Lehto, Bean And Big Bats Lead Softball Sweep

Friday, May 7

Akron, Ohio

1 p.m.

Central Michigan University

13-26, 11-18

Akron

8-37, 7-24

Central Michigan

Akron

Freshman Grace Lehto tossed a two-hitter in the opener on Friday as CMU swept a MAC doubleheader at Akron.

Photo by: Jack Reeber '23,M'25 - @jackreeber.raw

5/7/2021 8:53:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com

AKRON, Ohio – The Central Michigan softball team got a pair of outstanding pitching performances, and the Chippewa bats provided plenty of support on Friday as CMU swept a Mid-American Conference doubleheader from Akron, 11-0 and 10-0, at the Zips' Jackson Field.

The Chippewas have won three consecutive games and are 14-26, 12-18 MAC. The teams are scheduled to close their four-game series with a doubleheader on Saturday (1 p.m.).

Freshman Grace Lehto (9-10) threw a two-hitter while striking out six in the opener; junior Katelyn Bean (2-9) fanned seven and walked one while scattering seven hits in the nightcap.

It was the first career complete-game shutout for both pitchers.

"Both of them were hitting their spots, limiting the number of freebies," CMU coach McCall Salmon said. "They made Akron earn their opportunities, and they put our defense in position to make plays.

"Both had a great mindset in the circle and if something didn't go exactly like they wanted it to, they came back and got the next out."

It was Lehto's second-consecutive complete-game victory. She has allowed one run on five hits and struck out 11 – without surrendering a walk – in her last two starts.

"Grace, in that first game, worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the first inning and after that she just really settled in," Salmon said, adding that Lehto is continuing to gain confidence. "I think she's just getting to the point where she's lost that thought of 'I'm a freshman' mentality.

"She's to the point where, when she's in the circle, it's 'I have the mentality and it's one pitch at a time and I'm working to get this batter out.' She's kind of taken the pressure off herself."

Both pitchers had the luxury of working with an early lead on Friday. The Chippewas scored seven runs in the second inning in building an 8-0 lead behind Lehto in the opener, and they staked Bean to a 4-0 lead with four runs in the first inning of the nightcap.

The Chippewas added three runs in the third inning of game 1, which was called on the run rule after five frames.

"One of our goals is to score first and to score last," Salmon said. "That, and trying to win every inning. We know when we're doing that things are going well for us. We talked in between games about keeping the foot on the gas and coming out in the first inning and setting the tone, and I thought we did that well."

CMU's Caitlyn Britton remained red hot at the plate, hitting a grand slam in CMU's big second inning in game 1. Britton, a sophomore, shares the team lead with six home runs. She has homered in four of her last five games, and all six of her round-trippers have come in her last 12 games.

Skylar Coberley and Shannon Stein each singled and doubled and drove in two runs for the Chippewas, while Morgan Gardner and Shaidan Knapp each singled twice.

Gardner hit a two-run homer in the nightcap, while Knapp and Abbey Tolmie finished with two hits apiece. It was Gardner's third home run of the season.