Central Michigan University Athletics
Busy Week for Softball With Home and MAC Openers
3/27/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 27, 2006
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MOUNT PLEASANT -- Six games are on the docket for the Central Michigan University softball team (8-15, 0-0 Mid-American) this week, including the home and Mid-American Conference openers.
First up is a road nonconference twinbill at Valparasio (6-12, 0-4 Mid-Continent) on Tuesday, March 28. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. CST.
CMU then opens the home campaign with a league doubleheader against Northern Illinois (10-9, 0-0 Mid-American) on Friday, March 31 at the CMU Softball Complex. Game one is set for 1 p.m.
The week closes with a pair of single games on Saturday and Sunday, April 1-2, against rival Western Michigan (10-7, 0-0 Mid-American). Saturday's action will start at 2 p.m., and Sunday's at 1 p.m.
NIU is idle until traveling to Mount Pleasant while WMU hosts Oakland on Tuesday and travels to Eastern Michigan on Friday for doubleheaders each day.
"We are excited to practice on our own field this week and are looking forward to playing in front of the home crowd," head coach Margo Jonker said. "Our intent with the Valpo games on Tuesday was to get a couple games in up north right before conference play begins. It will be one more chance to tune things up and get some confidence.
"On Wednesday, our focus will move to the start of a new season and how important the next few weeks are. Everything will reset ... we'll be 0-0 with .000 batting averages and 0.00 ERAs."
Jonker says she has noticed a greater focus in practice the last week and a half as CMU has been off from competition.
"We've turned it up a notch in practice and I think the seniors are getting a sense of urgency and taking a leadership role again."
Preseason MAC Favorites: The Chippewas were the preseason favorites to win the MAC West Division title and the MAC Tournament, according to the coaches poll. CMU received 71 points to top the MAC West Division, followed by Western Michigan (55), Eastern Michigan (45), Northern Illinois (38), Toledo (25) and Ball State (18). Bowling Green is the favorite in the East Division with 66 points, followed by Miami (59), Kent State (48), Buffalo (35), Akron (27) and Ohio (17). The league coaches predicted the Chippewas will win the MAC Tournament with six votes, followed by Bowling Green (3), Miami (one), Eastern Michigan (one) and Northern Illinois (one).
West Division Frontrunners: The Chippewas start the league campaign against perennial frontrunners Northern Illinois and Western Michigan. The MAC began divisional play in 1998 and since then the West Division champion has been either CMU, NIU or WMU. The Chippewas have won five division titles (1998, 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2005), the Huskies two (1999 and 2000) and the Broncos one (2003).
Garvin Breaks 300 Ks: Senior Jessica Garvin enters the week with 304 career strikeouts, a mark that ranks fifth on CMU's career chart, edging Judy Koens' (1981-84) total of 303. Ahead in fourth is Karen Wongstrom (1984-87) with 336. Amber Puchalski (2001-04) holds the CMU and MAC record with 970. Garvin fanned a career-high 133 batters last season in 165.1 innings and she has 34 Ks in 38.0 innings so far this year.
Dhondt Goes Deep: Christan Dhondt hit the 10th homer of her career against Fordham during the Florida spring trip. That shot moved her into a tie for eighth on CMU's career list with CMU Hall of Famer Lynn Putnam (1979-82). Dhondt needs one more to tie Tina Kinney (1997-2000) for seventh and six more to tie the three school record holders with 16 -- Cathy Wylie (1985-88), Eli Barnes (1996-99) and Christin Sobeck (2002-05). Dhondt is hitting .203 this season with six RBI.
Hudson Near the Top: Amy Hudson ranks second in the Mid-American Conference with a .419 batting average (31-for-74). She is hitting in the leadoff spot this year after hitting in the No. 3 hole most of last year. Hudson has tallied a hit in 20 of CMU's 23 games, including posting a 16-game hitting streak. Her eight RBI tie for the team lead.
Giroux Named MAC Player of the Week: Sophomore Suzie Giroux was named the MAC West Division Player of the Week on March 20 after racking up all-tournament team honors at the Buckeye Invitational. She hit .444 (4-for-9) in CMU's three games with a hit in each contest. The outfielder also added two RBI and a double. Giroux is batting .300 on the year with seven RBI. Both marks rank second on the team.
Homers Hurt: In 23 games this season, the Chippewas have surrendered 19 home runs while hitting just five. (A 20th homer by Colorado State was wiped off the books when the hitter passed another runner on the basepath.) Of the 121 runs CMU has allowed this season, 46 (38 percent) have come via the long ball. Opponents have hit five three-run shots and four grand slams.
Benedict Hits 30 SBs: Junior Jacque Benedict has now racked up 30 career stolen bases with eight this year in 12 attempts. She needs 15 more to catch Jenny Bouck (1996-99) in sixth place in the CMU record book. The outfielder is hitting .203 this season with a team-high tying eight RBI and one homer. Her eight stolen bases this season ranks third in the MAC.
Pettit Picks it Up: Freshman pitcher Ali Pettit has won her last two decisions after dropping her first four. Her first career victory came against Temple and she added a win over Robert Morris at the Buckeye Invitational.
Candioto Solid in the Circle: Amy Candioto has been solid in relief this season. She's started only one game and has a 0-0 record but her 3.15 ERA in seven appearances leads the team, as does her .231 batting average against.
MAC Statistics: The Chippewas rank sixth in the MAC in hitting (.233), ninth in pitching (4.21 ERA) and fourth in fielding (.963).
Schedule Change: There has been a schedule change involving the Eastern Michigan series scheduled to be played in Mount Pleasant. The Chippewas and Eagles will now play a single game on Friday, April 14 (3 p.m.) and a single game on Saturday, April 15 (1 p.m.). It was originally scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.
On the Air: All Central Michigan University home softball games, and the road doubleheader at Michigan on April 18, will be broadcast by CMU's student radio station, WMHW-FM 91.5. The games can be picked up anywhere in the world on the internet at http://www.bca.cmich.edu/WMHW/INDEX.HTM.
