Central Michigan University
Eastern Michigan
Rentschler's RBI Single Gives Softball Dramatic Win
4/29/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Cullen Maksimowski, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. — When Katelyn Rentschler stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the seventh with the score knotted at six and a runner on third, there was little doubt on the Central Michigan bench as to whether she would deliver.
She did just that, lacing a game-winning RBI single up the middle as the Central Michigan softball team took the opener of its three-game Mid-American Conference series with Eastern Michigan, 7-6, on Friday at Margo Jonker Stadium.
The teams wrap up the series with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. Saturday.
CMU improves to 21-23-1 overall with an 8-9-1 record in conference play. EMU slips to 18-28, 8-10.
"It was a strange game but I was certainly happy to get the win," said CMU coach Margo Jonker. "We were able to come back after losing the lead a couple of times, so that was great to see and obviously Rentschler hitting the walk-off was huge for us."
Rentschler, a senior first baseman who will play her final games at Jonker Stadium on Saturday, has developed a knack for coming through with the game on the line in her time with CMU. Friday's game-winner was her third career walk-off hit.
"Katelyn is just a very good player, she has a really great swing and when she just relaxes she is very good in (game-winning) situations," Jonker said.
Rentschler finished the day with two hits and drove in three runs.
Kalina singled to lead off the bottom of the seventh and was lifted for pinch runner Courtney Streich. Streich took second on a Sydney Heath sacrifice and went to third on a wild pitch before scoring on Rentschler's single.
It was an important win for the Chippewas as they supplanted the Eagles in the eighth spot in the overall conference standings with five games left in the regular season. The top eight teams secure a spot in the MAC Tournament, which begins on May 11.
"It was important for us, but it's only one game," Jonker said. "Tomorrow is very important too. It's great we won, we really wanted to win this first game (of the series), but now we have two more games to go."
Junior Rachael Knapp (12-12) allowed five earned run in going the distance in the circle for CMU. She surrendered six hits, walked five and struck out seven in recording her sixth consecutive complete game.
Jonker talked about how she was pleased with the way her offense was able to pick up Knapp on a day where she wasn't as sharp as usual.
"That's what we have to do, we have to have our hitters come through," she said. "We can't depend on Knapp to go out and have a great game every single time."
Maison Kalina had two hits, Rachel Vieira homered and Chelsea DeLamielleure had an RBI single to lead the Chippewas at the plate. The Chippewas outhit the Eagles, 10-6.
Abi Clark led EMU's offense with three RBI. Trisha Trujillo took the loss in the circle.
CarolAnn Sexauer, who leads CMU in RBI (32), left the game in the fifth with an injury after a collision at home plate. No status was given, but Jonker said Sexauer, a senior, will not play on Saturday.
