Tuesday, March 28
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
1 p.m.
Central Michigan University
8-18, 1-3
3
vs
0
Kent State
11-16, 3-3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Kent State
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
6
1
Central Michigan
0
0
2
0
1
0
X
3
6
0
Photo by: Sydney Kline '26 - @sydney.kline.photography
Softball Takes Two From Kent State
3/28/2023 5:53:00 PM | Softball
Chippewas shutout Golden Flashes 3-0 behind a complete game pitching performance from Grace Lehto in game one; CMU’s Kaitlyn Bean strikes out a career-high seven batters, offense comes alive in the second game with 10-2 victory.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich.—Taking advantage of two superb pitching performances from Grace Lehto and Kaitlyn Bean along with three home runs from Michaleigh Vallimont, Kelsey Alexander, and Allyssa Hollo, Central Michigan claimed back-to-back 3-0 and 10-2 softball wins over Kent State Tuesday afternoon in its home opener at Margo Jonker Stadium. With the two Mid-American Conference victories, Central Michigan moves to 12-16 overall and 2-3 in MAC play, while Kent State drops to 8-19 overall and 3-4 in the MAC.
The series' third game is scheduled for Wednesday at 1 p.m.
Over 13 combined innings pitched by Lehto and Bean, the duo struck out nine batters and limited Kent State to just 10 hits on the day. The Golden Flashes managed to score just two runs in the second game. In game one, Lehto (4-8) blanked the visitors as she yielded just six hits and no walks in a dominating complete game 7.0-inning performance. She struck out two batters and walked none while facing 27 batters. In the second game, Bean (4-5) struck out a career-high seven Golden Flashes, walked one batter and allowed just four hits and two runs in a 6.0 complete game performance. She held the Golden Flashes scoreless and hitless until the fourth inning.
CMU's offense got rolling in the second game as the Chippewas put up 12 hits, including eight extra base hits. CMU put the game away with three late home runs.
Central Michigan Head Coach McCall Salmon was pleased with her team's approach after opening MAC play with three losses at Ball State this past weekend.
"It's nice to see the team respond today," Salmon said. "After the weekend, we told them, we have 27 MAC games to play. It's a grind. We have to shift gears and move on. I like that we had the opportunity to play today and we didn't have to wait another week in between games to play again. They maintained that mindset and I'm really proud of them."
"Anytime you end the day with two W's, it's a huge confidence builder," Salmon said. "Moving into tomorrow, we have to come out exactly like we did today; stay composed, stay loose and take it one pitch a time. Hitting is contagious, our offense really fed off each other today."
Salmon was also happy with her pitchers' performances.
"Both of them were able to utilize the weekend into today and really just trust their ability," Salmon said. "I thought they were both calm and composed, not try to do too much and let our defense work. Kent State is a team that puts the ball in play. I'm proud of them and their efforts. It starts with them, but ultimately I was glad our offense got rolling."
Game One: Central Michigan 3, Kent State 0
Central Michigan's offense got rolling in the third inning when Samantha Mills singled and advanced to second base on a ground out. After Vallimont reached base on an error, Alexander's single up the middle loaded the bases for Hollo, whose single down the left field line drove home both Mills and Vallimont for a 2-0 Chippewa lead.
The Chippewas added an insurance run in the fifth inning when Coberley's single up the middle drove home Nuss from third base.
That was all CMU needed as Lehto completed the shutout by scattering six hits over 7.0 innings of action.
Game Two: Central Michigan 10, Kent State 2 (6 innings)
While Bean was holding the Golden Flashes scoreless and hitless through the first three innings, the Chippewas' offense took an early 2-0 lead in the first when Abbey Tolmie led off with a single and advanced to third on a double by Vallimont. Alexander followed with a two-RBI triple to center field that drove home both Tolmie and Vallimont. CMU went up 3-0 when Maddie Springer led off with a double and advanced to third on an error. After Mills walked, Springer scored on Tolmie's fielders choice.
Kent State finally cut its deficit to 3-1 in the fourth inning on Delaney Robeson's sacrifice fly.
But Central Michigan answered by scoring four runs in the fourth inning. After Mills got on base with a one-out single, Vallimont sent a pitch over the left center field wall for a two-RBI home run. Hollo followed with a two run home run of her own and the Chippewas held a commanding 7-1 lead.
The Chippewas closed the game with a three-run sixth inning. A two-out home run by Alexander gave the Chippewas a 9-2 lead and Bryn Elsenpeter drove home the final run on a single to left field. That pushed the lead to 10-2, an eight-run advantage which resulted in a run-rule victory.
The series' third game is scheduled for Wednesday at 1 p.m.
Over 13 combined innings pitched by Lehto and Bean, the duo struck out nine batters and limited Kent State to just 10 hits on the day. The Golden Flashes managed to score just two runs in the second game. In game one, Lehto (4-8) blanked the visitors as she yielded just six hits and no walks in a dominating complete game 7.0-inning performance. She struck out two batters and walked none while facing 27 batters. In the second game, Bean (4-5) struck out a career-high seven Golden Flashes, walked one batter and allowed just four hits and two runs in a 6.0 complete game performance. She held the Golden Flashes scoreless and hitless until the fourth inning.
CMU's offense got rolling in the second game as the Chippewas put up 12 hits, including eight extra base hits. CMU put the game away with three late home runs.
Central Michigan Head Coach McCall Salmon was pleased with her team's approach after opening MAC play with three losses at Ball State this past weekend.
"It's nice to see the team respond today," Salmon said. "After the weekend, we told them, we have 27 MAC games to play. It's a grind. We have to shift gears and move on. I like that we had the opportunity to play today and we didn't have to wait another week in between games to play again. They maintained that mindset and I'm really proud of them."
"Anytime you end the day with two W's, it's a huge confidence builder," Salmon said. "Moving into tomorrow, we have to come out exactly like we did today; stay composed, stay loose and take it one pitch a time. Hitting is contagious, our offense really fed off each other today."
Salmon was also happy with her pitchers' performances.
"Both of them were able to utilize the weekend into today and really just trust their ability," Salmon said. "I thought they were both calm and composed, not try to do too much and let our defense work. Kent State is a team that puts the ball in play. I'm proud of them and their efforts. It starts with them, but ultimately I was glad our offense got rolling."
Game One: Central Michigan 3, Kent State 0
Central Michigan's offense got rolling in the third inning when Samantha Mills singled and advanced to second base on a ground out. After Vallimont reached base on an error, Alexander's single up the middle loaded the bases for Hollo, whose single down the left field line drove home both Mills and Vallimont for a 2-0 Chippewa lead.
The Chippewas added an insurance run in the fifth inning when Coberley's single up the middle drove home Nuss from third base.
That was all CMU needed as Lehto completed the shutout by scattering six hits over 7.0 innings of action.
Game Two: Central Michigan 10, Kent State 2 (6 innings)
While Bean was holding the Golden Flashes scoreless and hitless through the first three innings, the Chippewas' offense took an early 2-0 lead in the first when Abbey Tolmie led off with a single and advanced to third on a double by Vallimont. Alexander followed with a two-RBI triple to center field that drove home both Tolmie and Vallimont. CMU went up 3-0 when Maddie Springer led off with a double and advanced to third on an error. After Mills walked, Springer scored on Tolmie's fielders choice.
Kent State finally cut its deficit to 3-1 in the fourth inning on Delaney Robeson's sacrifice fly.
But Central Michigan answered by scoring four runs in the fourth inning. After Mills got on base with a one-out single, Vallimont sent a pitch over the left center field wall for a two-RBI home run. Hollo followed with a two run home run of her own and the Chippewas held a commanding 7-1 lead.
The Chippewas closed the game with a three-run sixth inning. A two-out home run by Alexander gave the Chippewas a 9-2 lead and Bryn Elsenpeter drove home the final run on a single to left field. That pushed the lead to 10-2, an eight-run advantage which resulted in a run-rule victory.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Bean, Kaitlyn (4-5)
L: IRELAN, Macy (5-7)
Batting:
2B: DESPINES, Bri 1
RBI: LIPPE, Emily 1 ; ROBESON, Delaney 1
SF: ROBESON, Delaney 1
Base Running:
RUNS: MAZANEC, Julia 2
SB: DESPINES, Bri 1
Batting:
2B: Vallimont, Michaleigh 1 ; Alexander, Kelsey 1 ; Springer, Maddie 1
3B: Alexander, Kelsey 1 ; Hollo, Allyssa 1
HR: Vallimont, Michaleigh 1 ; Alexander, Kelsey 1 ; Hollo, Allyssa 1
RBI: Tolmie, Abbey 1 ; Vallimont, Michaleigh 2 ; Alexander, Kelsey 4 ; Hollo, Allyssa 2 ; Elsenpeter, Bryn 1
SH: Coberley, Skylar 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Tolmie, Abbey 2 ; Vallimont, Michaleigh 2 ; Alexander, Kelsey 2 ; Hollo, Allyssa 2 ; Springer, Maddie 1 ; Laska, Cierra 1
HBP: Hollo, Allyssa 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
2
H
3
RBI
4
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
C/OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
IF
/ SoftballIF/UTL
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
IF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballOF
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