Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
Buffalo
CMU Softball Splits with Buffalo
4/18/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Cullen Maksimowski, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- The Central Michigan softball team earned a doubleheader split with Buffalo Saturday, winning game 1, 5-3, and dropping the second, 4-2, at Margo Jonker Stadium.
CMU's is 19-18, 7-5 in the Mid-American Conference. Buffalo is 9-33, 1-11. Buffalo's win in the nightcap was its first in league play this season.
"I don't think we played as well as I wanted us to against them," said CMU coach Margo Jonker, who watched her team split a MAC doubleheader with Kent State on Friday. "We certainly didn't want to lose a game to Buffalo, but we did and it's disappointing."
The Central Michigan offense was aggressive early Saturday, scoring two runs in the first two innings in both games.
"Well we tried to get ahead, but we didn't keep hitting," said Jonker. "We have had that issue before this year, not so much recently, but we need to not have it happen again."
Rachael Knapp (12-7) started for the Chippewas in game 1 and pitched all seven innings in the win. She gave up eight hits and struck out four.
"Rachael was sick today, so she had a bit of rough time," Jonker said. "I wasn't sure if she was going to pitch at all, but she sucked it up and obviously pitched pretty well for us in the first game."
The Chippewas celebrated Alumnae Day Saturday, recognizing several former Chippewa players.
Former CMU All-American Pam Stanley was honored for her achievements during the fifth inning of game 1 and had her No. 4 jersey retired.
"Other than the game it was a great day as far as so many alumni coming back and Pam Stanley's jersey retirement," Jonker said. "There was some great memories and I'm sure some great stories we'll be telling later."
Katelyn Rentschler and Trista Cox led CMU at the plate in the opener. Both had two hits. Rentschler drove in two runs, while Cox had one RBI, a fifth-inning single that broke a 2-2 tie.
Cox also collected a pair of hits in the nightcap.
"Trista is one of our top hitters," said Jonker. "She is a senior and has done a nice job leading us offensively."
Hanna Warren (5-8) took the circle for the Chippewas in game two and tossed five innings of one hit ball before running into trouble in the sixth, when the Bulls touched her up for four runs on five hits.
The Chippewas committed one error in the inning, and just one of the Bulls' runs was earned.
Chelsea DeLamielleure and Maison Kalina drove in CMU's runs. DeLamielleure finished with two hits.
The Chippewas will play next on April 22 at Michigan in a non-conference game.
