Central Michigan University Athletics
Chippewa Softball Heads to Ann Arbor
4/21/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Jared Porter, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- The Central Michigan softball team (19-18) will travel to Ann Arbor to face No. 4 Michigan (41-6) in a non-conference game Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the Wolverines' Alumni Field.
After starting the season 8-15, the Chippewas have won 11 of their last 14 games and are tied at 7-5 in the league for third in the Mid-American Conference West standings. They are 2 ½ games back of Ball State for the top spot in the division.
The Chippewas are coming off a weekend in which they finished 2-2 at home against MAC foes Kent State and Buffalo. CMU split a Friday doubleheader with the Golden Flashes who, at 9-4, hold the second-best record in the MAC; and split a two-game set with Buffalo.
Senior Trista Cox has had a hot bat for CMU this season and reps a team-high batting average of .364. She also leads the Chippewas in hits (44), runs (26), and doubles (11).
Junior Katelyn Rentschler has hit a team-high seven home runs, with a school-record three coming in a game against Ohio earlier this month., while junior Chelsea DeLamielleure is second on the roster with six round-trippers.
CMU freshman outfielder Lacy Tolfree leads the MAC with 20 stolen bases.
Sophomore Rachael Knapp has been the ace in the circle for CMU and sports a record of 12-7 with an ERA of 2.28. She has 145 strikeouts for the year, against just 58 walks. Knapp ranks fourth in the MAC in both ERA and strikeouts.
Michigan comes into Wednesday's game riding a 10-game win streak and have nine victories against top-25 teams. The Wolverines' 1.56 team ERA ranks third nationally. The Wolverines are led by All-America shortstop Sierra Romero, a junior who is the two-time reigning Big Ten Player of the Year.
