Central Michigan University Athletics
Wednesday, March 31
South Bend, Ind.
5 p.m.
Central Michigan University
4-14
4
at
7
Notre Dame
17-8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Central Michigan
0
0
0
2
0
2
0
4
7
3
Notre Dame
3
0
0
1
1
2
X
7
11
1
Photo by: Mackenna Kelly
Stein Homers Twice In Softball Loss At Notre Dame
3/31/2021 8:16:00 PM | Softball
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — A good showing against strong competition. Something upon which the Central Michigan softball team can build.
Notre Dame took advantage of two Chippewa errors in scoring three runs in the first inning in handing the Chippewas a 7-4 nonconference loss on Wednesday at the Fighting Irish's Melissa Cook Stadium
The Chippewas (4-14) are scheduled to entertain Ball State in a four-game Mid-American Conference series this weekend. Friday's 3 p.m. series opener is the home opener for CMU and will mark the first home game for second-year Chippewa coach McCall Salmon.
"It has been 706 days since we have had a home game," Salmon said. "We are all just ready to get back on our dirt and open the season in Margo Jonker Stadium."
Despite falling into a 3-0 deficit to the Irish (17-8), the Chippewas hung in and got a pair of two-run home runs from Shannon Stein, her second and third round-trippers of the season, to remain in the game.
"In the past few series, we would have found ourselves already checking out at that point, but we have been talking about getting better and facing each out as an opportunity, and we really did that today and fought hard," Salmon said.
Stein's second blast, which came in the sixth inning, drew CMU to 5-4.
Morgan Gardner and Stein led the Chippewas' seven-hit effort. Both of Gardner's singles came when she was leading off an inning, and Stein followed with her homers.
"I think (Gardner) getting on base to start those innings was really huge," Salmon said. "We have been seeing those swings and hits from (Stein) every day in practice, so seeing those finally connect in a game is what we have been waiting for. We were not surprised; we were just excited that it was finally all connecting for her."
CMU starter Kaitlyn Bean (0-5) allowed four runs (two earned) on five hits, walked two and struck out one over 3 1/3 innings in taking the loss. Cloe Mallory pitched 1 2/3 innings in relief and Grace Lehto worked the sixth.
Notre Dame, which entered the game with the sixth-best team batting average in the nation, collected 11 hits, but stranded nine baserunners as the Chippewa pitchers were able to limit the damage.
"We knew coming into this game they were a great offensive team," Salmon said. "Their leadoff batter (Abby Sweet) is one of the best in the country, so to hold them like we did to no huge innings is really great.
"We wanted to utilize the entire staff to not allow a pitcher to see a hitter more than two times (in) trying to keep their hitters off balance."
Notre Dame took advantage of two Chippewa errors in scoring three runs in the first inning in handing the Chippewas a 7-4 nonconference loss on Wednesday at the Fighting Irish's Melissa Cook Stadium
The Chippewas (4-14) are scheduled to entertain Ball State in a four-game Mid-American Conference series this weekend. Friday's 3 p.m. series opener is the home opener for CMU and will mark the first home game for second-year Chippewa coach McCall Salmon.
"It has been 706 days since we have had a home game," Salmon said. "We are all just ready to get back on our dirt and open the season in Margo Jonker Stadium."
Despite falling into a 3-0 deficit to the Irish (17-8), the Chippewas hung in and got a pair of two-run home runs from Shannon Stein, her second and third round-trippers of the season, to remain in the game.
"In the past few series, we would have found ourselves already checking out at that point, but we have been talking about getting better and facing each out as an opportunity, and we really did that today and fought hard," Salmon said.
Stein's second blast, which came in the sixth inning, drew CMU to 5-4.
Morgan Gardner and Stein led the Chippewas' seven-hit effort. Both of Gardner's singles came when she was leading off an inning, and Stein followed with her homers.
"I think (Gardner) getting on base to start those innings was really huge," Salmon said. "We have been seeing those swings and hits from (Stein) every day in practice, so seeing those finally connect in a game is what we have been waiting for. We were not surprised; we were just excited that it was finally all connecting for her."
CMU starter Kaitlyn Bean (0-5) allowed four runs (two earned) on five hits, walked two and struck out one over 3 1/3 innings in taking the loss. Cloe Mallory pitched 1 2/3 innings in relief and Grace Lehto worked the sixth.
Notre Dame, which entered the game with the sixth-best team batting average in the nation, collected 11 hits, but stranded nine baserunners as the Chippewa pitchers were able to limit the damage.
"We knew coming into this game they were a great offensive team," Salmon said. "Their leadoff batter (Abby Sweet) is one of the best in the country, so to hold them like we did to no huge innings is really great.
"We wanted to utilize the entire staff to not allow a pitcher to see a hitter more than two times (in) trying to keep their hitters off balance."
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Payton Tidd (9-4)
L: Bean, Kaitlyn (0-5)
S: Morgan Ryan (1)
Batting:
HR: Stein, Shannon 2
RBI: Stein, Shannon 4
Base Running:
RUNS: Gardner, Morgan 2 ; Stein, Shannon 2
Batting:
2B: Abby Sweet 2 ; Morgan Ryan 1
HR: Katie Marino 1
RBI: Emma Clark 1 ; Katie Marino 3 ; Payton Tidd 1 ; Leea Hanks 1 ; Chelsea Purcell 1
SH: Emma Clark 1 ; Chelsea Purcell 1
SF: Payton Tidd 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Abby Sweet 2 ; Katie Marino 2 ; Karina Gaskins 1 ; Leea Hanks 1 ; Quinn Biggio 1
SB: Abby Sweet 1 ; Karina Gaskins 1 ; Leea Hanks 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
4
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
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