Wednesday, April 26
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
1 p.m.
Central Michigan University
26-19, 16-6
5
vs
1
Bowling Green
8-35, 1-22
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Bowling Green
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
4
2
Central Michigan
0
2
0
1
0
2
X
5
8
1
Photo by: Sydney Kline '26 - @sydney.kline.photography
Softball Pushes Win Streak to 11 Games
4/26/2023 6:14:00 PM | Softball
Behind a four-hitter by Kaitlyn Bean and a no-hitter by Grace Lehto, Central Michigan Softball sweeps Bowling Green, registers 5-1 and 5-0 victories.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich.—Using two inspired pitching performances from Kaitlyn Bean (four-hitter) and Grace Lehto (no-hitter), Central Michigan pushed its win streak to 11 games with back-to-back 5-1 and 5-0 wins over Bowling Green in a Wednesday doubleheader at Margo Jonker Stadium. The three-game sweep moves Central Michigan into first place in the Mid-American Conference standings as the Chippewas improve to 27-19 overall and 17-6 in the MAC. Bowling Green drops to 8-36 overall and 1-23 in the MAC.
Central Michigan is back in action this weekend for a key three-game weekend series at Miami (Ohio). The league's top two teams are scheduled to play a doubleheader on Saturday (1 p.m./3 p.m.) and conclude the series on Sunday at noon.
Central Michigan Head Coach McCall Salmon was asked about this weekend's series in Oxford.
"We all need to have a game plan when we step in the box," Salmon said. "That's step one. Staying calm and confident is step two, and trusting the process. As a team, we are excited for the opportunity. It's another MAC series, so we have to treat it like every other series; it's just as important as the others."
"I'm' glad we took care of business today. I told them I'm proud of them. An 11-game win streak doesn't just happen; they need to be proud of themselves too. Anytime you win, it's going to bring confidence. For us, it's continuing to bring solid defense and solid pitching. I think our offense has been up and down, but we've made it work and we have been producing when we need to. Our two-out production has been a key part of that for us."
Lehto and Bean combined to limit Bowling Green to just one run and four hits over the 14 innings. After this afternoon's first inning of the first game, Bowling Green was held 43 consecutive at bats without a hit. CMU pitching also shut out Bowling Green over 13 straight innings. Lehto threw Central Michigan's first no-hitter since 2009.
CMU improved to 10-1 in home MAC games.
Gallery: (4-26-2023) CMU Softball vs BGSU
Game One: Central Michigan 5, Bowling Green 1
Maddie Springer drove in three runs on two hits and Kaitlyn Bean allowed just four hits in a complete game pitching performance to lead Central Michigan to a 5-1 victory in game one.
CMU finished with eight hits and took advantage of two BGSU errors. Along with Springer, Emily Bracamonte (two doubles) and Kelsey Alexander both contributed two hits and an RBI in the winning effort. After allowing one run in the first, Bean was superb, pitching six consecutive shutout innings. In a complete game 7.0 inning performance, she allowed just five baserunners (four hits, one walk) and struck out four batters while facing 27 and throwing 93 pitches. She improved to 10-6 on the year.
"Both (Springer and Bracamonte) of them have been having quality at bats," Salmon said. "Anytime the bottom half of our lineup can turn it over to the top half, that's a positive. You need consistent production 1 through 9 and I thought 7, 8, and 9 were very consistent for us today. Also, on defense."
For the first time in the series, Bowling Green jumped out to a 1-0 lead with a run in the top of the first inning. Peyton Dolejs led off the game with a single, Reagan Williamson singled to left field, and with two outs, Katie Hutter drove Dolejs home on a single to left field.
Central Michigan answered with two runs in the bottom of the second inning when Springer delivered a two-out single to center field that scored both Lucy Cronin (walk) and Bracamonte (double).
The Chippewas went up 3-1 in the fourth inning when Bracamonte drove home Samantha Mills on a two-out double to left center field. Mills reached base on a Bowling Green error.
CMU added two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning when Mills led off with a double. Pinch-running for Mills, Tailynn Knapp advanced to third on a fly out. Springer then drove Knapp home on a single to left field for a 4-1 lead. After Abbey Tolmie walked, Alexander drove Springer home on a two-out single to left center and CMU was up 5-1.
Bean closed out the win by retiring Bowling Green on three straight outs.
Game Two: Central Michigan 5, Bowling Green 0
In the day's second game, Lehto pitched a no-hitter and the Central Michigan offense generated 10 hits in registering a 5-0 shutout win.
In her second straight masterpiece, Lehto struck out seven batters and allowed just three runners in facing 27 batters. She threw 99 pitches and improved to 13-10 on the year. Combining her performance in yesterday's game, Lehto has pitched 14 consecutive scoreless innings.
"Yesterday she didn't have her best stuff," Salmon said of Lehto. "But coming out today and seeing her being composed and confident, you could really tell that she was doing everything she could to keep us in the game. She was spinning the ball well and I was happy and excited for her performance."
The Chippewas' offense manufactured five runs on 10 hits. Tolmie led the charge with three hits and two RBI, while Alexander finished with two hits and Vallimont, Hollo, and Cronin all drove in one run apiece.
CMU took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Mills led off the inning with a single up the middle and advanced to second on a ground out. Tolmie followed with a single to left field and Mills rounded third and scored.
The Chippewas went up 3-0 in the fifth inning. With two outs, Alexander doubled down the left field line, Hollo drove Alexander home on a single left center, Coberley walked, and Cronin's single to right center drove home pinch runner Laska from second base.
CMU made it 5-0 with two more runs in the sixth inning. A Tolmie double drove in the first run and Vallimont's single up the middle drove in the second run.
Central Michigan is back in action this weekend for a key three-game weekend series at Miami (Ohio). The league's top two teams are scheduled to play a doubleheader on Saturday (1 p.m./3 p.m.) and conclude the series on Sunday at noon.
Central Michigan Head Coach McCall Salmon was asked about this weekend's series in Oxford.
"We all need to have a game plan when we step in the box," Salmon said. "That's step one. Staying calm and confident is step two, and trusting the process. As a team, we are excited for the opportunity. It's another MAC series, so we have to treat it like every other series; it's just as important as the others."
"I'm' glad we took care of business today. I told them I'm proud of them. An 11-game win streak doesn't just happen; they need to be proud of themselves too. Anytime you win, it's going to bring confidence. For us, it's continuing to bring solid defense and solid pitching. I think our offense has been up and down, but we've made it work and we have been producing when we need to. Our two-out production has been a key part of that for us."
Lehto and Bean combined to limit Bowling Green to just one run and four hits over the 14 innings. After this afternoon's first inning of the first game, Bowling Green was held 43 consecutive at bats without a hit. CMU pitching also shut out Bowling Green over 13 straight innings. Lehto threw Central Michigan's first no-hitter since 2009.
CMU improved to 10-1 in home MAC games.
Game One: Central Michigan 5, Bowling Green 1
Maddie Springer drove in three runs on two hits and Kaitlyn Bean allowed just four hits in a complete game pitching performance to lead Central Michigan to a 5-1 victory in game one.
CMU finished with eight hits and took advantage of two BGSU errors. Along with Springer, Emily Bracamonte (two doubles) and Kelsey Alexander both contributed two hits and an RBI in the winning effort. After allowing one run in the first, Bean was superb, pitching six consecutive shutout innings. In a complete game 7.0 inning performance, she allowed just five baserunners (four hits, one walk) and struck out four batters while facing 27 and throwing 93 pitches. She improved to 10-6 on the year.
"Both (Springer and Bracamonte) of them have been having quality at bats," Salmon said. "Anytime the bottom half of our lineup can turn it over to the top half, that's a positive. You need consistent production 1 through 9 and I thought 7, 8, and 9 were very consistent for us today. Also, on defense."
For the first time in the series, Bowling Green jumped out to a 1-0 lead with a run in the top of the first inning. Peyton Dolejs led off the game with a single, Reagan Williamson singled to left field, and with two outs, Katie Hutter drove Dolejs home on a single to left field.
Central Michigan answered with two runs in the bottom of the second inning when Springer delivered a two-out single to center field that scored both Lucy Cronin (walk) and Bracamonte (double).
The Chippewas went up 3-1 in the fourth inning when Bracamonte drove home Samantha Mills on a two-out double to left center field. Mills reached base on a Bowling Green error.
CMU added two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning when Mills led off with a double. Pinch-running for Mills, Tailynn Knapp advanced to third on a fly out. Springer then drove Knapp home on a single to left field for a 4-1 lead. After Abbey Tolmie walked, Alexander drove Springer home on a two-out single to left center and CMU was up 5-1.
Bean closed out the win by retiring Bowling Green on three straight outs.
Game Two: Central Michigan 5, Bowling Green 0
In the day's second game, Lehto pitched a no-hitter and the Central Michigan offense generated 10 hits in registering a 5-0 shutout win.
In her second straight masterpiece, Lehto struck out seven batters and allowed just three runners in facing 27 batters. She threw 99 pitches and improved to 13-10 on the year. Combining her performance in yesterday's game, Lehto has pitched 14 consecutive scoreless innings.
"Yesterday she didn't have her best stuff," Salmon said of Lehto. "But coming out today and seeing her being composed and confident, you could really tell that she was doing everything she could to keep us in the game. She was spinning the ball well and I was happy and excited for her performance."
The Chippewas' offense manufactured five runs on 10 hits. Tolmie led the charge with three hits and two RBI, while Alexander finished with two hits and Vallimont, Hollo, and Cronin all drove in one run apiece.
CMU took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Mills led off the inning with a single up the middle and advanced to second on a ground out. Tolmie followed with a single to left field and Mills rounded third and scored.
The Chippewas went up 3-0 in the fifth inning. With two outs, Alexander doubled down the left field line, Hollo drove Alexander home on a single left center, Coberley walked, and Cronin's single to right center drove home pinch runner Laska from second base.
CMU made it 5-0 with two more runs in the sixth inning. A Tolmie double drove in the first run and Vallimont's single up the middle drove in the second run.
—CMU—
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Bean, Kaitlyn (10-6)
L: DAVIES, Hannah (1-16)
Batting:
RBI: HUTTER, Katie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: DOLEJS, Peyton 1
HBP: HUNT, Hannah 1
Batting:
2B: Mills, Samantha 1 ; Bracamonte, Emily 2
RBI: Alexander, Kelsey 1 ; Bracamonte, Emily 1 ; Springer, Maddie 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Cronin, Lucy 1 ; Mills, Samantha 1 ; Knapp, Tailynn 1 ; Bracamonte, Emily 1 ; Springer, Maddie 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
3
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
C/OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball3B
/ Softball
IF/UTL
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
C
/ SoftballIF
/ Softball
OF
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