Lehto Solid In The Circle As Softball Gains Split With Toledo

Tuesday, May 4

Mount Pleasant, Mich.

1 p.m.

Central Michigan University

11-26, 0

Toledo

23-19, 0

Toledo

Central Michigan

Photo by: Keara Chaperon '22

Lehto Solid In The Circle As Softball Gains Split With Toledo

5/4/2021 7:48:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

By: Julia Bice, CMUChippewas.com

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Freshman Grace Lehto threw a complete game three-hitter on Tuesday as the Central Michigan softball team topped Toledo, 3-1, in the second game of a Mid-American Conference softball doubleheader at Margo Jonker Stadium.

Toledo won the opener, 12-5, scoring eight runs in the seventh inning to pull away.

The Chippewas are 12-26, 10-18 MAC. The Rockets are 23-20, 13-14. The teams are scheduled to play a twinbill at Toledo on Wednesday, May 12.

Lehto (8-10) struck out five.

"Grace threw a really solid and complete game," CMU coach McCall Salmon said. "She got herself into some tough situations, some with runners in scoring position, and got herself out really well."

The Chippewas collected seven hits, two of which came from Morgan Gardner.

CMU scored all three of its runs in the third inning. Abbey Tolmie got it started with a two-out single and then Gardner reached on an infield single. Shannon Stein followed with a two-run double and then Caitlyn Britton singled to bring home Stein.

Scoring with two outs was a point of emphasis between games, Salmon said.

"We did that, just like we talked about," said Salmon, whose team was swept in a four-game series last weekend at Kent State. "We have been dealing with some team injuries. We're happy with the split because we can still win the series when we travel to Toledo next week."

CMU trailed 4-3 entering the seventh inning of the opener when Toledo exploded for eight runs.

Caitlyn Britton hit a two-run homer and singled, and Stein had two hits to lead the Chippewas at the plate.

It marked the third-consecutive game that Britton has homered and she has five round-trippers on the season, all of which have come in a 10-game stretch. In her last four games, Britton is hitting .500 with three home runs and five RBI.

Kaitlyn Bean (1-9) started for the Chippewas and took the loss. Cloe Mallory and Faith Howe both pitched in relief. Bean allowed four runs on eight hits, walked five, and struck out four over four innings.

Salmon took the opportunity on Tuesday to utilize some of her bench players, including junior Stephanie Anderson who pinch ran and scored a run in the opener and started at second base in the nightcap.

"She is one of the hardest workers we have on the team," Salmon said. "So when we have other players needing a break due to injury, she was an easy choice to give a shot, and she performed well for us."

CMU will travel to Akron for a four-game series, which opens on Friday, May 7. The Zips are 8-34, 7-21.