Softball Drops Weekend Finale In Tennessee

Sunday, February 28

Knoxville, Tenn.

10 a.m.

Central Michigan University

1-2

Tennessee

11-1

Central Michigan

Tennessee

Photo by: Tom Knapp

2/28/2021 2:16:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Lehto solid in the circle for Chippewas

By: Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Central Michigan softball team dropped a 3-0 decision on Sunday to Tennessee at the Volunteers' Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.

CMU went 1-2 in its season-opening weekend at the Tennessee Invitational. The Chippewas opened with a 7-4 win over Northern Kentucky and then dropped a 9-0 decision to the Volunteers on Saturday.

"This is game three," said second-year CMU coach McCall Salmon, whose team is scheduled to play six games in Florida next weekend. "We're just getting started and we started off with some of the best. We feel good about where we're at, but we're not satisfied.

"We know moving into these next couple days before Florida what we need to work on. These kids are getting some confidence and learning where we stand. It's about getting 1 percent better and moving forward to our next opportunity to compete. This team is headed in the right direction … There's going to be a lot of great things to come.

"I can't say enough about our bench. Our dugout has been off the chain. Just our energy and our body language, little things like that, were very impressive all weekend. Everyone is embracing their roles and giving us everything they have to help the team win. That's all we can ask for."

CMU managed two hits off Tennessee pitcher Ashley Rogers, a 2019 All-Southeastern Conference First Teamer who struck out 18. Morgan Gardner singled in the second inning and Abbey Tolmie singled in the seventh for the Chippewas.

"We faced a really, really good pitcher who had an opportunity to be on the Olympic team," Salmon said. "We might have had 18 strikeouts, but our approach at the plate was good; we were making adjustments, we were attacking balls."

CMU pitcher Grace Lehto allowed seven hits, walked one, and struck out five in going the distance. She allowed six hits, walked four, and struck out eight in earning the victory on Friday in the Chippewas' season-opening win over Northern Kentucky.

Tennessee (11-1) used two RBI singles in scoring twice for a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Lehto limited the damage, getting a pair of fly ball outs to strand two baserunners. The Volunteers added a run in the sixth on a double steal. Lehto again worked out of a jam, getting a popup and a strikeout to strand a runner at second.

"Excitement is the first word that comes to mind," Salmon said of Lehto. "We've been seeing it out of her consistently so we're just excited to finally see her pitch.

"It's her mentality – she's a competitor and we can see that. Getting the ball today, same thing, she wasn't scared, she competed, she wanted the ball in her hands and she was giving us her best pitch every time.

"Honestly, (Tennessee's) lineup is going to be one of the best in the country. They're a top SEC school she really held that lineup in check."

The Chippewas are scheduled to begin play in Leesburg, Fla. on Friday. They are slated to play New Mexico State, South Dakota (twice), North Dakota, Stetson and Middle Tennessee over their three days in the Sunshine State.