Central Michigan University Athletics
Chippewas Fire Up For Home Opener
4/2/2013 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Mount Pleasant, Mich.- Central Michigan opens up the recently renovated Margo Jonker Stadium on Wednesday, April 3, with a doubleheader against University of Detroit Mercy. This week will feature six games at home for the Chippewas, as they continue Mid-American Conference play this weekend against Buffalo and Kent State.
Sophomore CarolAnn Sexauer has turned it on as of late, riding a 12-game hit streak and batting .483 over the past 10 games. In her last three outings, she has three homeruns and six hits. Sexauer currently ranks seventh in the MAC with a .373 batting average over 24 games, and is t-fourth with eight doubles. With three more homeruns, Sexauer will move into the Central Michigan record books for career homeruns (13).
The Chippewas pitching staff has emerged as the best in the conference, giving up the least amount of earned runs (57) and toping the MAC with a 2.50 combined ERA. Opponents have hit .243 against Central Michigan pitchers, only bettered by Akron’s .242 average. All four of the Chippewas pitchers rank in the top eleven of the MAC.
Junior Chelsea Sundberg is coming off of a 2-hit shutout at Eastern Michigan on Saturday, March 30. She faced 25 batters, striking out six and giving up no walks in 7.0 innings.
Scouting the Week:
University of Detroit Mercy Titans (3-20, 0-0 Horizon League) Saturday, April 2 at 2 p.m. (Doubleheader)
UDM is led by junior Sara Cupp. Her .302 batting average makes her the lone Titan batting over .300 on the season. Of Cupp’s 19 hits, seven have been for extra bases, including four homeruns. She leads UDM with 12 RBIs and has been walked 13 times. Sophomore Kat Hoffman leads the Titans in the circle with a 5.53 ERA in seven starts. As a pitching staff, UDM has a combined 5.93 ERA and opponents are hitting .324 against them. The Chippewas lead the all-time series against the Titans, 33-2. Last season, the two teams met for a doubleheader in Detroit, and Central Michigan came away with two victories, 14-4 and 11-1.
University of Buffalo Bulls (6-20, 1-3 MAC) Friday, April 5 at 1 p.m. (Doubleheader)
Buffalo comes into the week after splitting a weekend series with Ohio. The Bulls are led by Alexis Curtiss’ .338 batting average and 27 hits. Sammi Gallardo has 12 RBIs this season and leads the team with 10 extra base hits. Buffalo’s pitching staff has combined for a 6.33 ERA and an opponent’s batting average of .303. Tori Speckman has made 17 appearances in the circle for the Bulls, striking out 45 batters and earning a 4.80 ERA. Buffalo leads the all-time series 8-7, but the last time Central Michigan faced off against the Bulls on March 31, 2012, the Chippewas came away with a 7-0 victory.
Kent State University Golden Flashes (12-12) Saturday, April 6 at 2 p.m. and Sunday, April 7 at 1 p.m.
Kent State is coming off of back-to-back wins over Akron, and will play a doubleheader on Friday, April 5, at Eastern Michigan before traveling to Mount Pleasant. Abbey Ledford leads the Golden Flashes with ten RBIs this season and has 21 hits to date. Kim Kirkpatrick’s .304 batting average tops the team, and has six extra base hits on the season. Emma Johnson leads the MAC with nine wins in the circle, and has a 1.91 ERA, third best in the conference. After dropping a doubleheader against Kent State last spring during the regular season, Central Michigan defeated the Golden Flashes in the MAC Tournament, 2-1. The Chippewas have gotten the best of Kent State, leading the all-time series 42-35.
