Central Michigan University Athletics
Chippewas End Regular Season On a High Note
5/6/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Ashley Gilson ended Senior Day with a two-run home run to mercy Eastern Michigan, 10-2, in the final game of the regular season on Sunday.
The Eagles (21-34, 7-16 MAC) grabbed the lead early in the top of the first inning following a solo home run from McKenna Russ. The Chippewas (26-25, 11-10 MAC) however, responded in the bottom half of the inning. Macy Merchant began the inning with a double down the left field line and Summer Knoop followed with an infield single to the short stop. Gilson found a gap in left field with a single which scored Merchant and tied the game at one. CarolAnn Sexauer sliced a ball down the left field line that rolled to the fence and scored two more runs, handing CMU a 3-1 lead after the first.
After three scoreless innings and 10 out of the 11 Eagle batters retired by Chelsea Sundberg, Courtney Nicholson roped a double to left center. She was advanced to third following a sacrifice bunt and hit home by Kaylee Tolliver with a single to right field. Sarah Gerber followed with a single to left field placing runners on first and second with one out. A fielder's choice allowed Sexauer to field a ball at shortstop and flip it over to Chelsea DeLamielleure for the force at third. Sundberg got the final batter to fly out to right field, but EMU cut into the lead trailing 3-2 heading into the bottom of the fifth.
After Merchant grounded out to begin the inning, Knoop singled to left center. Molly Coldren followed with a single to right field and following a wild pitch both runners were in scoring position. Brogan Darwin answered for the Chippewas with a single to right center clearing the bases and pushing the CMU lead to 5-2. Sexauer drew a walk placing runners on first and second for DeLamielleure, who smashed another deep ball off the center field fence for her first collegiate triple, bringing in both runners. Rachael Hensel drove DeLamielleure home with a single past the stretched glove of the third baseman placing CMU in front 8-2.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Coldren was walked bringing Gilson to the plate. Gilson ended the game with a two-run bomb over center field, allowing the Chippewas to seal their fifth straight win, 10-2.
Gilson finished the day 3-for-4 at the plate while Darwin and DeLamielleure both were 2-for-3 to lead the CMU offense.
Sundberg (10-8) picked up her 10th win of the season, throwing 5.2 innings and allowing two earned runs on six hits. Morgan Yuncker recorded the final out for the Chippewas against the only batter she faced.
Jenna Ignowski (11-11) suffered the loss in the circle for EMU, going 3.1 innings. She allowed three runs on seven hits. Lindsay Rich threw 1.1 innings, giving up five runs on five hits. Lauren Wells pitched the last inning for the Eagles holding CMU to two runs on one hit.
The Maroon and Gold will advance to the MAC tournament on Wednesday, where they will face Kent State in a 1:30 p.m. contest. The Chippewas are the sixth seed while the Golden Flashes are the seventh seed. Check back to cmuchippewas.com for full details on the MAC Tournament later tonight.
