Central Michigan University Athletics
Friday, May 10
Akron, Ohio
10:30 a.m.
Central Michigan University
17-33
6
vs
7
Ball State
27-28
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ball State | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 0 |
| Central Michigan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 3 |
Photo by: Julia Bice '22,M'24 - @jb.jpg10
2024 Season for Softball Comes to an End at MAC Tournament
5/10/2024 5:12:00 PM | Softball
Central Michigan Softball fell to Ball State to end the 2024 season at the Mid-American Conference Tournament
AKRON, Ohio – Central Michigan Softball had a heartbreaking end to their 2024 season at the Mid-American Conference Tournament at Firestone Stadium. The Chippewas fell to No. 6 Ball State, 6-7 for their second loss in the tournament.
Team 46 ends their season graduating eight seniors. Those eight have combined for 99 wins, three conference tournament berths in as many years, record breaking performances and so much more. This is the first graduating class that has been coached their entire CMU careers by the current coaching staff of McCall Salmon, Brittini Merchant, and Sara Driesenga.
The eight players who wore the Chippewa uniform for the last time are Lucy Cronin, Skylar Coberley, Abbey Tolmie, Caitlyn Britton, Tailynn Knapp, Grace Lehto, Faith Callahan, and Michaleigh Vallimont.
How the game unfolded
Grace Lehto made her final start as a Chippewa when she took the circle to start the game. Lehto threw two innings issuing five hits and allowing three runs and walking two.
The Chippewas, who earned home team advantage being the higher seed, started hot in the field. Grace Koenig recorded the first out when she snagged a ball at third base, a ground ball back to Lehto recorded the second out. Ball State doubled with their third batter, but the Cardinal was stranded at second after another ball to Koenig.
Abbey Tolmie started the game for the Chippewas when she was hit by a pitch, she was moved over by a sacrifice bunt from Skylar Coberley but A. Tolmie was stranded on base.
In the second inning, Ball State had two runners reach base via a single and walk, but the defense held the Cardinals scoreless yet again.
Grace Koenig reached to lead off the bottom of the second for CMU, but she as well was stranded on base.
In the third inning, Ball State scored three runs. Their runs came with three doubles in a row and a pickle that scored a runner on third.
Mackenzie Langan entered in the top of the third to relieve Lehto who gave up the three doubles and her second walk of the game. Langan threw for one inning, facing five batters, allowing one run on one hit.
Brooklyn Compau entered in the fourth inning after Langan issued a double and walked a Cardinal. Compau threw 3.2 innings for CMU where she faced 18 batters. Compau struck out four, issued four hits and three runs.
The three runs Compau issued came in the seventh inning when Ball State regained the lead.
In the fourth inning, Ball State grabbed another run to make the lead 4-0, but CMU had an answer. Grace Koenig started the scoring with a single up the middle that scored Carly Sleeman and Allyssa Hollo. Sleeman reached via walk and Allyssa Hollo reached via double. Keira Tolmie singled to center field and scored Koenig to make the deficit two for the Chippewas.
Ball State changed their pitcher when their lead was cut to two, but the Chippewas were still ready to fight. Maddie Springer singled up the middle, and Angela Petrovitch who pinch ran for K. Tolmie moved to third, Petrovitch scored to tie the game on a wild pitch.
CMU took the 5-4 lead in the bottom of the fifth when Koenig recorded another RBI scoring Skylar Coberley who reached on a single to the shortstop.
Abbey Tolmie's final at-bat as a Chippewa scored her little sister Keira Tolmie in the first season where they have ever shared a field.
The two-run lead was ultimately cut in the seventh when Ball State tied the game at six after two Chippewa defensive errors and a two RBI single. The ultimately game winning run for Ball State scored with an RBI single.
Central Michigan Softball will return in 2025 with Team 47 as they welcome in a new freshman class and return 16 players from this season.
Team 46 ends their season graduating eight seniors. Those eight have combined for 99 wins, three conference tournament berths in as many years, record breaking performances and so much more. This is the first graduating class that has been coached their entire CMU careers by the current coaching staff of McCall Salmon, Brittini Merchant, and Sara Driesenga.
The eight players who wore the Chippewa uniform for the last time are Lucy Cronin, Skylar Coberley, Abbey Tolmie, Caitlyn Britton, Tailynn Knapp, Grace Lehto, Faith Callahan, and Michaleigh Vallimont.
How the game unfolded
Grace Lehto made her final start as a Chippewa when she took the circle to start the game. Lehto threw two innings issuing five hits and allowing three runs and walking two.
The Chippewas, who earned home team advantage being the higher seed, started hot in the field. Grace Koenig recorded the first out when she snagged a ball at third base, a ground ball back to Lehto recorded the second out. Ball State doubled with their third batter, but the Cardinal was stranded at second after another ball to Koenig.
Abbey Tolmie started the game for the Chippewas when she was hit by a pitch, she was moved over by a sacrifice bunt from Skylar Coberley but A. Tolmie was stranded on base.
In the second inning, Ball State had two runners reach base via a single and walk, but the defense held the Cardinals scoreless yet again.
Grace Koenig reached to lead off the bottom of the second for CMU, but she as well was stranded on base.
In the third inning, Ball State scored three runs. Their runs came with three doubles in a row and a pickle that scored a runner on third.
Mackenzie Langan entered in the top of the third to relieve Lehto who gave up the three doubles and her second walk of the game. Langan threw for one inning, facing five batters, allowing one run on one hit.
Brooklyn Compau entered in the fourth inning after Langan issued a double and walked a Cardinal. Compau threw 3.2 innings for CMU where she faced 18 batters. Compau struck out four, issued four hits and three runs.
The three runs Compau issued came in the seventh inning when Ball State regained the lead.
In the fourth inning, Ball State grabbed another run to make the lead 4-0, but CMU had an answer. Grace Koenig started the scoring with a single up the middle that scored Carly Sleeman and Allyssa Hollo. Sleeman reached via walk and Allyssa Hollo reached via double. Keira Tolmie singled to center field and scored Koenig to make the deficit two for the Chippewas.
Ball State changed their pitcher when their lead was cut to two, but the Chippewas were still ready to fight. Maddie Springer singled up the middle, and Angela Petrovitch who pinch ran for K. Tolmie moved to third, Petrovitch scored to tie the game on a wild pitch.
CMU took the 5-4 lead in the bottom of the fifth when Koenig recorded another RBI scoring Skylar Coberley who reached on a single to the shortstop.
Abbey Tolmie's final at-bat as a Chippewa scored her little sister Keira Tolmie in the first season where they have ever shared a field.
The two-run lead was ultimately cut in the seventh when Ball State tied the game at six after two Chippewa defensive errors and a two RBI single. The ultimately game winning run for Ball State scored with an RBI single.
Central Michigan Softball will return in 2025 with Team 47 as they welcome in a new freshman class and return 16 players from this season.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: KING, Francys (15-13)
L: Compau , Brooklyn (1-4)
Batting:
2B: WYNN, Haley 1 ; TIMMONS, McKayla 1 ; ARMENDARIZ, Jazmyne 2 ; PIETRZAK, Maia 1
RBI: TIMMONS, McKayla 2 ; ARMENDARIZ, Jazmyne 1 ; MATA, Samantha-Jo 2 ; PIETRZAK, Maia 1
SF: TIMMONS, McKayla 1
Base Running:
RUNS: WYNN, Haley 1 ; TIMMONS, McKayla 1 ; SPENCER, Grace 1 ; URBAN, Hayley 1 ; MULHOLLAND, McKenna 1 ; MATA, Samantha-Jo 1 ; PIETRZAK, Maia 1
HBP: DUKEMAN, Hannah 1
Batting:
2B: Hollo, Allyssa 1
RBI: Tolmie, Abbey 1 ; Koenig, Grace 3 ; Tolmie, Keira 1
SH: Sleeman, Carly 1 ; Vallimont, Michaleigh 1 ; Springer, Maddie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Coberley, Skylar 1 ; Sleeman, Carly 1 ; Hollo, Allyssa 1 ; Koenig, Grace 1 ; Tolmie, Keira 1 ; Petrovitch, Angela 1
SB: Lotus, Emma 1
HBP: Tolmie, Abbey 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
3
RBI
3
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
P/UTL
/ Softball
C/OF
/ SoftballIF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
IF/UTL
/ SoftballIF/UTL
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballIF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
C/UTL
/ Softball
IF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
C/UTL
/ Softball
OF
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