Central Michigan University
Valparaiso
Hit Parade For Chippewas In Home Opener
3/28/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Lindsay Gerber, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Mason Kalina delivered in the clutch and Taylor Weaver did the job out of the bullpen on Wednesday as the Central Michigan softball team topped Valparaiso, 8-3, in its home opener at Margo Jonker Stadium.
The win broke a four-game losing streak and lifted the Chippewas to 10-15. The Crusaders fell to 14-12.
IN THE CIRCLE
Hannah Warren started for CMU, allowing three runs (none earned) on four hits and striking out two over 2 2/3 innings. Weaver (1-5) went the final 4 1/3 innings, allowing just two hits.
Losing pitcher Kelsie Packard (1-2), the second of three Valpo pitchers, allowed five hits and three runs over 1 1/3 innings.
AT THE PLATE
Lacy Tolfree and Sara Hansen collected three hit apiece to share the team lead for the Chippewas. Kalina singled, doubled and drove in four runs.
Central Michigan outhit Valparaiso, 13-6.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Kalina delivered a two-out two-run single in the third to put CMU in front, 4-3. Hansen doubled in a run in the fourth to make it 5-3, and then the Chippewas added three insurance runs in the sixth. Kalina's two-run double highlighted the inning.
NEXT
Central Michigan is scheduled to entertain Miami (Ohio) in its Mid-American Conference home opener this weekend. The Chippewas, who are 0-3 in league play, are scheduled to begin the series on Friday (3 p.m.) and close it with a doubleheader on Saturday (1 p.m.). The RedHawks are 13-12, 2-1 MAC.
COACH Margo Jonker
"It is great to be home. It's a long on-the-road deal when you're a northern school in softball, so it's awesome to be back at home with decent weather ... being at home I just felt relief. Obliviously, we had a lot of hits. We still need to do a better job scoring runs because we left a lot of runners on in scoring position."
