Central Michigan University Athletics
Softball Posts 10-0 Win Over Hofstra In Regional Action
5/18/2001 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 18, 2001
STANFORD, Calif. -- Offense was rare in Central Michigan's opening loss in the NCAA softball regional on Thursday. On Friday morning, the offense was plentiful in a 10-0, five-inning win over the No. 6 seed Hofstra.
The Chippewas cranked out nine hits in the second inning while posting 10 runs in the frame. The only scoring of the game would come in that inning. Fifteen CMU batters went to the plate while Hofstra used three different pitchers in the inning.
"The sticks did a great job," coach Margo Jonker said. "We continued hitting after we got off to a big lead. I thought in that inning we shut the door. The key is to keep this going."
The win gives CMU a date with the host and No. 1 seed Stanford on Friday at 4 p.m. PDT. The Cardinal are ranked No. 4 nationally. CMU defeated Stanford last season in regionals by a 2-1 score in 13 innings in Ann Arbor.
In the second inning, back-to-back singles by Kim Burke and Jen Skuta put runners on first and second. Karly McCormack followed with a single up the middle that scored pinch runner Melissa Luplow on a close play at the plate. The next play was a virtual instant replay with Lindsay Horvath bouncing another single up the middle that scored Skuta on a close play at the plate.
Sarah Hamilton followed with a walk to load the bases with one out. A bloop single by Manson drove in another run and Amy Morrison lined a shot to right that was dropped by the rightfielder and scored another run while keeping the bases loaded.
That set the stage for CMU history as Hope Robertshaw laced a double into the gap in left-center that drove in three runs. The double was her 43rd of her career, the most by any CMU player. She entered regional play tied for the school record with Eli Barnes. It was also her 14th double of the season that tied for fourth in the season record books. Her RBI total climbed to 35 on the season and 97 in her career, marks that tie for fourth on the season list and third on the career charts.
Burke and McCormack also drove in runs late in the inning with an RBI double by Burke and a single by McCormack.
The line for the inning was 10 runs on nine hits with one Hofstra error and two Chippewas left on base. The Pride used three different pitchers in the frame.
Amber Puchalski and Wendy Stephens combined to throw a two-hit shutout. Puchalski allowed two hits in three innings of work while fanning a pair. Stephens retired the final six batters in order.
