Central Michigan University Athletics
Softball Edges Michigan State, 3-2
4/16/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
MOUNT PLEASANT Central Michigan scored single runs in each of the first three innings and then held on for a 3-2 win over visiting Michigan State on Wednesday afternoon.
The Chippewas (16-13) scored in the bottom of the first inning and then each team tallied a run in both the second and third frames but there was no scoring after that.
Michigan State (21-19) left the bases loaded in the seventh after Kari Seddon came on to get the final out and record her second save of the year. Ali Pettit (5-6) went six and two-thirds strong innings for the win.
“It was a competitive game but we need to work on slamming the door,” coach Margo Jonker said. “It was the little things that were the difference in this game, like Kari Seddon hitting behind the runner in a hit-and-run situation and doing exactly what she was supposed to do.
“I thought Ellen Venker hit well for us and Tracy Kaatz did what she is supposed to do and that is get on base. Ali Pettit threw one of her better games in recent memory.”
CMU continued its hot streak at the plate by posting nine hits in the game while Michigan State notched eight. The Spartans left 10 on base while CMU stranded nine.
The Chippewas’ run in the first inning came when Tracy Kaatz led off, stole second and then Suzie Giroux reached on a passed ball on a third strike. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch before Kaatz was pegged at the plate trying to score on a Seddon grounder to short. Christina Novak followed with an RBI single that scored Giroux from second.
Michigan State answered with an unearned run of its own in the second. With two outs, Jessica Bracamonte and Traci Nicosia tallied back-to-back singles and then Bracamonte scored on an error by CMU in center field as Kaatz dropped a shallow fly.
The Chippewas came right back, again taking advantage of another fielding error by MSU. Three Chippewas notched hits with Katie Greenman, Venker, and Kaatz all punched out base hits but pinch runner Amber Olejniczak, who was running for Greenman, was forced out at home on a grounder back to the pitcher by Giroux. The Spartans tried throwing to first for a double play but the ball was dropped at first base allowing Venker to come around and score from second.
Bianca Mejia tied the score in the top of the third with a monster leadoff homer over the left field fence that made it a 2-2 game.
But, CMU scored for the third straight inning as the Chippewas used a pair of hits and a walk to push across a run off relief pitcher Shae Bass who came on with one out in the frame. Venker plated Greenman from second with an RBI single to left.
Pettit allowed a hit in the fourth inning but she retired the Spartans in order in the fifth and gave up a leadoff walk in the sixth before sitting three straight down. In the seventh, she induced a groundout and a fly out but MSU rallied to load the bases. Mejia singled followed by a Caitlin Mahoney walk.
That’s when Seddon was brought on and she ended up hitting Gina Mondo with an inside pitch on a 1-2 count after Mondo had fouled off four straight pitches.
The Chippewas did get out of the jam as Heidi Purtzer popped up to Amy Hudson at third to end the game.
Kaatz finished 2-for-4 with a stolen base and Venker was 2-for-3 with an RBI.
Mejia was the lone Spartan with multiple hits and she got credit with MSU’s lone RBI on her seventh homer of the season.
Pettit gave up all eight of MSU hits and she struck out three while walking three. Seddon faced the final two batters to earn her third career save.
MSU starter Kelly Confer tossed two complete innings while giving up six hits and three runs (one earned). However, Bass (7-4) was tagged with the loss in relief after giving up the winning run and surrendering three hits. Lesley Noel fired three innings of hitless relief to close the game but she got no offensive support from MSU.
Next up for the Chippewas is a home doubleheader on Friday against Ohio. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.
CMU will host a naming ceremony on Saturday for Margo Jonker Stadium beginning at 2 p.m. A single game against Akron will follow the ceremony. Because of other events going on in Rose Arena this weekend, fans are encouraged to park in Lot 64 behind the football stadium press box on Friday and Saturday.
NOTES:
Amy Hudson extended her hitting streak to seven straight games while Christina Novak has now hit safely in the last six outings.
CMU’s win over Michigan State was its first over a Big Ten opponent this season. The Chippewas are now 1-3 after falling to Illinois (7-3), Purdue (3-0) and No. 6-ranked Michigan (4-3).
Christina Novak raised her team-high RBI total to 18.
CMU is now 13-4 when scoring first this season.
The Chippewas (16-13) scored in the bottom of the first inning and then each team tallied a run in both the second and third frames but there was no scoring after that.
Michigan State (21-19) left the bases loaded in the seventh after Kari Seddon came on to get the final out and record her second save of the year. Ali Pettit (5-6) went six and two-thirds strong innings for the win.
“It was a competitive game but we need to work on slamming the door,” coach Margo Jonker said. “It was the little things that were the difference in this game, like Kari Seddon hitting behind the runner in a hit-and-run situation and doing exactly what she was supposed to do.
“I thought Ellen Venker hit well for us and Tracy Kaatz did what she is supposed to do and that is get on base. Ali Pettit threw one of her better games in recent memory.”
CMU continued its hot streak at the plate by posting nine hits in the game while Michigan State notched eight. The Spartans left 10 on base while CMU stranded nine.
The Chippewas’ run in the first inning came when Tracy Kaatz led off, stole second and then Suzie Giroux reached on a passed ball on a third strike. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch before Kaatz was pegged at the plate trying to score on a Seddon grounder to short. Christina Novak followed with an RBI single that scored Giroux from second.
Michigan State answered with an unearned run of its own in the second. With two outs, Jessica Bracamonte and Traci Nicosia tallied back-to-back singles and then Bracamonte scored on an error by CMU in center field as Kaatz dropped a shallow fly.
The Chippewas came right back, again taking advantage of another fielding error by MSU. Three Chippewas notched hits with Katie Greenman, Venker, and Kaatz all punched out base hits but pinch runner Amber Olejniczak, who was running for Greenman, was forced out at home on a grounder back to the pitcher by Giroux. The Spartans tried throwing to first for a double play but the ball was dropped at first base allowing Venker to come around and score from second.
Bianca Mejia tied the score in the top of the third with a monster leadoff homer over the left field fence that made it a 2-2 game.
But, CMU scored for the third straight inning as the Chippewas used a pair of hits and a walk to push across a run off relief pitcher Shae Bass who came on with one out in the frame. Venker plated Greenman from second with an RBI single to left.
Pettit allowed a hit in the fourth inning but she retired the Spartans in order in the fifth and gave up a leadoff walk in the sixth before sitting three straight down. In the seventh, she induced a groundout and a fly out but MSU rallied to load the bases. Mejia singled followed by a Caitlin Mahoney walk.
That’s when Seddon was brought on and she ended up hitting Gina Mondo with an inside pitch on a 1-2 count after Mondo had fouled off four straight pitches.
The Chippewas did get out of the jam as Heidi Purtzer popped up to Amy Hudson at third to end the game.
Kaatz finished 2-for-4 with a stolen base and Venker was 2-for-3 with an RBI.
Mejia was the lone Spartan with multiple hits and she got credit with MSU’s lone RBI on her seventh homer of the season.
Pettit gave up all eight of MSU hits and she struck out three while walking three. Seddon faced the final two batters to earn her third career save.
MSU starter Kelly Confer tossed two complete innings while giving up six hits and three runs (one earned). However, Bass (7-4) was tagged with the loss in relief after giving up the winning run and surrendering three hits. Lesley Noel fired three innings of hitless relief to close the game but she got no offensive support from MSU.
Next up for the Chippewas is a home doubleheader on Friday against Ohio. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.
CMU will host a naming ceremony on Saturday for Margo Jonker Stadium beginning at 2 p.m. A single game against Akron will follow the ceremony. Because of other events going on in Rose Arena this weekend, fans are encouraged to park in Lot 64 behind the football stadium press box on Friday and Saturday.
NOTES:
Amy Hudson extended her hitting streak to seven straight games while Christina Novak has now hit safely in the last six outings.
CMU’s win over Michigan State was its first over a Big Ten opponent this season. The Chippewas are now 1-3 after falling to Illinois (7-3), Purdue (3-0) and No. 6-ranked Michigan (4-3).
Christina Novak raised her team-high RBI total to 18.
CMU is now 13-4 when scoring first this season.
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