Central Michigan University Athletics
Chippewa Softball Heads To Western
4/12/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Cullen Maksimowski, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. — Simply stated, the Central Michigan softball team has not met its preseason expectations as the midway point of the Mid-American conference schedule approaches.
Picked to win MAC West in the preseason media poll, the Chippewas find themselves 15-20-1 overall, 2-7-1 MAC, and sit in last place in the West standings.
CMU travels to Kalamazoo Wednesday to take on rival Western Michigan (15-18, 6-3) in the third and final regular-season meeting between the teams.
CMU coach Margo Jonker, who is in her 37th year at the helm of the program, stressed the "one game at a time" mentality as her team looks to right the ship.
"I think it's really important that we take it one pitch and one game at a time," Jonker said. "It all starts (Wednesday) because it's the first next game, so were looking to play well and attack against Western."
The Chippewas split their doubleheader with the Broncos at home on April 5.
With 10 games remaining on the MAC schedule there is still time for the Chippewas to turn things around, but the margin for error is growing smaller.
"We are just looking to move forward," Jonker said. "The past is the past and we can't control it, we can't do anything about it, so were moving forward and looking to keep attacking."
The Chippewas enter play ranked third in the MAC with a .292 batting average. The Broncos rank fifth in team ERA at 3.20.
Sophomore Sydney Heath paces the CMU offense with a .378 batting average. Lacy Tolfree ranks second at .345.
CarolAnn Sexauer leads the Chippewas with 26 RBI and shares the home run lead with teammate Katelyn Rentschler with six.
Junior Rachael Knapp, who leads CMU in wins (7), ERA (3.17) and strikeouts (135), has missed the last three games due to illness. Jonker said Knapp is feeling better and could possibly return to action in Wednesday's contest.
Erin Binkowski leads the offense for Western with a .337 batting average and ranks second in the league in home runs with 11. Allyson Kus leads the pitching staff with a 10-9 record and 2.64 ERA.
The Chippewas will return home this weekend for a three-game MAC series with Toledo (8-27, 3-7) beginning on Friday at 3 p.m. The Chippewas and Rockets are slated to play a doubleheader on Saturday, beginning at 1 p.m.
