Central Michigan University
Kent State
Puchalski Shuts Down East Division-Leading Kent State
4/15/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 15, 2004
KENT, Ohio -- In a battle of Mid-American Conference division leaders, Central Michigan University swept a softball doubleheader at Kent State on Thursday afternoon, 3-0 and 8-2 in eight innings. The games were played on Thursday after rain forecasts moved them from the original date on Wednesday.
"It was a great day for us," CMU coach Margo Jonker said. "We played two excellent games. It was great to see our young team go on the road in a key conference series and knock off the other division leader."
CMU ace Amber Puchalski picked up the decision in both games, taking a perfect game into the seventh inning of game one and notching a relief win in the extra-innings nightcap.
"Amber pitched great," Jonker said. "She was really on today and all of her pitches were effective. Karen Hohs made a great defensive play in the seventh to save the no-hitter but right after that the heart of Kent's order picked up a pair of hits."
Puchalski was perfect through six and a third innings in the opener but she surrendered back-to-back hits to the No. 2 and No. 3 hole hitters with one out in the final frame. She did pick up her 32nd career shutout, though, to move into a tie for second in CMU's career record book.
The Chippewas scored twice in the first inning and then added an insurance run in the fourth.
Hohs led the game off with a single down the right field line and she then stole second. A Christan Dhondt single through the right side of the infield put runners on first and third with one out and Dhondt advanced to second on a passed ball. Aimee Smith drove in the first run on a fielder's choice and everyone was safe. CMU then added a second run on a Lindsey Calme sacrifice fly.
The Chippewas posted another run on the board in the fourth when Christin Sobeck led the inning off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice. Freshman Brittany Fulks then hit one to second base where the Golden Flashes committed an error that allowed Sobeck to score.
Puchalski fanned 16 Golden Flashes, matching her career high for a regulation game. She didn't walk a single batter.
Brittney Robinson took the loss for KSU after going the distance and allowing four hits and just one earned run. She fanned seven.
The Chippewas then took the nightcap, 3-2, in eight frames.
CMU starter Jessica Garvin fanned seven batters before being taken out in the seventh with the game knotted at two.
The Chippewas scored a pair in the second inning but KSU bounced back with a two-run homer in the bottom of the stanza.
Stephanie Crews had a two-out RBI single down the left field line that scored Sobeck. Karen Hohs then reached on a fielding error by KSU at second base that allowed Allie Hansen to score but Crews was pegged at the plate trying to add another run.
KSU quickly tied it in the bottom of the inning with a two-run homer by designated hitter Brittney Robinson.
After Garvin gave up a one-out double in the seventh, Puchalski came on in relief. Puchalski hit the first batter she faced with a pitch to put runners on first and second. She got the next batter to pop up to second before fanning pinch hitter Ashley Fairhurst to end the KSU threat.
In extra innings, Calme hit a two-out double down the left field line in the eighth and then Sobeck hit one to short but a throwing error allowed Sobeck to reach safe and Calme to score on the error.
The Golden Flashes threatened with one out in the eighth and the top of the order up. Leadoff hitter Marci Ridenbaugh singled but Kelly Maehl popped one foul for the second out. Megan Verde then doubled down the left field line putting runners at second and third with two outs. However, cleanup hitter Rachel Testa popped up to second to end the game.
Garvin went six and a third innings giving up just four hits but both runs.
Puchalski picked up the win in relief despite allowing a pair of hits in the bottom of the eighth.
CMU is at home this weekend for a three-game series with Northern Illinois. The two teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday and a single game on Sunday. Action on both days begins at 1 p.m.
NOTES:
* CMU is now 3-0 this season in extra-inning games. Today marked CMU's first extended game of the MAC season.
* Amber Puchalski now needs five more wins to tie the CMU and MAC records for career victories at 77.
* Puchalski also struck out 16 in a regulation game at Kent State her sophomore year. Her career high is 18 strikeouts in a nine-inning game against Toledo her sophomore year.
* CMU pitchers did not allow a single walk in the 15 innings against Kent State.
