Chippewas Use Big Inning In Taking Nightcap

Friday, April 26

Mount Pleasant, Mich.

1 p.m.

Central Michigan University

18-24-1, 8-7-1

Ball State

32-16, 9-6

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Ball State	1	0	1	0	0	5	0	7	9	1
Central Michigan	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	4	4	1

Shannon Stein trots home after hitting a two-run homer in the Chippewas' 8-3 victory over Ball State in the second game of a MAC doubleheader on Friday at Margo Jonker Stadium.

Photo by: Benjamin Suddendorf

4/26/2019 8:24:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Photo Gallery

CMU, Ball State split twinbill; Chippewas celebrate Senior Day on Saturday

By: Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – The big inning. It proved to be Central Michigan's undoing in the opener, and it put the Chippewas over the top in the nightcap.

The Chippewas scored five runs in the sixth inning in posting an 8-3 win over Ball State in the second game of a Mid-American Conference softball doubleheader on Friday at Margo Jonker Stadium.

The Cardinals scored five in the sixth in the opener in handing CMU a 7-4 loss.

The split left CMU 19-24-1, 9-7-1 MAC. Ball State is 32-17, 9-7. The teams are scheduled to conclude their three-game series on Saturday (1 p.m.) when the Chippewas celebrate Senior Day prior to the first pitch of their home finale.

GAME 2
The Chippewas sent 10 batters to the plate in scoring five runs in the sixth to break a 3-3 tie.

CMU took advantage of three consecutive walks, two Ball State errors, and a hit batsman to go along with an RBI bunt single by Kayla Noch and an Allison Curtis two-run double.

The big blow was a bases-loaded ground ball to third off the bat of Morgan Gardner. The Cardinals failed to field the ball cleanly and then made a throwing error, allowing two runs to score that put CMU up, 5-3.

"They made some mistakes and we capitalized," CMU coach Margo Jonker said. "Definitely we'll take advantage of every opportunity we have."

Freshman Kaitlyn Bean (8-6) threw a complete game five-hitter for the win. She walked three and matched her career high with seven strikeouts.

"I think they are a good hitting team," Jonker said. "I realize their stats don't show that right now, but last year it was the same lineup, almost, and they had great stats. It just depends on the game because I think they have really good hitters. I thought Bean did a really good job of keeping them off the bases."

Curtis and Erika Underwood finished with two hits apiece, and freshman Shannon Stein hit a two-run homer to straight-away center field. It was her team-leading eighth round-tripper of the season.

GAME 1
Ball State broke through with five runs in the sixth inning, turning a 4-2 deficit into a 7-4 lead that it never relinquished.

Sophomore Samantha Howell (5-8) took the loss. She surrendered five runs on six hits, walked three, and struck out four. Cloe Mallory surrendered two runs over the final 1 2/3 innings for the Chippewas.

Sara Hansen had two of the Chippewas' four hits.

BIG FACTOR
A strong westerly wind played havoc with fly balls all day long, but the Chippewas managed to track down most balls hit in the air to the outfield.

"I thought the outfield did a pretty good job considering the wind conditions," Jonker said. "It was tough. Certainly there were a lot of catches today that weren't very pretty, but as long as the ball's caught, we don't really care."

BACK IN THE LINEUP
Senior center fielder and leadoff hitter Allison Curtis is back in the Chippewa lineup after missing the better part of a month, during which she was limited to a pinch-running role, because of an injury.

Curtis played in last weekend's series with Northern Illinois, and her presence, both at the plate and in the field, was critical on Friday, particularly with the strong wind that made tracking fly balls an adventure. She made five putouts in center.

"Curtis, she brings energy to the team and she's a great defensive outfielder as well," Jonker said. "Having her back in the lineup is huge."