU season record while her 24 wins ties the season record.
Robertshaw and Brander each had two hits to lead the CMU offense. Robertshaw's double gives her 42 for her career while Burke's two-bagger was career number 35. Robertshaw is now tied for first on CMU's career double list while Burke is third.
The Chippewas will face the winner of the Ball State-Northern Illinois game that is set for Saturday at 11 a.m. The championship game will follow at 1:30 p.m.
