Central Michigan University Athletics
Coldren Blast Lifts Softball to Split in Clearwater
3/6/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Penn State Box Score | Robert Morris Box Score
CLEARWATER, Fla. — Molly Coldren continued her torrid start to the season with the most dramatic hit of her young career to lead the Central Michigan softball team to an opening day split at the USF Tournament at South Florida on Friday.
Coldren belted a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift the Chippewas to a wild, 5-4 win over Robert Morris in CMU’s second game of the day. The homer was the sophomore shortstop’s second of the season as she finished the day 3-for-7.
“Molly hit a shot in that last inning,” head coach Margo Jonker said. “It was great to see her come through in a big situation. When she makes contact, the ball flies off her bat.”
Central dropped its opener to Penn State, 3-1, earlier in the day. The Maroon and Gold are now 2-4 this season.
Offense Struggles in Setback to Nittany Lions
A three-run Penn State third inning was too much for Central to overcome as its offense was held to two hits at the Eddie C. Moore Complex.
The Nittany Lions plated all three runs with two outs in the frame. PSU cracked back-to-back doubles down the left field line and added another run on an error that followed a Penn State single.
“We had a couple situations where we could have won the game,” Jonker said. “We had a chance to throw out the first runner at home in that inning, if we make that play, we get out without allowing a run.”
Coldren began a Maroon and Gold rally in the fourth when she tripled with two outs. A Penn State error allowed her to touch home and put the Chippewas on the board.
CMU put together another threat in the fifth. Jill Schulz singled through the middle with one out and Macy Merchant pinch ran for her and stole second. The tying run reached base when Rachael Hensel drew a walk, but the Chippewas were unable to advance a runner past third.
Kari Seddon got the start in the circle for CMU and tossed her first complete game of the season, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits in her seven innings of work. She also struck out five batters while walking four.
“Kari pitched very well today,” Jonker said. “She was able to go the whole way and pitched stronger as the game wore on.”
Coldren Homer Caps Wild Win Over Colonials
A pitching dual became a back and forth slug fest in the seventh inning as the Central outlasted Robert Morris in extra innings.
Kara Dornbos picked up her first collegiate win as she pitched all eight innings and allowed four unearned runs on five hits while fanning eight and not walking a single batter.
“Kara did a great job,” Jonker said. “She pitched really strong from the very beginning of the game.”
CMU drew first blood in the third inning when Hensel got hit by a pitch to start the frame. Macy Merchant stole second as a pinch runner and advanced to third when Amber Olejniczak reached on an error with one out. Merchant came around to score as part of a double steal as the Colonials went for Olejniczak at second, allowing Merchant to touch home without a throw.
“We ran the bases very well today,” Jonker said. “Our bench players did a great job of moving from base to base, that was a well executed double steal by both Amber and Macy to allow Macy to cross home.”
The Maroon and Gold’s lead stood going into the seventh, but a pair of Chippewa miscues to start the frame put runners at first and second. A wild pitch put both runners in scoring position and an RMU single plated both runners to give Robert Morris its first lead of the game. Another Central Michigan error made it 3-1 going into the bottom of the inning.
Undettered, the Chippewas came put their first two runners aboard as Schulz singled and Brogan Darwin doubled to begin the rally. Olejniczak brought CMU within a run when she dropped down a squeeze bunt to drive in pinch runner Amanda Klosterman. Darwin, who moved to third on the bunt, knotted the game up when she scored on a wild pitch, sending the game to extra innings.
“The team could have easily folded up shop after giving away the lead,” Jonker said. “The bottom of the order did a nice job getting on and producing runs to keep the game going.”
The game went to the international tiebreaker in extra innings and Robert Morris plated their awarded runner from second on a one-out RBI single. Dornbos avoided further damage as the Chippewas trailed, 4-3, going into the bottom of the eighth.
Coldren led off the eight with the Chippewas being awarded their runner at second base and promptly drove a pitch over the left field wall to complete the CMU comeback.
The Maroon and Gold resume their tournament slate on Saturday when they face Fordham (10:30 a.m.) and UAB (3 p.m.).
