Friday, April 21
Buffalo, N.Y.
11 a.m.
Central Michigan University
22-19, 12-6
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Buffalo
10-29, 4-11
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Central Michigan
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Buffalo
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Photo by: Tom Knapp
Vallimont Homers & Softball Moves Win Streak to Seven
4/21/2023 5:36:00 PM | Softball
BUFFALO, N.Y. – Central Michigan Softball extended its winning streak to seven games with two wins at Buffalo. The Chippewas improve to 23-19 overall and 13-6 in the MAC while Buffalo falls to 10-30 overall and 4-12 in the MAC.
The games were played at Medaille College in Buffalo, New York due to unplayable field conditions at Buffalo's home stadium.
Tomorrow, the two teams will close the series out with the final game at 11 a.m.
Here is how the two wins unfolded:
Game 1:
Michaleigh Vallimont started the game for the Chippewas as the second batter and hit her fifth home run of the season. That 1-0 lead for the Chippewas would hold until the fifth inning when the Chippewas added two more runs.
The runs came in the form of a Vallimont RBI single, which scored Cierra Laska who pinch ran for Maddie Springer. The final third run for the Chippewas came when Kelsey Alexander singled to left field and scored Abbey Tolmie from third.
Grace Lehto threw the entire seven innings for the Chippewa defense and allowed only three hits. The win for Lehto is her 10th of the season. In the win, Lehto struck out 11, posting her fifth double-digit strikeout game of the season. The shutout against the Bulls marked Lehto's eighth on the season and fourth in the past seven games.
Fourth year Head Coach, McCall Salmon said, "today was just another solid and steady performance from Grace who continues to man the zone and give us opportunities to win every time she steps into the circle."
"Offensively, Vallimont came up big in key situations all game, with her home run in the first, and her two-out single in the fifth, that pushed another run across. I am proud of her presence and production in the box, which she has provided all year for us."
Game 2:
In the top of the second inning, Springer singled to left field and started the scoring for the Chippewas as Emily Bracamonte crossed home. Buffalo evened the score at one on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fourth.
Two more runs for the Chippewas came in the fifth inning when Allyssa Hollo hit her own sacrifice fly to center field and Vallimont scored. Lucy Cronin doubled in the same inning and scored Alexander for a 3-1 Chippewas lead.
"I thought the bottom of our lineup were key sparks in game two," Salmon said. "Springer's RBI single and Lucy's double provided the ultimate game winning RBI."
The final run of the game came for Buffalo when an RBI single scored their second run of the day.
Kaitlyn Bean took the win in the game, her record moves to 8-6 on the season and 6-2 in MAC play. Madelyn Wallace entered for the Chippewas in the bottom of the sixth to face the last six outs of the game. Wallace recorded the save, her first as a Chippewa.
"Bean gave us all she had for her five innings today," salmon said. "Wallace was able to close the door and finish what Bean started. Our pitching staff has consistently kept us in every single game this season."
The games were played at Medaille College in Buffalo, New York due to unplayable field conditions at Buffalo's home stadium.
Tomorrow, the two teams will close the series out with the final game at 11 a.m.
Here is how the two wins unfolded:
Game 1:
Michaleigh Vallimont started the game for the Chippewas as the second batter and hit her fifth home run of the season. That 1-0 lead for the Chippewas would hold until the fifth inning when the Chippewas added two more runs.
The runs came in the form of a Vallimont RBI single, which scored Cierra Laska who pinch ran for Maddie Springer. The final third run for the Chippewas came when Kelsey Alexander singled to left field and scored Abbey Tolmie from third.
Grace Lehto threw the entire seven innings for the Chippewa defense and allowed only three hits. The win for Lehto is her 10th of the season. In the win, Lehto struck out 11, posting her fifth double-digit strikeout game of the season. The shutout against the Bulls marked Lehto's eighth on the season and fourth in the past seven games.
Fourth year Head Coach, McCall Salmon said, "today was just another solid and steady performance from Grace who continues to man the zone and give us opportunities to win every time she steps into the circle."
"Offensively, Vallimont came up big in key situations all game, with her home run in the first, and her two-out single in the fifth, that pushed another run across. I am proud of her presence and production in the box, which she has provided all year for us."
Game 2:
In the top of the second inning, Springer singled to left field and started the scoring for the Chippewas as Emily Bracamonte crossed home. Buffalo evened the score at one on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fourth.
Two more runs for the Chippewas came in the fifth inning when Allyssa Hollo hit her own sacrifice fly to center field and Vallimont scored. Lucy Cronin doubled in the same inning and scored Alexander for a 3-1 Chippewas lead.
"I thought the bottom of our lineup were key sparks in game two," Salmon said. "Springer's RBI single and Lucy's double provided the ultimate game winning RBI."
The final run of the game came for Buffalo when an RBI single scored their second run of the day.
Kaitlyn Bean took the win in the game, her record moves to 8-6 on the season and 6-2 in MAC play. Madelyn Wallace entered for the Chippewas in the bottom of the sixth to face the last six outs of the game. Wallace recorded the save, her first as a Chippewa.
"Bean gave us all she had for her five innings today," salmon said. "Wallace was able to close the door and finish what Bean started. Our pitching staff has consistently kept us in every single game this season."
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Lehto, Grace (10-10)
L: LUCYSHYN, Alexis (6-14)
Batting:
HR: Vallimont, Michaleigh 1
RBI: Vallimont, Michaleigh 2 ; Alexander, Kelsey 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Tolmie, Abbey 1 ; Vallimont, Michaleigh 1 ; Laska, Cierra 1
SB: Alexander, Kelsey 1
Base Running:
SB: MITCHELL, Mia 2
CS: CASTRO, Brianna 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
C/OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
3B
/ Softball
IF/UTL
/ Softball
IF/UTL
/ Softball
P/UTL
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballIF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
P
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