Lehto Sets Career High for Strikeouts, Cronin Homers as Softball Splits With Army to End The Spring Games

Wednesday, March 8

Madeira Beach, Fla.

Noon

Central Michigan University

7-9

Army

6-11

Army

Central Michigan

Photo by: Tom Knapp

Lehto Sets Career High for Strikeouts, Cronin Homers as Softball Splits With Army to End The Spring Games

3/8/2023 8:33:00 PM | Softball

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

By: Julia Bice

MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. – Central Michigan closed out an eight-game stretch at The Spring Games with a split with Army on Wednesday. The Chippewas fell 4-3 in then first game, then rebounded with a 3-0 victory in the second.

In game one, Grace Lehto took the loss but set a career high as she struck out 15 batters. Her previous record was 12.

"Once again, Grace did an incredible job in the circle and gave us the opportunity to win," Central Michigan coach McCall Salmon said. "We found ourselves in a situation like we have all season where we are a hit away from winning the game."

The Black Knights scored the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh inning with an RBI single that dropped just inside the right field line.

For the Chippewas, their three runs came in the first and third innings. Skylar Coberley was hit by a pitch in the bottom of the first with the bases loaded, forcing in Angela Petrovitch. Petrovitch had reached on a single. In the third, Lucy Cronin singled up the middle to score Kelsey Alexander and Michaleigh Vallimont, giving CMU a 3-1 advantage.

The Black Knights used a two-run home run to even the game, 3-3, in the fifth.

Salmon said these games are building blocks for the Chippewas to grow as a team.

"I think every nonconference game that we play sets us up to prepare for the MAC season," Salmon said. "I think these last eight games have done that. We have done some things really well, and there are some areas we need to improve on; but I can see us getting better every day."

In game two, Kaitlyn Bean threw a two-hitter and Lucy Cronin hit her first home run as a Chippewa.

"Today was another great outing for Bean," Salmon said. "She has been consistent every single time she has stepped in the circle for us this season. I am happy that offensively we could produce and get her into the win column today."

Pinch hitter Caitlyn Britton singled to left field and Cronin scored from first on a throwing error by the left fielder to give CMU a 1-0 lead in the fourth.

Cronin blasted her home run in the sixth inning and drove home Coberley who reached with a walk.

"Lucy's home run was huge, and I was just really happy for her," Salmon said. "It was a big hit in a big moment and was a huge momentum shift for us."

The split ends the Chippewas' trip to The Spring Games with a 5-3 record and moves their season record to 8-9.

"The Spring Games were a great opportunity for us to grow and to get better as a team," Salmon said. "I think our pitching staff did a phenomenal job the entire time. There is a lot of excitement around Team 45 and its potential overall as we continue throughout the season."

Central Michigan will head to Minnesota where it will face Saint Thomas, Drake, Idaho State, and Minnesota. The games will be played indoors at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.