Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
UIC
Late Runs Doom Chippewa Softball Team
2/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
ROSEMONT, Ill. - Illinois-Chicago pushed across five runs in its final two at-bats Sunday to hand the Central Michigan softball team a 6-5 loss in the Chippewas' fourth and final game at the season-opening Loyola/UIC Invitational.
The Chippewas (0-4), who go next weekend to the Campbell/Cartier Classic at San Diego State, built a 5-0 lead through 4 ½ innings before the Flames rallied.
The Chippewas committed two errors in the game, giving them eight in their four tournament contests.
"I thought that every game we had some crucial defensive mistakes," CMU coach Margo Jonker said. "In a couple of the games we hit pretty well, but we were kind of inconsistent offensively.
"I am disappointed with the weekend. I didn't expect this. I thought we'd come out stronger. We anticipate that we'll come back, do a lot of work, and get better for next weekend."
CMU got an RBI triple from Lacy Tolfree and run-scoring singles from Trista Cox, Maison Kalina and Kristen Goodall in building their five-run lead.
UIC got a run in the bottom of the fifth to cut CMU's lead to 5-1, then used two singles and two walks to score three times in the sixth to draw within 5-4.
The Flames scored both of their seventh-inning runs after two were out, piecing together a walk, a single, a CMU throwing error, and an infield hit.
Rachael Knapp went the final 2 1/3 innings for CMU and took the loss. She allowed five runs (three earned) on four hits while walking four.
Freshman Taylor Weaver made her first career start in the circle for CMU, allowing one run on six hits while walking two over 4 1/3 innings.
Her performance came one day after another freshman hurler, Hanna Warren, allowed just four hits and struck out five in a 1-0 loss to Western Illinois.
"I thought Hanna pitched a really good game (Saturday) and Taylor Weaver did a pretty good job in the circle today," Jonker said.
Chelsea DeLamielleure tripled and singled and Kalina had two hits to lead CMU's seven-hit attack.
Karissa Frazier earned the win in relief of Bridget Boyle. Frazier went five innings, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out three and walking one.
