Friday, February 17
Gainesville, Fla.
2:00 p.m.
Central Michigan University
1-0
13
vs
3
Delaware State
2-3
1
2
3
4
5
R
H
E
Central Michigan
4
3
0
6
0
13
10
1
Delaware State
1
0
0
0
2
3
6
1
Photo by: Jack Reeber '23,M'25 - @jackreeber.raw
Chippewa Softball Starts Season Strong
2/17/2023 6:24:00 PM | Softball
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – It was a great start to a season with high expectations. Senior Kelsey Alexander drove in five runs and hit a grand slam to help give the Central Michigan softball team a 13-3 statement win over Delaware State Friday afternoon at Florida's Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium.
CMU's season opener was halted after five innings due to the collegiate run rule.
Central Michigan's offensive depth was on full display as the Chippewas scored 13 runs on 10 hits. CMU drove in 12 runs in the game, which came from five different players. Alexander led with five RBI, Allyssa Hollo notched three, Maddie Springer finished with two and Michaleigh Vallimont and Skylar Coberley each drove in one run apiece.
The Chippewas started off hot as Alexander hit a grand slam in her first at bat of the year to give the Chippewas a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
"That home run by Kelsey was huge," Central Michigan Head Coach McCall Salmon said. "It really helped set the tone and maybe calmed everyone down a little bit. Those first game jitters are real. Everybody is a little excited and amped up."
Central Michigan took a 7-1 lead with three more runs in the second inning as it took advantage of a Vallimont RBI double, Hollo sacrifice fly, and a Coberley RBI single.
The Chippewas put the game away with a six-run fourth inning.
"It was a great team effort," Salmon said. "We were excited to get out and play someone other than ourselves, but it feels even better when you can see the things you've been working on in preparation for the season come together and see the girls be successful in those situations."
Defensively, Central Michigan was led by junior pitcher Grace Lehto. Lehto struck out 10 of the 12 outs she faced in four complete innings. Faith Howe pitched the final inning.
"It was nice to see Grace stay in control and have her command," Salmon said. "After they scored that first run in the first inning, at one point she had seven strikeouts in a row. It was great to see Grace doing Grace things."
On Saturday, Central Michigan will play both Connecticut at 3:30 p.m. and Delaware State again at 6 p.m. The Chippewas face the host and No. 5 ranked Florida on Sunday (11:30 a.m.)
"We are looking forward to playing again tomorrow, to go back out and compete playing Chippewa softball," Salmon said. "It will be exciting to see how we can work a weekend and string some games together."
CMU's season opener was halted after five innings due to the collegiate run rule.
Central Michigan's offensive depth was on full display as the Chippewas scored 13 runs on 10 hits. CMU drove in 12 runs in the game, which came from five different players. Alexander led with five RBI, Allyssa Hollo notched three, Maddie Springer finished with two and Michaleigh Vallimont and Skylar Coberley each drove in one run apiece.
The Chippewas started off hot as Alexander hit a grand slam in her first at bat of the year to give the Chippewas a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
"That home run by Kelsey was huge," Central Michigan Head Coach McCall Salmon said. "It really helped set the tone and maybe calmed everyone down a little bit. Those first game jitters are real. Everybody is a little excited and amped up."
Central Michigan took a 7-1 lead with three more runs in the second inning as it took advantage of a Vallimont RBI double, Hollo sacrifice fly, and a Coberley RBI single.
The Chippewas put the game away with a six-run fourth inning.
"It was a great team effort," Salmon said. "We were excited to get out and play someone other than ourselves, but it feels even better when you can see the things you've been working on in preparation for the season come together and see the girls be successful in those situations."
Defensively, Central Michigan was led by junior pitcher Grace Lehto. Lehto struck out 10 of the 12 outs she faced in four complete innings. Faith Howe pitched the final inning.
"It was nice to see Grace stay in control and have her command," Salmon said. "After they scored that first run in the first inning, at one point she had seven strikeouts in a row. It was great to see Grace doing Grace things."
On Saturday, Central Michigan will play both Connecticut at 3:30 p.m. and Delaware State again at 6 p.m. The Chippewas face the host and No. 5 ranked Florida on Sunday (11:30 a.m.)
"We are looking forward to playing again tomorrow, to go back out and compete playing Chippewa softball," Salmon said. "It will be exciting to see how we can work a weekend and string some games together."
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Lehto, Grace (1-0)
L: GLAWSON,E. (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Vallimont, Michaleigh 1 ; Hollo, Allyssa 1
HR: Alexander, Kelsey 1
RBI: Vallimont, Michaleigh 1 ; Hollo, Allyssa 3 ; Coberley, Skylar 1 ; Alexander, Kelsey 5 ; Springer, Maddie 2
SF: Hollo, Allyssa 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Tolmie, Abbey 2 ; Vallimont, Michaleigh 3 ; Hollo, Allyssa 2 ; Coberley, Skylar 1 ; Alexander, Kelsey 1 ; Nuss, Tessa 1 ; Britton, Caitlyn 1 ; Springer, Maddie 1 ; Martinez, Madison 1
HBP: Vallimont, Michaleigh 1 ; Coberley, Skylar 1
Batting:
2B: PHALLY,B. 1 ; LOPEZ,U 1
RBI: LOPEZ,U 1 ; MARTIN,C. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: PHALLY,B. 2 ; LOPEZ,U 1
SB: PHALLY,B. 2 ; BECKHAM,D. 1
HBP: CROWE,E. 2
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
3
H
2
RBI
1
3b/1b
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
3
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
5
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
C/OF
/ Softball
IF
/ SoftballIF/UTL
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballIF
/ SoftballOF
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