Central Michigan University
Bowling Green - Game 1
Chippewas Sweep League-Opening Twinbill
3/24/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Lindsay Gerber, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - The Central Michigan softball team ran its win streak to nine games on Friday as it swept Bowling Green in its Mid-American Conference opening doubleheader at Margo Jonker Stadium.
CMU kicked off the day with a 7-1 win and wrapped up the twinbill with a 3-1 victory in the nightcap.
Central Michigan improved to 17-7 and has won 16 of its last 17 games. Bowling Green fell to 14-19, 0-2. The Chippewas are set to play their final game of the three-game series against the Falcons on Saturday (1 p.m.).
"Starting off the conference with two wins is huge," CMU coach Margo Jonker said. "It's what you want to do every year so we're excited about that.
"The players really want to win this year. There's a mentality. You can have a winning mentality or a losing mentality. Right now we have a winning mentality and we do everything we can to keep that going."
CMU outhit the Falcons, 20-9, in the doubleleader. Sophomore Erika Underwood, who homered Wednesday in CMU's win over Oakland, had five hits and drove in five runs on the day.
"She really has a great stick and great pop off the bat," Jonker said of Underwood, . "The more experience she gets, the more confidant she gets, the better she'll be. She's so much better than last year in all aspects of the game, so I'm excited about her and her career."
Rachael Knapp (10-3) went the distance in game one for CMU, allowing three hits, striking out nine and walking one.
Underwood's first-inning RBI double in the first inning gave the Chippewas the lead in the opener. Underwood broke a 1-1 tie with another run-scoring double to highlight a three-run third inning.
Danielle Marlink and Allison Curtis added two hits apiece for the Chippewas. Pinch-hitter Kaila Fulker added a two-run double.
The Chippewas struck first in the nightcap as well when Underwood drove in a run with a two-out single.
Haley Schrock homered to tie the game in the second.
After Bowling Green tied it with a run in the second, Underwood reached on an error leading off the fourth. Pinch runner Andrea Perlberg took second on a Maison Kalina single and scored on a Rachel Vieira single.
Kalina finished with three hits including two doubles to lead CMU at the plate.
Winning pitcher Hanna Warren (5-4) struck out seven and while allowing six hits.
Losing pitcher Meredith Miller (7-4) struck out four and walked two.
