Central Michigan University Athletics
Softball Splits in Florida
3/9/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 9, 2004
KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- After shutting out St. Bonaventure, 8-0, early in the day, the Central Michigan University softball team fell to Virginia Tech, 4-3, in a tight one on day three of CMU's spring trip in Florida.
The Chippewas' bats were hot against the Bonnies as CMU posted six runs in the first inning and another two in the top of the fifth. The game was called after five innings because of the eight-run rule.
Jill DeRoche picked up her first career shutout. She went the distance and fanned four batters.
Stephanie Crews had three RBI on two different hits and Allie Hansen added a two-run triple.
In the second game, Virginia Tech jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first against CMU as Amber Puchalski gave up a two-run homer to cleanup hitter Megan Evans. She is the Hokies career home run leader with 26.
CMU battled back picked up single runs in the bottom of the third and the fourth. Brittany Decker's RBI double scored Jacque Benedict who singled to start the third. Stephanie Crews then tied the score with an RBI single the next inning.
VT posted an unearned run in the fifth but CMU again responed with a two-out, full-count RBI double by freshman Lindsey Calme in the bottom half of the inning.
Ciara Chaffe untied the game for good with a one-out solo homer to left-center in the sixth.
Puchalski (4-3) went the distance and allowed six hits while fanning 13. Three of the four runs were earned. The Chippewas tallied eight hits in the game but committed two fielding errors.
Katie Maynard picked up the win for the Hokies as she improved to 5-4.
CMU wraps up play in the Rebel Games in Kissimmee on Wednesday with games slated against Youngstown State (8:50 a.m.) and Penn (10:40 a.m.). After that, the Chippewas head up to Tallahassee for the Florida State Tournament March 12-14.
