Emotional Victory For CMU Softball

Saturday, February 26

Conway, S.C.

7 p.m.

Central Michigan University

4-4

Dartmouth

2-2

Dartmouth

Central Michigan

Photo by: Keara Chaperon '22

2/26/2022 11:31:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com

CONWAY, S.C. – A major lift for a team that needed it.

The Central Michigan softball team returned to the field on Saturday night, posting a 2-0 victory over Dartmouth at the Coastal Carolina Chanticleer Showdown.

The win came some 24 hours after the bus in which the Chippewas were traveling crashed when the driver had a medical emergency as the team was returning to its hotel.

Though nobody in the traveling party was hospitalized, several players were injured and shaken by the experience and unable to play in Saturday's game, coach McCall Salmon said.

"The bus driver had a medical emergency and we proceeded to go over 250 yards uncontrollably at 45 mph," Salmon said. "Four players we found out today before the game wouldn't be able to play (against Dartmouth). It was a very traumatic event.

"Just getting them back on a bus today … (it was a) very, very, very emotional day. Getting out and playing was the best medicine for us just so we could kind of focus on softball. I told them the game wasn't going to let them lose today because the game knows what they put into it and that they deserved to win this game. And that's how we performed."

Sophomore right-hander Grace Lehto delivered in the circle for the Chippewas, tossing a two-hitter while striking out 11 in going the distance. Both numbers matched her career bests.

Lehto (2-2) surrendered a two-out, third-inning infield single and then a single in the fifth. Neither runner advanced past first base. The only other Dartmouth baserunner reached on a first-inning error and then stole second, where she was stranded at Lehto got a strikeout to end the inning.

"She did everything we needed her to do for us to be successful today," Salmon said. "It just speaks to what we've been through here the last 24 hours. She gave it her best effort. It's definitely one of the best outings I've seen her have in a Central Michigan uniform."

Freshman right fielder Sam Souva, making her first collegiate start, delivered an RBI single – her first career hit and first career RBI – to give the Chippewas a 1-0 lead in the second inning.

"That was the position we were in, and they rose to the occasion," Salmon said of Souva as well as all of her teammates. "I just couldn't be more proud of them. They've been through a lot in the last 24 hours. They deserved this."

The Chippewas added a run in the third on a throwing error.

Emily Bracamonte singled and doubled to lead the Chippewas' five-hit attack. Sam Mills and Caitlyn Britton also doubled.

The Chippewas (4-4) are scheduled to complete the tournament on Sunday (11:15 a.m.) against North Carolina A&T.