Central Michigan University Athletics
Friday, February 21
Raleigh, N.C.
1:00 PM
Central Michigan University
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Illinois
5-5
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Central Michigan
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Illinois
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Photo by: Julia Bice '22,M'24 - @jb.jpg10
Sleeman Slashes Two Home Runs in Softball Loss to Illinois
2/21/2025 6:19:00 PM | Softball
Carly Sleeman recorded two home runs and a double in the hit fest loss to Illinois.
Raleigh, N.C. – Central Michigan dropped its first game of the Marucci Classic hosted by NC State to the Illinois Fighting Illini in an offensive battle, 8-12.
The Chippewas recorded 12 hits in the game, while Illinois charted 15. Seven of the 12 hits for Central Michigan came from Tori Briggs and Carly Sleeman. Sleeman homered in the first and 6th – a two-run and three-run shot respectively, and Briggs scored three runs for CMU.
Tori Briggs started her offensive day with CMU's first hit of the game with an infield single. She then crossed home plate when Sleeman, hitting right behind her, sent one over the right field fence.
Illinois was forced to make a pitching change in the first inning after five Chippewas reached base in the inning.
After the first half inning, CMU led 2-0.
Illinois answered with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning with an RBI single and double.
CMU responded with a run in the third when Emma Lotus crossed the plate after a throwing error from the Illinois catcher. Lotus reached on an error and was moved to second on the same play. The Briggs single in the second allowed her to get to third.
The defense held Illinois scoreless in the second. The bottom of the second was the only half-inning with no scoring for either team.
Cierra Laska entered in relief for Brooklyn Compau in the bottom of the third after Illinois tied the game at three.
Laska entered with no outs and the bases loaded and proceeded to strike out the side.
In the fourth inning, London Williams had an infield single and Briggs, once again crossed home plate; 4-3 CMU.
Illinois responded in the bottom half of the inning with a three-run home run to dead away center field and added another run on an infield single in the fifth. The Fighting Illini held a 7-4 tilt over the Chippewas headed to the sixth.
Back-to-back singles in the top of inning from Emma Lotus and, once again, Briggs, loaded the table for Sleeman to tie the game at seven with her second round-tripper of the day. Jenna Kuzara, who reached on a hit and was advanced by a walk from Grace Koening represented the go-ahead run on second in the inning but was stranded.
Illinois managed to load the bases in the bottom of the sixth via two singles and a walk. A grand slam to left center field would ultimately be the deciding factor in the loss for CMU. Illinois added one more run in the bottom of the inning to reach the final tally.
Mackenzie Langan entered the circle in the bottom of the fifth for CMU and ended with the decision in the first game of the weekend.
The two teams will face off again on Saturday morning at 10:30 before CMU then takes on the host, NC State at 3:30 that afternoon.
For the latest news and updates on CMU Softball, follow the team on X (@cmusoftball) and Instagram (@cmichsoftball).
The Chippewas recorded 12 hits in the game, while Illinois charted 15. Seven of the 12 hits for Central Michigan came from Tori Briggs and Carly Sleeman. Sleeman homered in the first and 6th – a two-run and three-run shot respectively, and Briggs scored three runs for CMU.
Tori Briggs started her offensive day with CMU's first hit of the game with an infield single. She then crossed home plate when Sleeman, hitting right behind her, sent one over the right field fence.
Illinois was forced to make a pitching change in the first inning after five Chippewas reached base in the inning.
After the first half inning, CMU led 2-0.
Illinois answered with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning with an RBI single and double.
CMU responded with a run in the third when Emma Lotus crossed the plate after a throwing error from the Illinois catcher. Lotus reached on an error and was moved to second on the same play. The Briggs single in the second allowed her to get to third.
The defense held Illinois scoreless in the second. The bottom of the second was the only half-inning with no scoring for either team.
Cierra Laska entered in relief for Brooklyn Compau in the bottom of the third after Illinois tied the game at three.
Laska entered with no outs and the bases loaded and proceeded to strike out the side.
In the fourth inning, London Williams had an infield single and Briggs, once again crossed home plate; 4-3 CMU.
Illinois responded in the bottom half of the inning with a three-run home run to dead away center field and added another run on an infield single in the fifth. The Fighting Illini held a 7-4 tilt over the Chippewas headed to the sixth.
Back-to-back singles in the top of inning from Emma Lotus and, once again, Briggs, loaded the table for Sleeman to tie the game at seven with her second round-tripper of the day. Jenna Kuzara, who reached on a hit and was advanced by a walk from Grace Koening represented the go-ahead run on second in the inning but was stranded.
Illinois managed to load the bases in the bottom of the sixth via two singles and a walk. A grand slam to left center field would ultimately be the deciding factor in the loss for CMU. Illinois added one more run in the bottom of the inning to reach the final tally.
Mackenzie Langan entered the circle in the bottom of the fifth for CMU and ended with the decision in the first game of the weekend.
The two teams will face off again on Saturday morning at 10:30 before CMU then takes on the host, NC State at 3:30 that afternoon.
For the latest news and updates on CMU Softball, follow the team on X (@cmusoftball) and Instagram (@cmichsoftball).
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Karley Yergler (2-2)
L: Langan, Mackenzie (1-3)
Batting:
2B: Sleeman, Carly 1 ; Hollo, Allyssa 1
HR: Sleeman, Carly 2
RBI: Sleeman, Carly 6 ; Williams, London 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Lotus, Emma 2 ; Briggs, Tori 3 ; Sleeman, Carly 2 ; Diekman, Maddison 1
Batting:
2B: Stevie Meade 1 ; Gabrielle Debevec 1
3B: Alaina Miller 1
HR: Adisyn Caryl 1 ; Ella Cushing 1
RBI: Alaina Miller 2 ; Adisyn Caryl 4 ; Stevie Meade 2 ; Ella Cushing 4
SH: Yazzy Avila 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Keirys Click 1 ; Paige Berkmeyer 1 ; Taylor Porter 1 ; Eileen Donahue 2 ; Lizzie Stiverson 1 ; Adisyn Caryl 1 ; Stevie Meade 1 ; Gabrielle Debevec 2 ; Ella Cushing 1 ; Yazzy Avila 1
HBP: Yazzy Avila 1
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
3
H
4
RBI
0
AB
3
R
2
H
3
RBI
6
AB
5
R
2
H
1
RBI
0
AB
5
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
LHP/UTL
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballC
/ SoftballUTL
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