Sunday, April 16
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
10:00 a.m.
Central Michigan University
21-19, 11-6
11
vs
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Western Michigan
13-20, 7-7
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6
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E
Western Michigan
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Central Michigan
2
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6
11
9
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Photo by: Jack Reeber '23,M'25 - @jackreeber.raw
Amazing Alexander Walks Off Softball Sweep in Style
4/16/2023 1:33:00 PM | Softball
Chippewas win fifth straight; Kelsey Alexander finishes weekend off with grand slam.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Kelsey Alexander's walk-off grand slam in the sixth inning concluded an important weekend for the Central Michigan Softball team as the Chippewas completed a sweep of Western Michigan with an 11-2 victory on Sunday at Margo Jonker Stadium. Central Michigan advances to 21-19 on the season, 11-6 in MAC play while the Broncos fall to 13-20 on the season and 7-7 in MAC play.
Grace Lehto threw her second complete game of the weekend and allowed only two hits. The second and final hit of the game she allowed was a two-run home run in the top of the second inning. From there, no Broncos reached base.
"It is always hard to face a team a second time, like we do, as hitters are going to make adjustments," Central Michigan Head Coach McCall Salmon said. "After Grace gave up that home run, she struck out the next batter, she stayed composed, and we told her "We got you." I am just proud of Grace overall. Our pitching staff over this whole weekend is a huge contributor to why we got the sweep."
Amazing Alexander
Not only did Alexander hit her second grand slam of the season which ended the game early, she also set a new program record for RBI in a single game. She recorded seven in the game, four coming on the grand slam and the other three coming with a sacrifice bunt in the first, and a two RBI double to left field in the fifth inning.
Salmon describes Alexander as a "gritty player" saying, "Kelsey is someone who wants to make adjustments at bat to at bat. She struggled a bit in our last series (at Toledo) but has stayed committed to the process, takes it one pitch and one at bat at a time. People that put good things into the game, the game gives it back to them and you could really see that in Kelsey's performance today. I am just very proud of her."
Both clutch hits for Alexander, the double in the fifth and the obvious grand slam, came on 3-2 counts.
What the Wins This Weekend Mean
Sunday's victory completed a sweep of the Broncos. The three-game series meant more than just softball, it was the Strike Out Cancer Weekend for the Chippewa Softball Team; a cause that hits close to home.
"Katie Sexton has been a huge part of our team and we saw the battle her mom went through and the toll it took on Katie and John and the strength that Katie has had to have through it all. To raise funds this weekend for her and her family at Margo Jonker Stadium shows that life is bigger than the game," Salmon said.
Also on the victorious weekend, the Chippewas add to their now five-game win streak and fifth straight MAC series victory; this being their first series sweep on the season.
"I told the team I am very proud of their performance this weekend and the way we keep defending our home turf," Salmon said.
Central Michigan is 7-1 at Margo Jonker Stadium, boasting the best home winning record of any team in the MAC.
Coming into the weekend, the Chippewas were tied for fifth place in the MAC with NIU, while Western Michigan sat in second place alone. Now, Central Michigan is tied for second place with Miami and Western Michigan sits in seventh. At the end of the regular season, the top four teams in the MAC make the conference tournament. Central Michigan is hunting to get back there for a second straight year.
Looking Forward
Next, the Chippewas will travel to Buffalo, New York, where they continue their Mid-American Conference season. ""Every game in MAC play is important. We know that. So not only winning the series but taking all three is what will continue to elevate us in this conference. Now we shift our focus to Buffalo and being successful out there."
Grace Lehto threw her second complete game of the weekend and allowed only two hits. The second and final hit of the game she allowed was a two-run home run in the top of the second inning. From there, no Broncos reached base.
"It is always hard to face a team a second time, like we do, as hitters are going to make adjustments," Central Michigan Head Coach McCall Salmon said. "After Grace gave up that home run, she struck out the next batter, she stayed composed, and we told her "We got you." I am just proud of Grace overall. Our pitching staff over this whole weekend is a huge contributor to why we got the sweep."
Amazing Alexander
Not only did Alexander hit her second grand slam of the season which ended the game early, she also set a new program record for RBI in a single game. She recorded seven in the game, four coming on the grand slam and the other three coming with a sacrifice bunt in the first, and a two RBI double to left field in the fifth inning.
Salmon describes Alexander as a "gritty player" saying, "Kelsey is someone who wants to make adjustments at bat to at bat. She struggled a bit in our last series (at Toledo) but has stayed committed to the process, takes it one pitch and one at bat at a time. People that put good things into the game, the game gives it back to them and you could really see that in Kelsey's performance today. I am just very proud of her."
Both clutch hits for Alexander, the double in the fifth and the obvious grand slam, came on 3-2 counts.
What the Wins This Weekend Mean
Sunday's victory completed a sweep of the Broncos. The three-game series meant more than just softball, it was the Strike Out Cancer Weekend for the Chippewa Softball Team; a cause that hits close to home.
"Katie Sexton has been a huge part of our team and we saw the battle her mom went through and the toll it took on Katie and John and the strength that Katie has had to have through it all. To raise funds this weekend for her and her family at Margo Jonker Stadium shows that life is bigger than the game," Salmon said.
Also on the victorious weekend, the Chippewas add to their now five-game win streak and fifth straight MAC series victory; this being their first series sweep on the season.
"I told the team I am very proud of their performance this weekend and the way we keep defending our home turf," Salmon said.
Central Michigan is 7-1 at Margo Jonker Stadium, boasting the best home winning record of any team in the MAC.
Coming into the weekend, the Chippewas were tied for fifth place in the MAC with NIU, while Western Michigan sat in second place alone. Now, Central Michigan is tied for second place with Miami and Western Michigan sits in seventh. At the end of the regular season, the top four teams in the MAC make the conference tournament. Central Michigan is hunting to get back there for a second straight year.
Looking Forward
Next, the Chippewas will travel to Buffalo, New York, where they continue their Mid-American Conference season. ""Every game in MAC play is important. We know that. So not only winning the series but taking all three is what will continue to elevate us in this conference. Now we shift our focus to Buffalo and being successful out there."
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Lehto, Grace (9-10)
L: BAJUSZ, Rissa (9-9)
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Batting:
HR: KRAMER, Alyssa 1
RBI: KRAMER, Alyssa 2
Base Running:
RUNS: KELLY, Payton 1 ; KRAMER, Alyssa 1
Batting:
2B: Vallimont, Michaleigh 1 ; Coberley, Skylar 1 ; Alexander, Kelsey 1
HR: Alexander, Kelsey 1
RBI: Tolmie, Abbey 1 ; Vallimont, Michaleigh 1 ; Coberley, Skylar 1 ; Alexander, Kelsey 7
SH: Alexander, Kelsey 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Tolmie, Abbey 2 ; Vallimont, Michaleigh 2 ; Coberley, Skylar 1 ; Nuss, Tessa 1 ; Knapp, Tailynn 1 ; Alexander, Kelsey 1 ; Bracamonte, Emily 1 ; Laska, Cierra 1 ; Springer, Maddie 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
7
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
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