Central Michigan University
Kent State
CMU Softball Drops MAC Opener
3/25/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Cullen Maksimowski, CMUChippewas.com
KENT, Ohio. — The Central Michigan softball team dropped its Mid-American Conference opener to Kent State on Thursday falling 7-3 at the Diamond at Dix.
The Chippewas fall to 13-13 on the season. Kent State is 18-7. The teams meet in a doubleheader at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
Kent State jumped on the board first with four runs in third-inning coming of a grand slam by Holly Speers after Rachel Knapp loaded the bases on three straight walks.
Knapp (7-6), a junior, was touched up for seven runs in 4 1/3 innings. She allowed five hits and walked five.
Sophomore Laura Vaccaro pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief.
The Chippewas responded with three runs in the fourth on the strength of home runs by CarolAnn Sexauer, her third, and Chelsea DeLamielleure, her fourth.
Sexauer's blast came on the heels of her two-home run performance in the nightcap of CMU's home opener with Valparaiso.
KSU pulled ahead for good for good in the fifth inning with at three-run shot by Bailey Brownfield. All runs scored by both teams in the game came via the home run ball.
Lacey Tolfree, Allison Curtis, Katelyn Rentschler, Sydney Heath and Rachael Vieira each had a hit for the Chippewas, who out-hit the Golden Flashes, 7-5.
Ronnie Ladines (12-1) went the distance for Kent State, striking out five and walking two.
