Central Michigan University
Akron
Chippewas Split, Stand 8-3 In MAC Play
4/9/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Game 1 Box Score Game 2 Box Score
Lindsay Gerber, CMUChippewas.com
AKRON, Ohio - The Central Michigan softball team split its Mid-American Conference doubleheader against Akron to conclude the three-game series at Akron's Lee R. Jackson Field on Sunday.
CMU shut out the Zips 7-0 in the opener, but couldn't complete the sweep, losing 6-2 in the nightcap. The Chippewas, who won the series opener on Saturday, are 23-11, 8-3 MAC. They remain in second place in the West, one game behind Ball State. Akron is 16-21, 5-6 MAC.
Central Michigan will play host to Western Michigan (15-19, 3-7) on Wednesday (2 p.m.) in a MAC game. The Chippewas swept a doubleheader from the Broncos a week ago, posting two shutouts.
"We want to sweep the series, so we've really got to be tough, take one pitch at a time and play better ball than we did today," CMU coach Margo Jonker said after Sunday's game-two loss at Akron.
Winning pitcher Rachael Knapp (14-6) went the distance for Central Michigan in game one, striking out seven, while allowing only three hits. She did not issue a walk and the Chippewas backed her with error-free defense. The senior right-hander recorded both of CMU's wins in the series.
"She has great movement on her pitches and great command of those pitches," Jonker said. "She is very mentally tough and poised in the circle."
The Chippewas took a 2-0 lead in the third inning on RBI singles by Maison Kalina and Rachel Vieira. CMU added five runs in the fifth, taking advantage of three Akron errors.
Kalina finished with three hits and Allison Curtis had two to lead the Chippewas at the plate.
Hanna Warren (7-5) started and took the loss in the nightcap. She allowed five runs on eight hits and struck out three over 4 2/3 innings. Laura Vaccaro went the final 1 1/3 innings, surrendering one run on two hits.
"(Game two) didn't go as well as we anticipated or wanted it to go," Jonker said. "We scored early, but we couldn't hold the lead and they just out-hit us and out-played us today."
The Zips broke a 2-2 tie with three runs in the fifth. Kelly Hysong's two-out RBI single made it 3-2, then Taylor Kirian delivered a two-run triple to extend the lead to 5-2.
Anna Tarpley homered in the sixth, her second of the game, for the final margin.
Curtis and Vieira had two hits apiece for the Chippewas. Kalina, who doubled, drove in both of CMU's runs.
Winning pitcher Lexie Handley (13-12) struck out three over four innings. She allowed three hits.
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