Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
7-19, 0
Northern Illinois
12-24, 0
Softball Bats Remain Hot; Chippewas Run Win Streak To 3
4/18/2021 3:50:00 PM | Softball
It was the third win in a row for CMU, 7-19, 5-11 MAC, as the Chippewas took three of four in the series from the Huskies. The game was called after 4 ½ innings on the run rule.
The Chippewas collected 13 hits one day after they ripped 28, and scored 15 runs, in a doubleheader sweep of the Huskies. CMU's 15 runs in Sunday's game marked a season high.
"That first inning was huge, coming out and setting the tone," CMU coach McCall Salmon said. "Not putting our foot on the brake from yesterday and just continuing to accelerate forward."
CMU leadoff hitter Shaidan Knapp had a big day with a double and a triple among four hits and she drove in four runs. She went 8-for-12 in the four-game series, raising her batting average to a team-best .356.
"Shaidan Knapp, she had a huge day at the plate, she had a huge weekend overall," Salmon said. "Any time you can consistently get that leadoff hitter on and put pressure on (the defense) to make plays, good things are going to happen."
Abbey Tolmie singled and doubled and Kelsey Alexander added two hits for the Chippewas. Cleanup hitter Shannon Stein blasted a three-run double to highlight the Chippewas' 10-run first inning, during which they sent 14 batters to the plate and collected seven hits.
The Chippewas capitalized on scoring opportunities throughout the day, stranding just four baserunners. They also played well defensively, committing just one error. They had just two errors in the final three games of the series.
Freshman Grace Lehto (6-8) started and allowed seven runs on six hits in earning the victory. She was the winning pitcher in all three of CMU's victories in the series. Caitlyn Britton went the final two frames, allowing just two hits while striking out three.
"They gave us an opportunity to win," Salmon said. "They gave us everything they had after throwing a lot of pitches these last two days."
The Chippewas' doubleheader at Western Michigan scheduled for Tuesday has been postponed. CMU is set to welcome Buffalo next weekend for a four-game MAC series at Margo Jonker Stadium.
"This is great momentum for us moving into our Buffalo series," Salmon said, adding that the series win has helped bolster the Chippewas' confidence in all three phases of the game: pitching, hitting and defense.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Lehto, Grace (6-8)
L: BRYAN, Mackenzie (1-3)
Batting:
2B: RODRIGUEZ, Amberly 1 ; MICKELSON, Kira 1
HR: MICKELSON, Kira 1
RBI: RODRIGUEZ, Amberly 2 ; MICKELSON, Kira 5
Base Running:
RUNS: BARONE, Bianca 1 ; GUERICKE, Megan 1 ; APATO, Kira 2 ; MALLINDER, Sam 1 ; MICKELSON, Kira 2
Batting:
2B: Knapp, Shaidan 1 ; Tolmie, Abbey 1 ; Stein, Shannon 1 ; Britton, Caitlyn 1 ; Coberley, Skylar 1
3B: Knapp, Shaidan 1
RBI: Knapp, Shaidan 4 ; Tolmie, Abbey 2 ; Stein, Shannon 3 ; Britton, Caitlyn 2 ; Vallimont, Michaleigh 1 ; Coberley, Skylar 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Knapp, Shaidan 4 ; Gardner, Morgan 1 ; Tolmie, Abbey 2 ; Stein, Shannon 1 ; Britton, Caitlyn 1 ; Vallimont, Michaleigh 1 ; Alexander, Kelsey 2 ; Coberley, Skylar 1 ; Bracamonte, Emily 1 ; Anderson, Stephanie 1
