Central Michigan University
Kent State - Game 1
Walk-Off Win Highlights Softball Sweep
4/1/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Lindsay Gerber, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - The Central Michigan softball team swept Kent State on Saturday in a Mid-American Conference doubleheader at Margo Jonker Stadium.
Rachael Knapp outlasted Kent State's Ronnie Ladines in a classic 11-inning pitchers duel in the opener, 1-0. The Chippewas pounded out 12 hits in winning the nightcap, 9-2.
The wins lifted CMU to 19-9, 4-1 MAC. Kent State is 12-18, 2-3. The series finale is Sunday at 1 p.m.
"I think we're a very good team and I think Kent State is a very good team," CMU coach Margo Jonker said. "Coming out against them with two wins is crucial. It's been a long time since we've gotten two wins in one day against Kent State. We expect tomorrow to be a tough game because today was certainly not easy."
Allison Curtis tripled to lead off the 11th inning and scored on Maison Kalina's single, giving the Chippewas the walk-off win in the opener.
Knapp (11-4) struck out 13, allowed seven hits, and walked three. Ladines (4-11) struck out 10, surrendered six hits, and walked one in taking the loss.
"It makes a big difference who's in the circle," Jonker said. "Ronnie is a really good pitcher for them and Knapp is obviously a very good pitcher for us so that's going to be a pitchers duel type of game."
It was Knapp's sixth game of the season with double-digit strikeouts. The Chippewas committed just one error in the game.
"Knowing that the defense had my back (kept me going)," Knapp said. "The batters had seen me a bunch of times, but I knew the defense would make the plays behind me."
Curtis had three hits for CMU while Kalina had two.
Sydney Heath's two-out bases loaded single in the bottom of the first inning put the Chippewas up, 3-1, in the nightcap and they cruised from there. CMU led 8-1 after four frames.
It was plenty as Hanna Warren (6-4) fired a two-hitter for the victory. She struck out eight and walked two. Kent State's hits, both singles, came in the first and sixth innings. She set down 14 consecutive Golden Flashes at one point.
"Hanna did a nice job," Jonker said. "She is totally different than (Knapp), so it's good going from one to the other because they're so different. Hanna is more down in the zone and she did a nice job spotting the ball."
Tolfree had three hits to lead CMU, while Kalina and Heath added two apiece. One of Kalina's hits was a double. Rachel Vieira and Heath each drove in two runs.
Janel Hayes (7-4) took the loss. She allowed five runs on eight hits and struck out two over three innings. Madi Huck went the final three innings for Kent State, allowing four runs on four hits and walking two.
