Central Michigan University Athletics
Softball Ends Season On A High Note
5/4/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 4, 2003
DEKALB, Ill -- Head coach Margo Jonker shuffled up the lineup a bit on Sunday and it worked as the Central Michigan University softball team picked up a 8-3 win over Northern Illinois in the regular season finale. CMU changed up the batting order and fielding positions after NIU swept the Chippewas on Saturday.
The Chippewas pounded out 14 hits in the game and led 6-0 after the first three innings.
CMU finishes the regular season 25-16 overall and 14-7 in the MAC while NIU falls to 23-19-1, 13-7-1 in MAC play. CMU heads to next week's MAC tournament at Akron, Ohio, as the No. 3 seed. The Chippewas will play No. 6 Miami at 11 a.m., on Thursday, May 8.
Joining the Chippewas and Miami in Akron are Marshall (No.1 seed), Western Michigan (No. 2 seed), Northern Illinois (No. 4 seed), and Bowling Green (No. 5 seed).
Michelle Brander led CMU's offensive onslaught with a 4-for-4 afternoon.
Jenni Rasmussen picked up the win after she pitched four full innings and allowed two runs (one earned). Puchalski came on in relief with two runners aboard in the fifth. She closed the game allowing one run and two hits.
Karen Hohs got things started for CMU right away in the first when she doubled over the left fielder's head on a full-count pitch. Michelle Brander followed with an RBI single for her 23rd RBI of the season.
The Huskies threatened to come right back in the bottom of the inning when leadoff hitter Lisa Mattke doubled down the left field line. However, Mattke recorded the second out of the inning when Brander made a great backhand play at short and fired to third to record the out and eliminate the Huskie runner from scoring position.
The Chippewas then manufactured a pair of runs in the second with some aggressive plays. Sarah Hamilton hit a single up the middle and then freshman Christan Dhondt followed with a single on a hit-and-run that dropped in shallow center field. CMU had a double steal on with batter Ari Ault showing bunt and the NIU catcher's throw to third went into the outfield scoring Hamilton and putting Dhondt on third. Ault then scored Dhondt with a squeeze bunt giving CMU an early 3-0 lead.
The Maroon and Gold doubled its lead with a three-run third inning. CMU ripped off four straight hits with Karly McCormack and Aimee Smith each picking up RBI singles and Hamilton notching an RBI on a sacrifice fly.
NIU made a pitching change in the third, bringing in Kathy Dearborn for freshman starter Paige Granath. Granath was charged with all six runs but only four were earned.
The Huskies put up an unearned run in the fourth. Paige Shemoski singled to start the frame and Kelly Drozd reached safely on an error putting two runners on with no outs. Toni Del Toro grounded out to Rasmussen but the runners advanced and then Amy Ligmanowski drove in pinch runner Therese Harper with a ground out.
NIU added two runs in the fifth thanks to three hits and a pair of walks. Kelly Redican and Shemoski each tallied RBI and Christin Sobeck erased a possible run when she nailed Mattke at the plate on Redican's hit.
The Chippewas used another three hits in the sixth to add another run. Brittany Decker plated CMU's run with an RBI single that scored leadoff hitter Dhondt who singled to start the inning.
Central also tacked on a run in the seventh when Aimee Smith doubled to center to start the frame, advaned to third on a ground out and scored on a wild pitch.
Sobeck, Smith, and Dhondt each tallied two hits in the game.
