Central Michigan University Athletics
Sooners Strike Back, Top Softball, 8-2
2/29/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 29, 2004
COLUMBUS, Ga - The Central Michigan University softball team couldn't repeat its upset of No 5-ranked Oklahoma this afternoon as the Sooners rallied past the Chippewas in the Gold Bracket consolation final game, 8-2. That wraps up play at the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga.
The Chippewas (3-3 overall) chalked up two major upsets at the tournament. They picked up a win over OU in the second game on Friday, 3-2. CMU had to face the Sooners again after topping No. 4-ranked Washington, 1-0, in the semifinal consolation match earlier today.
Amber Puchalski took the loss in relief against OU on Sunday afternoon. She stepped into the circle in the third inning and finished out the game, pitching 3.2 innings of work. She struck out four but surrendered eight hits in allowing three earned runs. Jessica Garvin got the start and went 1.1 innings while Jill DeRoche tossed one inning.
Freshman Lindsey Calme went 1-for-3 at plate, slamming a home run over the left field fence in the third. The roundtrip effort gave the Chippewas a short-lived 2-1 lead.
Brittany Decker also scored in the third, cashing in on one of the three OU errors.
OU struck first in the bottom of the first and trailed briefly after CMU's third-inning rally. The lead evaporated when Oklahoma scored in each of its last four at bats. The Sooners got one each in the third, fourth and fifth. They exploded in the sixth for a four-run effort.
Sooner hurler Nicole Denes got the win in going the distance. She allowed only two hits and fanned six CMU batters. None of CMU's runs were earned.
Christina Enea and Heather Scaglione led the OU offense. Enea went 3-for-4 at the plate, plated one RBI and scored two runs. Scaglione went 3-for-3, scoring two runs and tallying two RBI.
CMU returns to the diamond on Sunday, March 7, when it ventures to Florida for the Rebel Games in Orlando. Lehigh and Creighton are CMU's first two opponents on Sunday night.
