Softball Rebounds, Takes Series From Western Michigan

Sunday, April 24

Kalamazoo, Mich.

11 a.m.

Central Michigan University

22-20, 13-7

Western Michigan

17-29, 7-13

Central Michigan

Western Michigan

Photo by: Tom Knapp

4/24/2022 2:44:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Stein, Hollo homer; Lehto magnificent in 3-hit shutout

By: Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com

KALMAZOO, Mich. – Shannon Stein and Allyssa Hollo homered and Grace Lehto was again superb in the circle on Sunday as the Central Michigan softball team posted a 6-0 victory over Western Michigan in the finale of a three-game Mid-American Conference series at the Broncos' Ebert Field.

The Chippewas took two of three from the Broncos and are 22-20, 13-7 MAC. They entertain Buffalo in a three-game league series next weekend. The Broncos are 17-29, 7-13.

CMU has won five of its last six MAC games and Sunday's win gave the Chippewas their second consecutive league series victory.

"We've talked about it all year," CMU coach McCall Salmon said. "We've got to win every series. If we put ourselves in position to win every series, we're (likely) going to be able to finish in the top four and get to the MAC Tournament."

It was major bounce-back for the Chippewas, who on Saturday split a doubleheader with the Broncos. Western pitcher Reily Galloway tossed a perfect game in the nightcap.

The Chippewas collected 10 hits off Galloway on Sunday. Four of those hits came from Stein, who doubled in the first inning and then hit a two-run homer in the seventh that helped give CMU some breathing room.

"Galloway pitched great (on Saturday)," Salmon said. "She had her stuff, everything was moving. But I think you have to credit our offense as to how well they make adjustments. We didn't see her last year. (Saturday) was the first time we saw her. Our MO is, second time we see someone we are usually able to make some adjustments.

"Shannon Stein starting off the top of the first with a double kind of opened up things. We weren't trying to hit the ball over the fence, we were trying to get ourselves on base. It was nice to see them respond. It's a testament to where this team's at offensively. They maintained their confidence, had a solid approach, and good things happened. I felt like we controlled our at-bats much better than we did (on Saturday). And obviously the results showed."

Stein's third-inning RBI single put the Chippewas up, 1-0. CMU added a run in the sixth on a Caitlyn Britton sacrifice fly and then exploded for four runs in the seventh on freshman Alyssa Hollo's pinch-hit two-run homer and Stein's two-out, two-run shot.

It was Hollo's second homer and Stein's 14^th.

"(Hollo) had a really good at-bat (on Saturday) when she pinch hit and she carried that confidence into today and it showed," Salmon said. "It was huge in the top of the seventh."

Stein's four hits are a career high and she needs two homers to tie the program season record set in 2012 by Molly Coldren. Stein has 10 hits in her last 22 at-bats covering six games. Included in that hit total are three homers and two doubles and she has driven in six runs over that six-game span.

"I think that when she does well, she's steady eddie," Salmon said. "She steps into the box, controls her at-bats, and she's seeing the ball well and good hitters consistently see the ball well.

"She doesn't take her previous at-bat into her next at-bat. Every time she steps into the box she gives our offense an opportunity to score runs and that just shows the type of player she is and how valuable she is to our team."

Lehto struck out seven, walked two and scattered three hits. It was the fourth consecutive complete game victory for the sophomore right-hander. She allowed one run on nine hits, struck out 11 and walked four in her two wins in the series.

Lehto surrendered a leadoff double in the fourth inning and another leadoff two-bagger in the fifth. She set down the next three hitters in order in both cases.

"I think her composure and confidence on the mound is allowing her to continue to compete every pitch," Salmon said. "Whether she misses a spot or a pitch isn't working that day, she competes."