Central Michigan University
Toledo
Pitching Shines in Softball Sweep of Toledo
4/10/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 10, 2004
MOUNT PLEASANT -- Central Michigan University rode the pitching arms of sophomore Jessica Garvin and senior Amber Puchalski to a three-game sweep over the visiting Toledo Rockets on Saturday afternoon. The Chippewas took game one of Saturday's doubleheader, 12-0, thanks to a one-hitter by Garvin. In the nightcap, Puchalski struck out 11 batters in a 6-1 Chippewa win.
Puchalski set a Mid-American Conference career strikeout record in the fifth inning of game two when she fanned the 843rd batter of her career. She surpassed former Toledo pitcher Tami Johnston who pitched for the Rockets from 1984-87 and recorded 842 K's. Puchalski now has 847 strikeouts in her career.
"Amber setting the MAC strikeout record is huge," coach Margo Jonker said. "It's a huge accomplishment for her and for our program. That mark has been in place for years and it's ironic that she set it against Toledo since former Rocket pitcher Tami Johnston held the record."
Puchalski recorded 10 strikeouts in the Chippewas' 2-1 win over Toledo on Friday and she knew she needed just six more on Saturday to tie the record.
"I definitely thought about (the record)," Puchalski said. "But, it was something that I had to put in the back of my mind. I didn't want to jinx it. I didn't know when I had one left to go. I don't keep track of strikeouts when I'm pitching.
"Now that the record is behind me I still want to go out strong in every game. Knowing that I've reached this point, the pressure is off but I'm not going to let up. I still want to set the record higher."
Puchalski's game two record-setting performance overshadowed the pitching gem thrown by Garvin in the day's first game.
The sophomore came one out away from a no-hitter when Toledo's Erica Singer hit a two-out infield single between third base and shortstop in the top of the fifth.
Garvin recorded strikeouts for eight of Toledo's 15 outs in the game. She walked just one and improved to 4-4 on the year with two shutouts.
The Chippewas scored three runs in the first, one in the second and eight times in the third. CMU had seven hits in game one while the Rockets committed seven errors, including five in the eight-run third inning.
Christan Dhondt hit a two-run homer in the first inning while Brittany Decker was 2-for-2 with an RBI, Aimee Smith 2-for-2 with two RBI and Lindsey Calme 2-for-3.
Jessica Garvin threw a one-hitter in game one of Saturday's doubleheader as CMU won 12-0. She was one out away from throwing a no-hitter.  | |
Toledo starter Kim Pettit took the loss to drop her record to 3-13. She went three and two thirds innings in two different stints during the game. Lindsey Greer came on in relief but she allowed three hits and eight runs (none earned) while recording just one out. Pettit returned to the circle in the fifth inning. Her final line included allowing four hits and four runs (three earned) while fanning three.
Puchalski then pitched a three-hitter in game two, improving her record to 10-5 on the year. CMU scored once in the first, three times in the second and once each in the fourth and fifth innings. The Rockets broke up the shutout in the top of the sixth with a single run.
Leadoff hitter Karen Hohs led the Chippewas with a 3-for-4 outing. She also stole two bases. Jacque Benedict, Brittany Fulks, Stephanie Crews, Decker and Dhondt each drove in runs.
The Chippewas now travel to Kent State on Wednesday for a key MAC doubleheader pitting the two conference division leaders against each other. Both teams sport a 5-1 conference slate. The twinbill is set to begin at 2 p.m.
NOTES:
* Amber Puchalski now has 70 career wins. She needs seven more to tie the MAC and school record of 77 set by former Chippewa Tina Kinney (1997-2000). Former Ball State pitcher Bernie Coffman (1986-89) is also tied for the conference record with Kinney.
* Freshman Lindsey Calme hit .444 against the Rockets going 4-for-9 with a homer and one RBI.
* Brittany Decker also hit above .400 in the series going 3-for-7 (.429) with two RBI, a walk and a sacrifice. She leads the team with 13 RBI this season.
* Aimee Smith tallied two RBI and two doubles against the Rockets on the weekend.
* Twice this week sophomore Karen Hohs led the game off for CMU with a triple. She scored both times. Hohs tripled to start things off for CMU against Michigan State on Wednesday and then did it again in the series finale against Toledo. Hohs was also 4-for-4 in stolen base attempts on the week to bring her season total to 11 stolen bases in 12 attempts.
* Toledo committed just seven hits in the three games while it tallied 11 errors in the field. The Rockets had more errors in game two of the series (eight) than they had hits the entire weekend.
* CMU hitters batted .265 last week while the Chippewa pitchers sported a 0.27 ERA in the four games. The Chippewas allowed just two runs on the week and one of the two was earned.
* Nine of CMU's 20 hits against Toledo were for extra bases.
* Christan Dhondt led the team with three RBI in the series against Toledo.
* Eight of CMU's 16 wins this season have been shutouts, including two this past week (Michigan State and game two versus Toledo).
