Central Michigan University
Akron
Chippewas Hang In, Win In 12
4/8/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Lindsay Gerber, CMUChippewas.com
AKRON, Ohio - Central Michigan broke through with four runs in the 12th inning and Rachael Knapp was again dominant in the circle on Saturday as the Chippewas took a 4-0 marathon victory from Akron in a Mid-American Conference softball game at Akron's Lee R. Jackson Field.
The win lifted CMU to 22-10, 7-2 MAC. Akron fell to 15-20, 4-5. The teams conclude their three-game series with a doubleheader on Sunday (noon). The Chippewas trail Ball State by 1 ½ games in the MAC West. The Cardinals swept Ohio in a MAC twinbill on Saturday to improve to 9-1 in the league.
Kayla Noch singled with one out in the 12th and Danielle Marlink followed with a double to put Chippewas at second and third. Andrea Perlberg hit a groundball to shortstop, the Zips threw home in an attempt to cut down Noch, who slid into the plate as the catcher dropped the ball, putting the Chippewas up 1-0.
Lacy Tolfree then smacked a two-run double and Maison Kalina added a two-out RBI single for the final margin.
Knapp surrendered a one-out single in the bottom of the 12th, then got the final two outs to record her eighth shutout of the season and her 16th complete game.
The senior right-hander allowed seven hits, walked three and tied her season high with 15 strikeouts. She fanned 15 in a 2-0 win over North Dakota on Feb. 17.
"The only concern that we have is tomorrow," CMU coach Margo Jonker said of her ace pitcher. "As far as her being tough and managing (12 innings)? No, she's great. Knapp did an amazing job."
Knapp, who was backed by error-free defense, outlasted Akron's Lexie Handley (12-12), who walked one, struck out eight, and surrendered 12 hits.
"It was a great ballgame," Jonker said. "Both pitchers threw really well. we didn't do a very good job of moving runners early in the game, otherwise we could have finished it in seven innings. For us, we showed a lot of intestinal fortitude to hang in there and make the plays defensively until we were finally able to break through."
Tolfree, the Chippewas' leadoff hitter, had four hits. Kalina and Noch finished with two apiece. Allison Curtis and Taylor Lewallen each doubled for the Chippewas, who left nine on base, six of which came after the seventh inning.
Ashley Sims had three hits to lead the Zips.
