Softball Splits with Ohio on Second Day

Saturday, April 8

Mount Pleasant, Mich.

1 p.m.

Central Michigan University

16-17, 6-4

Ohio

20-16, 10-4

OHIO

Central Michigan

Photo by: Sydney Kline '26 - @sydney.kline.photography

4/8/2023 6:39:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Game 1 Box Score Game 2 Box Score Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

By: Julia Bice

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – The Central Michigan softball team split its last two games with MAC rival Ohio but took two out of three to win the series. In the first game, the Chippewas were victorious, claiming a 5-0 decision, while game two ended with a 5-2 loss in favor of Ohio. CMU moves to 16-18 overall and 6-5 in the MAC, while Ohio shifts to 21-16 overall and 11-4 in the MAC.

The first game marked the second straight shutout for the Chippewas against the Bobcats. Until the first inning of game three, Ohio went 14 2/3 scoreless innings against Chippewas' pitchers Grace Lehto & Kaitlyn Bean.

Here is how the day unfolded:

GAME 1:

Bean took the start for Central Michigan and threw the entire seven inning shutout. She struck out two and allowed only six hits with one walk.

Central Michigan Head Coach McCall Salmon says that the strength of the pitching staff is one of the keys to the Chippewas' success this season so far.

"Having pitchers who can throw two scoreless games, back-to-back is huge," Salmon said. "I think it shows the strength of our staff. I think our pitching is going to be key for us as we go down the stretch, but just seeing two quality complete games from them this weekend is always exciting and I am looking forward to seeing what they do for us in the midweek (at Toledo)."

The first two innings of the game were scoreless for both sides, until Michaleigh Vallimont doubled to right center and Samantha Mills and Abbey Tolmie scored, giving CMU a 2-0 lead. In the fourth, a wild pitch scored Cierra Laska, then a Lucy Cronin single scored Allyssa Hollo in the fifth to push he final score to 5-0 in favor of the Maroon and Gold.

Game 2:

Ohio struck first in the top of the first inning on an error by the Chippewas that scored a Bobcat from second base. But the Chippewas responded in the bottom half of the inning when Skylar Coberley singled up the middle and drove in Vallimont and Kelsey Alexander.

From that point in the game, it was all Ohio. The Bobcats scored in the third, fifth and seventh innings to conclude the game with a 5-2 victory for Ohio.

Grace Lehto took the loss in the outing, going the distance and striking out five.

Overall this weekend:

Central Michigan stirred up the MAC with its series victory over Ohio, which entered the series on a 10-game win streak before they came to Mount Pleasant. The Chippewas now have won the last three series in Mid-American Conference play.

"Our goal is to win every series," Salmon said. "Getting this third series win in a row will just continue to help our mindset as a team as far as growth and momentum. I told the team after (the game), Toledo is on the clock, so our focus shifts to them. We will take Sunday off, and get back to work on Monday to prepare and get ready to go win another on Tuesday."

What's Next:

The Chippewas will travel to Toledo where they will face the Rockets on Tuesday, Aprill 11 in a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. and again on Wednesday, April 12^th for a single game starting at noon.