Central Michigan University Athletics
Seddon Perfect Through Seven, Ohio Wins Game in Eighth
5/13/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Box Score | Watch: Highlights
AKRON, Ohio -- Senior Kari Seddon was perfect through seven innings for Central Michigan on Thursday, but Ohio scored four runs in the eighth inning to earn a 4-0 victory in the second round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament.
Seddon retired the first 21 Bobcats (25-21) she faced in the game, but the Chippewas (30-20) were unable to push a run across the plate, as they stranded seven runners in the game, including two in the second and two in the fourth.
In the eighth, Ohio pitcher Emily Wethington walked to leadoff the inning and break up the perfect game, before Lauren Gellerman singled through the left side for the first Bobcat hit of the game. Chelsea Hortman then hit a single just out of the reach of Brittini Merchant to score pinch-runner Erin Lashley.
After a pop up fell between Merchant and Danielle Cabrera that allowed Jenna Giusti to score and Brooke Morgart singled, Alexis Joseph tripled to left center for Ohio, plating two more and chasing Seddon from a game in which she was perfect just two thirds of an inning earlier.
Trailing 4-0, CMU was unable to get to Wethington in the extra frame, as she put the Chippewas down in order and sent them to an elimination game with Kent State Friday morning at 11:00 a.m.
The Chippewas put runners on base in each of the first two innings, as Seddon and Molly Coldren hit back-to-back singles in the bottom of the second, but lightning would strike and rain would fall, causing a three hour and 13 minute delay. After the delay, Wethington got Cory DeLemallieure to strikeout to end the threat.
Seddon continued her dominance after the long delay with a little help from her defense. In the top of the fourth, Amanda Patrick made a throw from her knees to get Joseph on a groundout and Ashley Gilson made a running snag at the fence in centerfield to support the bid at perfection.
Three swinging strikeouts in the top of the fifth gave Seddon her total of five in the game. The senior pitched 7 2/3 innings, with all four runs and hits coming in the extra frame to suffer the loss.
Wethington earned the win, giving up five hits and striking out three in eight innings.
Coldren went 2-for-3 for the Maroon and Gold in the game and is now 5-for-6 in the tournament.
The Chippewas and Golden Flashes will face off Friday morning in an elimination game, with the winner advancing to play the winner of Miami/Northern Illinois vs. Ball State.
