Central Michigan University
Miami (Oh)
Miami Nips Chippewas, 4-3
4/29/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 29, 2006
MOUNT PLEASANT - Courtney Salmon struck out 11 Central Michigan University batters while firing a three-hitter as the visiting Miami RedHawks posted a 4-3 victory over the Chippewas on Saturday afternoon at the CMU Softball Complex.
Salmon almost let the game get away when she issued a pair of free passes in the bottom of the seventh. The righty hit Allie Hansen with a pitch and walked Kim Cozat. However, the RedHawk senior worked Brittany Decker to a full count before getting her to look at strike three on the outside corner to end the game.
Miami improved to 21-29 overall, 7-10 in the MAC, while CMU dropped to 18-24, 9-6 in the MAC.
The Chippewas struck first with two runs in the bottom of the fourth on one hit and an error. With one out, Amy Hudson hit a fly ball that was misplayed by the RedHawks' centerfielder allowing Hudson to reach second. Christan Dhondt followed with a hard hit to short that took a big hop and scored Hudson. Katie Horvath came on to pinch run for Dhondt and Horvath stole both second and third.
Stephanie Crews put down a suicide squeeze that scored Horvath giving the Chippewas a 2-0 advantage.
The lead would be short lived as the RedHawks got to CMU starter Jessica Garvin in the top of the fifth. A leadoff single and a sacrifice put a runner in scoring position right off the bat. A ground out by the MAC's leading hitter Halle Popson put two outs on the board but she was able to move the runner to third setting the stage for Leslie Macedo.
Macedo, the team's leading run producer, tied the game with a two-run triple to the gap in right center.
Freshman Ali Pettit came in to try and stop the RedHawk rally but the first batter she faced doubled to center scoring Macedo and Breanna Robinson closed the scoring with an RBI single up the middle.
The Chippewas started a comeback in the sixth with a one-out double by Hudson and an RBI single by Dhondt. But, Dhondt was pegged at second after the throw home to try and get Hudson and then Lindsey Calme struck out to end the inning.
Salmon (9-6) walked two and only one of CMU's runs was earned.
Garvin took the loss to drop to 6-5. She went four and two-thirds innings allowing six hits and three runs (all earned) while fanning three and walking two. Pettit closed the final two and a third innings giving up three hits and a run while fanning one and walking one.
Dhondt finished the day 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI and Hudson tallied the only other hit of day to extend her hitting streak to five games.
CMU and Miami will play again on Sunday at 1 p.m.
