Central Michigan University
Eastern Michigan
Chippewas Top Eagles, 2-1
4/14/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 14, 2006
MOUNT PLEASANT - Brittany Decker walked to lead off the first and third innings and both times she scored as the Central Michigan University Chippewas posted a 2-1 victory over in-state rival Eastern Michigan on Friday afternoon at the CMU Softball Complex.
The win snapped a four-game Mid-American Conference losing streak for CMU (12-19, 3-4 Mid-American) and also marked the Chippewas' 18th straight win over the Eagles (18-20, 6-3 Mid-American).
"It was good to see the leadoff walks and then we took advantage of them," coach Margo Jonker said. "Brittany did a nice job of battling and hanging in there. Sometimes that's all it takes."
Suzie Giroux played a key role in both innings, moving Decker into scoring position before Jacque Benedict drove in the Chippewa leadoff hitter with a triple off the wall in the first inning and Amy Hudson added an RBI single to center in the third.
Chippewa starter Jill DeRoche kept EMU off the board until the fourth when a leadoff double by Linsday Schmid was followed by a sac fly and a sacrifice bunt which pushed across the Eagles' only run.
DeRoche went the distance to improve to 5-7. She struck out five and walked two while allowing five hits. Nikki Denman took the loss allowing four hits while fanning four and walking four.
"Jill did a nice job pitching," Jonker said. "She got tough in some situations when we needed her down the stretch. I thought she came out on fire and her rise ball was working well early."
EMU pinch hitter Jessica Grant almost made it interesting in the top of the seventh when she gave a pitch a ride over the left field fence just inches foul. There was one out and nobody on at the time but it would have tied the game.
Also picking up hits for CMU were Christan Dhondt and Stephanie Crews.
The two teams will play a single game again on Saturday with first pitch slated for 2 p.m.
