Central Michigan University
Toledo
Chippewas Split At Toledo, Remain Atop MAC West
4/15/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Lindsay Gerber, CMUChippewas.com
TOLEDO, Ohio - Hanna Warren threw a complete game and Sydney Heath homered in the nightcap Saturday as Central Michigan defeated Toledo, 6-4, to earn a split in a Mid-American Conference doubleheader at the Rockets' Scott Park.
Toledo won the opener, 4-2. CMU is 26-12, 11-4 MAC, and remains tied with Ball State atop the MAC West. The Cardinals split a doubleheader on Saturday with Eastern Michigan.
"We just have to keep playing." Said CMU head coach Margo Jonker. "We have to keep being aggressive and play to win. We're doing the best we can to be successful and just play together as a team."
Central Michigan will travel to Valparaiso on Tuesday (3 p.m.) for a nonconference doubleheader, then entertain Northern Illinois in a three-game series next weekend at Margo Jonker Stadium.
Heath hit a two-run homer to break a 4-4 tie in the top of the seventh inning in the nightcap. It was her first home run of the season.
Warren (7-4) allowed six hits, struck out two and walked two for the win.
"Hanna Warren did a great job in the circle keeping her composure and getting the job done," CMU coach Margo Jonker said. "She did a good job locating the ball."
Kailey Minarchick (8-9) pitched the seventh inning for Toledo (20-27, 8-7) and took the loss. Toledo starter Heather Webb went three innings, and Alissa Noble worked three innings in relief.
Allison Curtis had two hits to lead CMU's nine-hit attack. Lacy Tolfree, Taylor Lewallen and Kaila Fulker each drove in a run. Tolfree's sixth-inning sacrifice fly tied the game 4-4.
In the opener, the Rockets broke a 2-2 tie with a third-inning sacrifice fly, then Chandler Rice homered in the fifth for an insurance run.
Losing pitcher Rachael Knapp (16-7) threw her 20th complete game of the season. The senior right-hander allowed eight hits, walked one and struck out four. It was her first loss in her last six starts.
Trailing 2-0, the Chippewas tied it with two runs in the third. Lacy Tolfree drove in CMU's first run with a double, and she later scored on an error.
Minarchick (8-8) went the distance for the victory. She gave up five hits, walked two and struck out one.
