Central Michigan University Athletics
Softball Splits Doubleheader Against Boston
3/10/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
CLEARWATER, Fla. Central Michigan’s bats came to life in a doubleheader split against Boston University at the Eddie C. Moore Complex on Tuesday.
The Chippewas out slugged the Terriers 7-6 in the first game of the twinbill, but stranded 12 base runners in a 6-4 defeat in game two. CMU had a productive day at the plate, racking up 21 hits in the two games after totaling only 23 hits in five games at the Miken Classic last weekend.
Central now sits at 4-8 on the season and is back in action on Friday when it takes on No. 21 Massachusetts and Jacksonville in the Under Armour Classic.
Central Michigan 7, Boston 6
The Chippewas’ offense erupted in a four-run third inning and held on to edge the Terriers 7-6 in their first game in Clearwater, Fla.
After allowing an unearned run in the first inning, Katie Greenman launched her second home run of the season to put Central up 2-1 after the opening frame.
BU regained the lead at 3-2 after a bases loaded walk in the top of the third. CMU used some two-out magic in the bottom of the inning to grab the lead for good. Greenman, Jill Schulz, Amanda Patrick and Kim Cozat combined for four straight singles with Cozat’s plating a pair of runs to put the Chippewas up 4-3. Molly Coldren added insurance by smacking a two-run double that nearly cleared the wall in right center to chase Boston starter Kelley Engman and put Central up 6-3 after three.
The teams traded runs in the fourth inning, but the Terriers slugged their way back into the game in the fifth when Caitlin Rentler belted a two-run homer (Boston’s first long ball of the year) to make it a 7-6 ballgame. After a one-out walk, head coach Margo Jonker pulled starter Ali Pettit in favor of Kim Campbell.
Campbell got out of the fifth inning, but found herself in trouble in the sixth when Boston had two runners aboard and only one out. The sophomore managed to bear down by inducing a popup and then striking out Rentler to end the threat.
The Terriers put the tying run aboard once again in the seventh via a walk, but leadoff batter Shayne Lotito was gunned out at first after laying down a bunt to put the game in the books.
Christina Novak was one of the offensive catalysts in the game, going 2-for-3 with a walk, two runs scored and three stolen bases. The three steals are the second-most a Chippewa has recorded in a single game.
Campbell picked up the win in relief to improve to 2-1 on the season, she allowed one hit and a walk in 2 2/3 innings. She also picked up a strikeout.
Boston 6, Central Michigan 4
The bats continued producing, but 11 hits were not enough for Central to sweep the doubleheader against Boston.
The Terriers scored in all but one inning and ran wild on the Chippewas, stealing six bases in the contest.
CMU pitchers did not help themselves as Katie Greenman and Kim Campbell combined to issue eight walks while only striking out three batters.
Shayne Lotito began the running by stealing second and third after a leadoff single in the bottom of the first before coming around on an RBI single to open a 1-0 Boston lead.
The score held until the bottom of the third inning when BU cleanup hitter Rachel Hebert drove in a pair with a one-out single to chase Greenman and make it a 3-0 game. Campbell once again stepped out of the bullpen and into the circle.
The Chippewas got on the board in the top of the fourth inning when Brittini Merchant came around on a wild pitch to make it 3-1. However, Boston tallied single runs in the fourth and fifth innings to go up 5-1.
CMU had its best opportunity of the game in the sixth when it plated a run and then loaded the bases with nobody out and the 2-3-4 hitters up. Unfortunately, the Chippewas were only able to plate one more run to cut the deficit to 5-3.
Boston extended the lead to 6-3 going into the seventh, but the Chippewas threatened once again. With runners at first and third and one out, Molly Coldren hit a sacrifice fly to bring the Maroon and Gold closer. The game ended on a groundout to second base.
Chippewa batters did a good job creating scoring opportunities, but stranded 12 base runners in the contest. CMU loaded on three separate occassions yet were only able to come away with two runs in those instances.
Greenman took the loss in her second collegiate start to fall to 0-2 on the season. She went 2 1/3 innings and allowed three runs (all earned) on four hits while walking three and striking out one.
