Central Michigan University
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Western Michigan
Chippewas Earn Split With Western
4/5/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Cullen Maksimowski, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. — The Central Michigan softball team wanted to build momentum in both games of its Mid-American Conference doubleheader with rival Western Michigan on Tuesday at Margo Jonker Stadium.
They were successful on that mission in game two.
The Chippewas earned the split with an 8-4 victory in the nightcap after dropping the opener, 7-2.
"I thought momentum played a big role in both games," CMU coach Margo Jonker said. "It went the wrong way in the first game and went the right way in the second game.
"We really want to continue this way of playing more aggressively. I thought the first game we were kind of sluggish and in the second game we did a lot better job of taking it to them."
CMU moves to 15-18-1 overall, 2-5-1 MAC. Western is 14-17, 5-3.
Sophomore Hanna Warren (6-6) tossed a complete game in the nightcap for her second-straight victory. She scattered seven hits and walked three.
"I think she did a great job for us today," Jonker said of Warren. "She really stuck it out well and competed very well and has done a great job the last two games."
CarolAnn Sexauer launched her sixth home run of the season in the first inning to give the Chippewas the early lead. All six of Sexauer's home runs have come in her last nine games. She shares the team lead with Katelyn Rentschler.
The Broncos put up a three-spot in the top of the fifth inning to take a 4-2 lead. The Chippewas answered with three runs in the bottom of the frame to re-take the lead, 5-4.
Maison Kalina's RBI double drew the Chippewas to 4-3. Kalina had three hits and two RBI in the win.
"Kalina is really nice hitter I think," Jonker said. "She did a really nice job of coming through and getting that hit for us, that was huge."
Sara Hansen then delivered a two-run single to center field to put CMU in front for good, 5-4.
"I really just wanted to see the ball and put the ball in play," said Hansen, who finished with four hits, drove in three runs and stole two bases. "I was just hoping that something would get by them and it got by so I was happy about that."
"For Sara, it's good to see her come through and have a big game because she's been struggling a little offensively," Jonker said. "I think it will help her confidence a lot going forward."
The Chippewas added three insurance runs in the sixth. Sydney drove in two runs with a single, and Kalina added an RBI single.
Junior Rachael Knapp (7-10) took the loss, her fifth straight, in the opener. Knapp surrendered four runs (two earned) on five hits over 3 1/3 innings. She struck out four and walked one.
Laura Vaccaro pitched the final 3 2/3 innings in relief, giving up three runs (two earned) on six hits. She struck out one and walked one.
Heath and Chelsea DeLamielleure drove in the Chippewa runs with RBI doubles in first and sixth innings, respectively.
Allyson Kus pitched a complete game to earn the victory in the opener. Sabrina Gambao led the Broncos with three hits and Erin Binkowski had three RBI in the nightcap.
The Chippewas go to Bowling Green (14-23, 2-8) for a three-game MAC series this weekend beginning on Friday.
