Central Michigan University
Akron
Puchalski No-Hits the Zips
3/28/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 28, 2004
Game Two Box Score
Game Three Box Score
AKRON, Ohio -- After going the distance in the 15-inning marathon game at Akron on Saturday, Central Michigan University pitcher Amber Puchalski no-hit the Zips in the series finale on Sunday afternoon.
Yesterday's second game was suspended in the third because of darkness, and when it resumed on Sunday, Akron posted a 6-0 victory. Puchalski then shut Akron down in game three, allowing just two runners to reach base via a walk and a hit-by-pitch. She fanned 10 to move within 20 "K's" of tying the Mid-American Conference career strikeout record of 842.
Puchalski did not allow a hit in the final seven-innings of yesterday's 15-inning contest giving her a current stretch of 14 consecutive hitless innings pitched.
"Amber changed speeds well, mixed pitches and had good location," coach Margo Jonker said. "When you have those three things all going you are going to have success."
The Chippewas improve to 12-11 overall and 2-1 in the MAC after taking two of the three games at Akron. The Zips are now 13-11 overall and 1-2 in conference play.
A pair of freshmen drove in the runs in the finale. CMU scored one run in the fourth thanks to a leadoff double by frosh Brittany Fulks. She advanced to third when Christin Sobeck grounded out and then freshman Lindsey Calme hit a sac fly to left that scored Fulks.
"Fulks came through for us this weekend and it started with the great pop in her bat," Jonker said. "She took advantage of the opportunities she was given both offensively and defensively."
The Chippewas added another run in the seventh with back-to-back, two-out doubles. Aimee Smith notched the first and she was driven in by freshman Jacque Benedict's two-sacker.
The win improved Puchalski's record to 7-5 on the season and it marked her eighth career no-hitter.
CMU managed just four hits in the contest, two off of starter Megan MacKenzie and two off reliever Tina McCauley. Each pitcher gave up a run and both of the them were earned. MacKenzie took the loss to fall to 4-4.
Brittany Decker and Christan Dhondt both had singles for CMU.
Jessica Garvin took the loss for CMU in the suspended game that resulted in a 6-0 Akron win. The Zips scored twice in the first, twice in the third and twice in the sixth.
"We came out flat in the suspended game today," Jonker said. "We knew we had a two-run deficit coming into the day and we never felt in charge or on top of it."
Garvin went two and two-thirds innings and allowed five hits and four runs (all earned). Freshman Jill DeRoche came inn for the final five and a third and allowed five hits and two runs (both earned).
CMU posted six hits in the game and neither team committed an error. Calme and Benedict were both 2-for-3 in the contest.
Megan MacKenzie notched the win for Akron. She went the distance and struck out five.
Akron's Kelly Quigley homered twice in the game with a pair of two-run jobs. She hit the first in the first inning on Saturday and the second in the third inning during the resumed part of the game on Sunday.
Central Michigan has just one day of competition next week, a Wednesday nonconference doubleheader at Oakland (3 p.m.).
NOTES:
*Freshman Jacque Benedict hit .500 in the three-game series against Akron. She was 5-for-10 with two doubles and an RBI.
* Freshman Lindsey Calme hit .417 in the series. She was 5-for-12 with an RBI.
*Karen Hohs tallied three hits in the series and all three were doubles. "Karen had a great weekend for us," Jonker said. "She hit well and played great defense. She really made things happen."
*Amber Puchalski went 2-0 in the series with a 0.32 ERA. She threw 22.0 innings and allowed just five hits and one run. She fanned 24 and walked eight. Akron hit just .074 against her.
* Puchalski recorded career shutout No. 30 and career no-hitter No. 8 in the finale on Sunday.
