Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
Miami (Oh)
Dramatic Walk-Off Win For CMU Softball
4/1/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Lindsay Gerber, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Erika Underwood homered with two out in the ninth inning on Sunday, lifting Central Michigan a to 3-2 victory over Miami (Ohio) in the third and final game of a three-game Mid-American Conference series at Margo Jonker Stadium.
The win gave the Chippewas a sweep of the series and lifted them 13-15, 3-3 MAC. The RedHawks fell to 13-15, 2-4. CMU is scheduled to play a MAC doubleheader at rival Western Michigan on Tuesday (1 p.m.).
HOW IT HAPPENED
Miami took the 2-1 lead when Johniann Wahl hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning. CMU tied it on Kayla Noch's RBI single in the bottom of the fourth.
The home run by Underwood was her team-leading sixth of the season.
"I had to take a deep breath and clear out my thoughts, because I'll overthink things," she said. "I just had to stay relaxed. I saw it come in and it was really drivable, so I just took my bat in and hit it."
IN THE CIRCLE
Winning pitcher Taylor Weaver (2-5) allowed three hits and struck out three over five innings. She pitched in relief of Hanna Warren, who allowed two runs on three hits over four innings.
Losing pitcher Courney Vierstra allowed 11 hits in going the distance.
AT THE PLATE
Maison Kalina led the Chippewas with a team-high three hits. Underwood and Lacy Tolfree added two apiece.
CMU out-hit Miami, 11-6.
CMU COACH Margo Jonker
"To take three games from Miami, which I think is a very good team, says a lot about where our team is right now. We left a lot of runners on early in the game, so that's not a positive, but we have to get the runners on to leave them on, so that is a positive. I thought we maintained throughout and kept the pressure on the whole time. The pitchers did a good job keeping us in the ball game and we did a great job with sacrifice bunts, both offensively and defensively."
