Central Michigan University
Pittsburgh
Chippewas Open Speedline with 7-4 Win Over Pitt
3/10/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 10, 2005
CLEARWATER, Fla. - A new tournament gave the Central Michigan University softball team a fresh start on Thursday as the Chippewas posted a 7-4 victory over Pittsburgh in the first game of the Speedline Invitational.
Jessica Garvin threw six innings in the circle, allowing just three hits and no runs. However, she had to reenter the game after pitching the first three innings and seeing freshman Amy Candioto come in and give up four runs (two earned) in the fourth.
CMU jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead with two runs in the first and four in the second. The Chippewas made it 7-0 with a single score in the top of the fourth before the Panthers put up four runs in the bottom of the frame.
The Maroon and Gold tallied a season-high 10 hits but committed a pair of fielding errors. Pitt notched seven hits and committed one error.
"We hit really well today and were able to steal some bases (five)," coach Margo Jonker said. "Jessica Garvin pitched a great game and Brittany Decker called a good one behind the plate. Pitt hit Candioto hard and that turned the momentum around a little."
Jacque Benedict led CMU's offensive efforts with a 3-for-4 outing and two RBI. She also swiped three bases. Christin Sobeck added a pair of hits and freshman Amy Hudson a pair of RBI.
Hudson opened CMU's scoring with a sac fly in the first. Christan Dhondt then doubled down the left field line and Benedict singled through the right side of the infield scoring Dhondt to make it 2-0.
A leadoff single by Stephanie Crews to start the second provided CMU with a spark that resulted in four runs that inning. Brittany Decker had an RBI single up the middle, Hudson an RBI single to right, Dhondt an RBI groundout and Benedict an RBI infield single.
CMU's final run came in the fourth when Allie Hansen notched an RBI single.
With the win, Garvin improves to 4-1 this season. She faced 25 batters and struck out six while walking three.
The Chippewas improve to 4-4 on the year and face Southern Mississippi (11 a.m.) and Illinois (1 p.m.) on Friday afternoon.
