Central Michigan University Athletics
Saturday, April 27
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
1 p.m.
Central Michigan University
20-24-1, 10-7
10
vs
8
Ball State
32-18, 9-8
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ball State | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 10 | 4 |
| Central Michigan | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | X | 10 | 13 | 0 |
Photo by: Benjamin Suddendorf
Senior Moment: Chippewas Win Home Finale, Take Series From Ball State
4/27/2019 5:44:00 PM | Softball
Chippewas pound out 13 hits
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – A special group of seniors left a lasting memory on Saturday at Margo Jonker Stadium.
All seven seniors were in the starting lineup and all seven contributed – everybody in the lineup contributed -- as the Chippewas pounded out 13 hits and took advantage of several Ball State miscues as CMU downed the Cardinals, 10-8, in the finale of a three-game Mid-American Conference series.
The Chippewas, who split a doubleheader with the Cardinals on Friday, won the series and are 20-24-1, 10-7-1 MAC heading into their final league series of the season next weekend at Toledo.
"It's great to walk out with a win, especially for our senior class," CMU coach Margo Jonker said. "I'm so excited for them."
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Chippewas used five hits and took advantage of four Ball State errors in scoring seven runs in the second inning to seize a 7-1 lead which eventually grew to 10-4 after five innings.
Sara Hansen struck the big blow in the second, ripping a single to left with the bases loaded. The ball got by the fielder and went all the way to the fence, allowing three runs to score.
"We just kept making good contact and ran the bases well," Jonker said. "When they make a mistake, we just stayed with it. I was really happy with that."
Ball State, however, refused to go away and drew to 10-8 by scoring four runs in the sixth inning on Janae Hogg's three-run homer and a solo shot by Stacy Payton.
Cloe Mallory relieved Samantha Howell after Payton's homer and allowed just one single while recording the final five outs for the save, her second of the season.
"Ball State's going to fight, and we talked about that before the game," Jonker said. "Until the last pitch is thrown, the game is not over. We saw that in the first game (of the series). It's a matter of fighting and continuing to fight. Give them credit for continuing to put up numbers, and give our players credit for getting the job done."
AT THE PLATE
Sara Hansen and Samantha Mills had three hits apiece to lead CMU's offense. The 13 hits tied for the second-highest total of the season for the Chippewas, who hit double digits in runs for the fifth time this season.
The three hits were a career high for Mills, a freshman catcher. It also marked her first multi-hit game as a Chippewa.
Allison Curtis and Kayla Noch added two hits apiece for CMU.
IN THE CIRCLE
Kaitlyn Bean started for the Chippewas and allowed four runs on five hits, walked four and struck out one over 2 2/3 innings. Samantha Howell (6-8) went 2 2/3 innings in relief of Bean and earned the win. She surrendered four runs on four hits and walked one.
SOLID 'D'
The Chippewas did not commit an error on Saturday and made just one in the three-game series.
SENIORS MOMENT
It was the final home game for seven Chippewa seniors who, along with their teammates, are still in the hunt for the MAC regular-season championship and can look to the MAC Tournament harboring legitimate hopes of claiming that title.
Those seven seniors have been critical pieces, several of them since their respective arrivals in the program, including infielders Erika Underwood, Rachel Vieira and Kayla Noch, and outfielder Allison Curtis and Sara Hansen.
The other two seniors, Andrea Perlberg and Kaila Fulker, have also played critical roles throughout their careers, be it as a pinch runner or filling in when and where necessary, Jonker said.
"This class has been great," she said. "They really worked hard on turning the culture around, as (did) a couple of classes before them. That's such a huge part of athletics, to have a good culture and to have good leadership. You need leaders on the field and they need to be able to get it done on the field. Mentally, emotionally and physically, I think this class has really done a good job and I'm really proud of them. Impressed with them as people as well as players. Really special."
All seven seniors were in the starting lineup and all seven contributed – everybody in the lineup contributed -- as the Chippewas pounded out 13 hits and took advantage of several Ball State miscues as CMU downed the Cardinals, 10-8, in the finale of a three-game Mid-American Conference series.
The Chippewas, who split a doubleheader with the Cardinals on Friday, won the series and are 20-24-1, 10-7-1 MAC heading into their final league series of the season next weekend at Toledo.
"It's great to walk out with a win, especially for our senior class," CMU coach Margo Jonker said. "I'm so excited for them."
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Chippewas used five hits and took advantage of four Ball State errors in scoring seven runs in the second inning to seize a 7-1 lead which eventually grew to 10-4 after five innings.
Sara Hansen struck the big blow in the second, ripping a single to left with the bases loaded. The ball got by the fielder and went all the way to the fence, allowing three runs to score.
"We just kept making good contact and ran the bases well," Jonker said. "When they make a mistake, we just stayed with it. I was really happy with that."
Ball State, however, refused to go away and drew to 10-8 by scoring four runs in the sixth inning on Janae Hogg's three-run homer and a solo shot by Stacy Payton.
Cloe Mallory relieved Samantha Howell after Payton's homer and allowed just one single while recording the final five outs for the save, her second of the season.
"Ball State's going to fight, and we talked about that before the game," Jonker said. "Until the last pitch is thrown, the game is not over. We saw that in the first game (of the series). It's a matter of fighting and continuing to fight. Give them credit for continuing to put up numbers, and give our players credit for getting the job done."
AT THE PLATE
Sara Hansen and Samantha Mills had three hits apiece to lead CMU's offense. The 13 hits tied for the second-highest total of the season for the Chippewas, who hit double digits in runs for the fifth time this season.
The three hits were a career high for Mills, a freshman catcher. It also marked her first multi-hit game as a Chippewa.
Allison Curtis and Kayla Noch added two hits apiece for CMU.
IN THE CIRCLE
Kaitlyn Bean started for the Chippewas and allowed four runs on five hits, walked four and struck out one over 2 2/3 innings. Samantha Howell (6-8) went 2 2/3 innings in relief of Bean and earned the win. She surrendered four runs on four hits and walked one.
SOLID 'D'
The Chippewas did not commit an error on Saturday and made just one in the three-game series.
SENIORS MOMENT
It was the final home game for seven Chippewa seniors who, along with their teammates, are still in the hunt for the MAC regular-season championship and can look to the MAC Tournament harboring legitimate hopes of claiming that title.
Those seven seniors have been critical pieces, several of them since their respective arrivals in the program, including infielders Erika Underwood, Rachel Vieira and Kayla Noch, and outfielder Allison Curtis and Sara Hansen.
The other two seniors, Andrea Perlberg and Kaila Fulker, have also played critical roles throughout their careers, be it as a pinch runner or filling in when and where necessary, Jonker said.
"This class has been great," she said. "They really worked hard on turning the culture around, as (did) a couple of classes before them. That's such a huge part of athletics, to have a good culture and to have good leadership. You need leaders on the field and they need to be able to get it done on the field. Mentally, emotionally and physically, I think this class has really done a good job and I'm really proud of them. Impressed with them as people as well as players. Really special."
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Howell, Samantha (6-8)
L: VENKER (13-5)
S: Mallory, Cloe (2)
Batting:
2B: DOMINIQUE 1 ; HOGG 1 ; ROBINSON, A. 1
HR: HOGG 1 ; PAYTON 1
RBI: HOGG 3 ; PAYTON 1 ; DANIEL 1 ; WYNN 1 ; ROBINSON, A. 2
Base Running:
RUNS: DOMINIQUE 2 ; HOGG 2 ; PAYTON 2 ; DANIEL 1 ; HUFFMAN, O. 1
HBP: DEMNIANIUK 1
Batting:
2B: Vieira, Rachel 1
RBI: Hansen, Sara 2 ; Fulker, Kaila 2 ; Noch, Kayla 1 ; Mills, Samantha 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Curtis, Allison 2 ; Hansen, Sara 2 ; Underwood, Erika 1 ; Vieira, Rachel 1 ; Gardner, Morgan 1 ; Knapp, Shaidan 1 ; Mills, Samantha 1 ; Perlberg, Andrea 1
SB: Hansen, Sara 1 ; Underwood, Erika 1
HBP: Noch, Kayla 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
2
H
3
RBI
2
AB
4
R
1
H
3
RBI
1
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
P
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
1B
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballC/OF
/ SoftballIF/C
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
1B
/ Softball
IF
/ SoftballSoftball vs Miami OH
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Softball vs Miami OH DH
Saturday, April 25
Softball vs Michigan
Tuesday, April 14
Softball vs UMAss Win Highlights
Monday, April 13