Central Michigan University Athletics
Sunday, March 6
Madeira Beach, Fla.
9 a.m.
Central Michigan University
5-6
14
vs
7
Rhode Island
4-11
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Central Michigan
2
7
3
0
0
0
2
14
13
0
Rhode Island
1
0
0
0
5
1
0
7
11
3
Photo by: Keara Chaperon '22
Hit Parade: Softball Collects 3 Homers Among 21 Hits In Winning Twice
3/6/2022 5:45:00 PM | Softball
MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. – The Central Michigan softball team broke out the bats to the tune of 21 hits on Sunday in winning two games at the Spring Games.
The Chippewas collected a season-high 13 hits in downing Rhode Island, 14-7, in their first game, and then collected eight in topping Georgetown, 5-1, in their second.
The Chippewas (7-6) conclude the Spring Games with a doubleheader against Long Island on Tuesday (noon).
Kelsey Alexander and Samantha Mills each homered against Rhode Island and Shannon Stein hit a two-run shot against the Hoyas.
It was Stein's sixth round-tripper of the season, and she finished the day with five hits in eight at-bats. She is fifth in the Mid-American Conference with a .436 batting average and is second in the league in home runs and RBI (16).
"Shannon Stein was instrumental at the plate in setting the tone for our offense," CMU coach McCall Salmon said. "Hitting is very mental and she's very confident with any pitch that she's thrown. She's swinging at strikes."
It was second homer of the season for Alexander and the first of her career for Mills, a junior catcher.
Alexander's home run highlighted a seven-run second inning during which the Chippewas sent 10 to the plate against Rhode Island.
CMU built a 12-1 lead through three innings, giving freshman pitcher Maddy Wallace ample support. Wallace (1-0) went six innings in earning the victory in her first collegiate start.
"Very composed," Salmon said of Wallace, who had twice pitched in relief this season. "Maddy in general competes every single pitch. The decision to start her today was an easy one. Getting in a position where she could get a start is what we're looking for in our nonconference schedule as we continue to prepare for MAC. She's definitely a competitor and she gives our defense the opportunity to make plays for her."
Stein finished with three hits including two doubles, while Michaleigh Vallimont, Skylar Coberley and Alexander finished with two hits apiece. Coberley drove in four runs, while Stein, Alexander, Emily Bracamonte and Mills drove in two each.
Caitlyn Britton's second-inning RBI single broke a 1-1 tie and put the Chippewas in front for good against Georgetown. Stein increased CMU's lead to 4-1 with her homer in the fifth and then Abbey Tolmie picked up an RBI single in the sixth.
Coberley drove in CMU's first run with a first-inning sacrifice fly.
Tolmie, Stein and Britton finished with two hits apiece.
Kaitlyn Bean (3-2) struck out eight, walked four and allowed four hits in earning the victory. She surrendered a double, a single and a walk in the first inning, leading to the Hoyas' lone run.
Bean settled in after that and did not allow another hit until a one-out single in the sixth. She set down 10 in a row at one point.
"Just a gutty performance," Salmon said of Bean. "We were playing in almost 90-degree heat, and this was her third day in a row throwing. She gave us her best effort every single pitch. She was a key contributor for us to be in a position to win the game."
The Chippewas did not commit an error in either game on Sunday after making two in a 7-5, eight-inning loss to Middle Tennessee State on Saturday. Two of Middle Tennessee State's runs were unearned.
"Our defense played really well," Salmon said. "(Outfielder) Kelsey Alexander made a couple of great plays; we threw a runner out at home; we threw a runner out at second base. Couple things that we haven't seen yet this year and it was nice from a defensive perspective to come up big in those situations.
"That was the difference (against Middle Tennessee). If we didn't give up unearned runs we would have won the game. I just like how they bounced back today. Sundays are hard. It's the third day in a row that we've played and they really competed.
"We were composed and confident at the plate and the results paid off for us. Very proud of their performance today."
The Chippewas collected a season-high 13 hits in downing Rhode Island, 14-7, in their first game, and then collected eight in topping Georgetown, 5-1, in their second.
The Chippewas (7-6) conclude the Spring Games with a doubleheader against Long Island on Tuesday (noon).
Kelsey Alexander and Samantha Mills each homered against Rhode Island and Shannon Stein hit a two-run shot against the Hoyas.
It was Stein's sixth round-tripper of the season, and she finished the day with five hits in eight at-bats. She is fifth in the Mid-American Conference with a .436 batting average and is second in the league in home runs and RBI (16).
"Shannon Stein was instrumental at the plate in setting the tone for our offense," CMU coach McCall Salmon said. "Hitting is very mental and she's very confident with any pitch that she's thrown. She's swinging at strikes."
It was second homer of the season for Alexander and the first of her career for Mills, a junior catcher.
Alexander's home run highlighted a seven-run second inning during which the Chippewas sent 10 to the plate against Rhode Island.
CMU built a 12-1 lead through three innings, giving freshman pitcher Maddy Wallace ample support. Wallace (1-0) went six innings in earning the victory in her first collegiate start.
"Very composed," Salmon said of Wallace, who had twice pitched in relief this season. "Maddy in general competes every single pitch. The decision to start her today was an easy one. Getting in a position where she could get a start is what we're looking for in our nonconference schedule as we continue to prepare for MAC. She's definitely a competitor and she gives our defense the opportunity to make plays for her."
Stein finished with three hits including two doubles, while Michaleigh Vallimont, Skylar Coberley and Alexander finished with two hits apiece. Coberley drove in four runs, while Stein, Alexander, Emily Bracamonte and Mills drove in two each.
Caitlyn Britton's second-inning RBI single broke a 1-1 tie and put the Chippewas in front for good against Georgetown. Stein increased CMU's lead to 4-1 with her homer in the fifth and then Abbey Tolmie picked up an RBI single in the sixth.
Coberley drove in CMU's first run with a first-inning sacrifice fly.
Tolmie, Stein and Britton finished with two hits apiece.
Kaitlyn Bean (3-2) struck out eight, walked four and allowed four hits in earning the victory. She surrendered a double, a single and a walk in the first inning, leading to the Hoyas' lone run.
Bean settled in after that and did not allow another hit until a one-out single in the sixth. She set down 10 in a row at one point.
"Just a gutty performance," Salmon said of Bean. "We were playing in almost 90-degree heat, and this was her third day in a row throwing. She gave us her best effort every single pitch. She was a key contributor for us to be in a position to win the game."
The Chippewas did not commit an error in either game on Sunday after making two in a 7-5, eight-inning loss to Middle Tennessee State on Saturday. Two of Middle Tennessee State's runs were unearned.
"Our defense played really well," Salmon said. "(Outfielder) Kelsey Alexander made a couple of great plays; we threw a runner out at home; we threw a runner out at second base. Couple things that we haven't seen yet this year and it was nice from a defensive perspective to come up big in those situations.
"That was the difference (against Middle Tennessee). If we didn't give up unearned runs we would have won the game. I just like how they bounced back today. Sundays are hard. It's the third day in a row that we've played and they really competed.
"We were composed and confident at the plate and the results paid off for us. Very proud of their performance today."
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Wallace, Madelyn (1-0)
L: LYNCHARD, Liz (3-6)
Batting:
2B: Stein, Shannon 2 ; Coberley, Skylar 1 ; Bracamonte, Emily 1 ; Cronin, Lucy 1
HR: Alexander, Kelsey 1 ; Mills, Samantha 1
RBI: Stein, Shannon 2 ; Vallimont, Michaleigh 1 ; Coberley, Skylar 4 ; Bracamonte, Emily 2 ; Alexander, Kelsey 2 ; Mills, Samantha 2
SF: Bracamonte, Emily 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Tolmie, Abbey 1 ; Stein, Shannon 3 ; Vallimont, Michaleigh 1 ; Souva, Samantha 1 ; Coberley, Skylar 3 ; Alexander, Kelsey 1 ; Britton, Caitlyn 1 ; Mills, Samantha 2 ; Cronin, Lucy 1
Batting:
HR: CASTILLO, Ari 1
RBI: RAPUANO, Skyler 2 ; VILLARREAL, Sami 1 ; CASTILLO, Ari 4
SH: SWENSON, Cassie 1
SF: VILLARREAL, Sami 1
Base Running:
RUNS: RAPUANO, Skyler 2 ; CASTILLO, Ari 1 ; LOPEZ, Gabi 2 ; MELICE, Maddie 1 ; HENNELLY, Jessica 1
HBP: RAPUANO, Skyler 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
3
H
3
RBI
2
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
3
H
2
RBI
4
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
C/UTL
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
P/UTL
/ SoftballIF
/ Softball
C/OF
/ SoftballP/IF
/ Softball
CF/1B/P
/ SoftballOF/UTL
/ Softball
P
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