Central Michigan University
Miami (Oh)
Chippewas Take Two, Go For Series Sweep On Saturday
3/30/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Lindsay Gerber, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Three Central Michigan pitchers combined to allow only seven hits as the Chippewas swept a Mid-American Conference doubleheader from Miami (Ohio), 3-2 and 5-0, on Friday at Margo Jonker Stadium.
The Chippewas (12-15, 2-3 MAC) are riding a three-game win streak and are scheduled to finish the three-game series with the RedHawks with a single game on Saturday (1 p.m.). The RedHawks fell to 13-14, 2-3.
GAME 1
Rachel Vieira drilled a two-out run-scoring triple to give CMU a 1-0 lead in the second inning, and then CMU went up 3-1 in the fourth on RBI singles by Kayla Noch and Allison Curtis.
Ashton Slone homered leading off the top of the seventh to draw the RedHawks to 3-2, and then Kaitlyn Gliha followed with a single.
Chippewa pitcher Taylor Weaver induced a double play and then got a strikeout to end the game and notch the save, the first of her career.
"I rely a lot on my defense, especially my infield," Weaver said. "Knowing that they have that behind me is awesome. I believe whole-heartedly that we have one of the best defenses in the MAC, so it's cool seeing that we're making routine plays that lead to the big (wins)."
Laura Vaccaro (3-2) started and allowed one run on three hits over 4 2/3 innings for the win. Weaver went the final 2 1/3 innings, allowing one run, two hits and recording two strikeouts.
Central Michigan outhit Miami 10-5. Noch and Erika Underwood finished with two hits apiece to lead the Chippewas at the plate.
GAME 2
Hanna Warren tossed a complete game two-hitter. She struck out six in improving to 4-5.
The Chippewas scored four runs in the third inning to give Warren all the support she would need. Maison Kalina drove in a run with a double, Morgan Gardner and Shaidan Knapp each had an RBI single, and Noch had a sacrifice fly.
Knapp had three hits to lead CMU's nine-hit attack.
Losing pitcher Shannon Hohman allowed four runs on six hits over 2 1/3 innings.
NOCH
"Coming back to our home field we knew this is where we wanted to be. Our fans were going to come out and support us like they always do and we found a way to create momentum and break the game down by inning to find little wins."
CMU COACH Margo Jonker
"I thought we played great softball today. This was definitely Chippewa softball. It's the best we've played two games in a row most of the year, if not the whole time. Being back home is uplifting and helps us out. It's more fun. I'm really proud of how they played. The energy on offense ... all the hits came together. We strung hits together."
"You always want to win at least two of three at home - you always want to win all three, but two of three if you're going to have a fight for any championship. The goal is we want to be in the tournament. So it's one game at a time."
