Softball Claims Victory over Illinois State in Thrilling Nightcap

Saturday, February 25

Bowling Green, Ky.

1:30 p.m. (ET)

Central Michigan University

2-5

Western Kentucky

8-5

Central Michigan

Western Kentucky

Photo by: Tom Knapp

Softball Claims Victory over Illinois State in Thrilling Nightcap

2/25/2023 11:42:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Boxscore Game One Boxscore Game Two

By: Julia Bice

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Central Michigan Softball Team split its two Saturday games at the Hilltopper Classic in Bowling Green, Ky, dropping a 6-4 decision to host Western Kentucky and defeating Illinois State 5-4 in a thrilling night game.

The results move the Chippewas to 3-5 on the season. Central Michigan will close out the five-game tournament against Jacksonville State on Sunday morning at 11 a.m. (ET)

In game one against Western Kentucky, the Chippewas scored four runs on 11 hits. Abbey Tolmie and Skylar Coberley each recorded three hits in the contest, while Kelsey Alexander, Allyssa Hollo, Caitlyn Britton, Lucy Cronin and Samantha Mills each notched one apiece. Tolmie scored three of CMU's four runs and had two doubles on the day.

Madelyn Wallace took the loss for Central Michigan in the circle.

"Western Kentucky is a great team," Central Michigan Head Coach McCall Salmon said. "I told the team that they just did a few things a little bit better than us and that was the difference in the game. Every game we have lost this season, we have been just one hit or so away."

The Chippewas had a 2-0 lead early and held a 4-3 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth inning. Western Kentucky scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to secure the win.

In the nightcap, the Chippewas came out on top in a gritty, hard-fought 5-4 win. Kelsey Alexander's two-run home run to left center in the top of the seventh inning a 3-3 tie and gave the Chippewas a 5-3 lead.

Central Michigan held off Illinois State in the bottom of the seventh to secure the victory. Grace Lehto came on to register the final two outs for her first save of the season.

Graduate student Kaitlyn Bean collected her first win of the season in the outing after striking out three batters and allowing four runs and five hits in 6 1/3 innings pitched.

"We got Kaitlyn that win," Salmon said. "She has pitched well in every outing this season and we just haven't been able to get her a win until tonight. I was happy that the offense stepped up behind her and get her the W finally."

Illinois State scored in the top of the first inning. The Chippewas answered with a run in the second on a Lucy Cronin RBI single up the middle which scored Coberley.

In the fifth inning, Tolmie collected an RBI as she drove in Emily Bracamonte to tie the game at 2-2. In the same inning, CMU took a 3-2 lead when Maddie Springer scored on a wild pitch.

Illinois State answered in its half inning, tying the game at 3-3.

Alexander delivered in the top of the seventh with a two-run blast after Mills reached on a base hit.

"Kelsey is someone who is always going to give us a quality at bat," Salmon said. "She learned from each of her at bats leading into that last one and was able to make some adjustments. I'm really proud of her and she gave us the spark at the right time."

"We are playing great competition and we are competing every game and every single inning. I keep telling the team to stay confident and calm, don't change a thing. I am just really proud of their fight in that second game."