Central Michigan University Athletics
Friday, March 21
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
1:00 PM
Central Michigan University
9-15, 2-2
16
vs
15
Akron
14-14, 1-3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Akron
2
0
6
0
0
5
2
15
14
2
Central Michigan
1
0
2
0
0
9
4
16
17
2
Photo by: Jasper Warner '25 - @jasperwarnermedia
Chippewa Softball Overcomes 10 Run Deficit Enroute to Doubleheader Sweep over Akron
3/21/2025 9:03:00 PM | Softball
Chippewa bats ignite for six home runs and nine runs in the sixth inning of game one and tallied nine runs in game two to secure first series win on the season.
Mount Pleasant, Mich. – Chippewa softball came out on top after a pair of offensive-fueled games against Akron Saturday afternoon in the team's first two games of 2025 at Margo Jonker Stadium. A 16-15 walk-off win and a 9-6 performance led CMU to 10-15 on the season and 3-2 in conference play.
Strong winds to straight away center fueled Akron and Central Michigan to combine for 10 home runs in game one, six belonging to Chippewa batters.
The Chippewas' 16-run performance in game one is the most runs CMU has scored under head coach McCall Salmon, edging out a 15-run performance against Northern Illinois in 2021.
CMU totaled 17 hits on the day, the most hits in a single-game since a bout against Hofstra in 2023.
Akron led off the scoring in game one with a two-run home run two outs into the top of the first.
Carly Sleeman quickly answered at the bottom of the first with a shot over the left field wall to cut the Chippewa deficit in half.
Akron picked up six runs on four hits in the third inning, beginning with a runner scoring on an error, followed by an RBI single, and a pair of SAC flies. The inning was capped off with a two-run home run to left for an 8-1 Akron lead.
Central Michigan responded in the bottom of the third with freshman London Williams smacking a two-run shot to left field, Akron's lead now at five, up 8-3.
With Cierra Laska in the circle for the top of the fourth, the Chippewa defense sat six consecutive Zips down to maintain the Chippewas five run deficit.
Offense made a return for both squads in the sixth inning. Akron led off the inning with five consecutive hits, scoring five in the process to extend their lead 13-3. The Chippewa defense found their way out of the inning by drawing three consecutive ground outs before they could get their licks in the bottom of the inning.
Rachel Cairo began the Chippewas monster inning with a solo shot to straight away center on a 2-0 count. Grace Koenig followed with her first triple on the season, and her second extra-base hit of the game. Kierra Tolmie stepped up to the dish and sent a single up the middle scoring Koenig. Emma Lotus took her turn with a single to right, sending Tolmie to third. The two baserunners then capitalized on a passed ball, Tolmie scored and Lotus put on the jets, advancing to third. Maddison Diekman laid a bunt down the first base line for an RBI single. Tori Briggs was able to reach base safely to become the second runner on, setting up a three-run homer by Carly Sleeman. The Chippewas sixth was capped off by a two run double by Koenig, bringing CMU within one run of Akron.
Akron was able to extend the lead to three with a pair of solo home runs in the top of the seventh.
CMU now eyeing a three-run disadvantage, was able to put Sleeman and Cairo back on the bases. Koenig stepped to the dish and continued her break-out performance with a three-run shot to straight-away center to tie the game. Tolmie then returned to the plate, battled to a full count, and sent the sixth pitch of her at bat over the right field wall for a walk off home run, completing the Chippewas comeback. The solo shot was Tolmie's third collegiate home run, all of which in the form of a walk-off.
Madelyn Wallace earned the win for CMU, her third of the season.
Six Chippewa batters earned multi-hit games, with Koenig ending the first game going four for five, with five RBI. As a team, CMU combined for 17 hits.
With their bats still hot, Central Michigan was able to score first in the second game of the doubleheader, with Alyssa Holo laying down a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher allowing Briggs to score.
Madelyn Wallace, CMU's game two starter was then able to sit Akron down in order on 10 pitches to return Chippewa batters to the plate.
The Chippewa batters wasted no time in the bottom half of the second, Koenig drew a lead-off walk, and Tolmie drove her to third on a single. Lotus then knocked Koenig home with an RBI single, doubling CMU's lead.
In the top of the third the Zips took their first lead of the game, stringing together four hits to score four runners.
Bats went quiet until the bottom of the fourth, when the Chippewas notched two hits, and ran aggressively on the base paths to gain a 5-4 lead. Sleeman knocked in the first two runs of the inning with a single to right field, right before Springer sacrificed herself trying to steal second allowing Briggs to score the Chippewas third and final run of the inning.
Akron took their final lead of the game in the top of the fifth, responding quickly with a two-run home run down the left field line, the Chippewas enter the bottom of the fifth down 6-5.
The Zips lead however was short lived, Koenig as the second batter of the inning drew a four-pitch walk, and advanced to second on a ground out. Lotus then scored Koenig on a single and was able to advance to third after a throwing error.
Akron threatened in the top of the sixth, loading the bases but were unable to convert on the opportunity.
Central Michigan kept the offense rolling with a three-run bottom half of the sixth, taking a 9-6 lead off a Cairo RBI, scoring Sleeman. Koenig then doubled into the right center gap driving in Cairo and Bila for the Chippewa's final runs of the game.
Akron came out quickly in the top of the seventh with a leadoff double, but was halted after a flyball to right field, and a pair of strikeout by Brooklyn Compau to secure the victory.
Compau was awarded the game two win, throwing three full innings, allowing no runs and only two hits facing 14 Akron batters.
On the day Koenig went five for seven, drew two walks, totaled four extra base hits, 6 RBI, and four runs.
Central Michigan looks to complete the series sweep Saturday at 2:00 p.m. in Margo Jonker Stadium.
For the latest news and updates on CMU Softball, follow the team on X (@cmusoftball) and Instagram (@cmichsoftball).
Strong winds to straight away center fueled Akron and Central Michigan to combine for 10 home runs in game one, six belonging to Chippewa batters.
The Chippewas' 16-run performance in game one is the most runs CMU has scored under head coach McCall Salmon, edging out a 15-run performance against Northern Illinois in 2021.
CMU totaled 17 hits on the day, the most hits in a single-game since a bout against Hofstra in 2023.
Akron led off the scoring in game one with a two-run home run two outs into the top of the first.
Carly Sleeman quickly answered at the bottom of the first with a shot over the left field wall to cut the Chippewa deficit in half.
Akron picked up six runs on four hits in the third inning, beginning with a runner scoring on an error, followed by an RBI single, and a pair of SAC flies. The inning was capped off with a two-run home run to left for an 8-1 Akron lead.
Central Michigan responded in the bottom of the third with freshman London Williams smacking a two-run shot to left field, Akron's lead now at five, up 8-3.
With Cierra Laska in the circle for the top of the fourth, the Chippewa defense sat six consecutive Zips down to maintain the Chippewas five run deficit.
Offense made a return for both squads in the sixth inning. Akron led off the inning with five consecutive hits, scoring five in the process to extend their lead 13-3. The Chippewa defense found their way out of the inning by drawing three consecutive ground outs before they could get their licks in the bottom of the inning.
Rachel Cairo began the Chippewas monster inning with a solo shot to straight away center on a 2-0 count. Grace Koenig followed with her first triple on the season, and her second extra-base hit of the game. Kierra Tolmie stepped up to the dish and sent a single up the middle scoring Koenig. Emma Lotus took her turn with a single to right, sending Tolmie to third. The two baserunners then capitalized on a passed ball, Tolmie scored and Lotus put on the jets, advancing to third. Maddison Diekman laid a bunt down the first base line for an RBI single. Tori Briggs was able to reach base safely to become the second runner on, setting up a three-run homer by Carly Sleeman. The Chippewas sixth was capped off by a two run double by Koenig, bringing CMU within one run of Akron.
Akron was able to extend the lead to three with a pair of solo home runs in the top of the seventh.
CMU now eyeing a three-run disadvantage, was able to put Sleeman and Cairo back on the bases. Koenig stepped to the dish and continued her break-out performance with a three-run shot to straight-away center to tie the game. Tolmie then returned to the plate, battled to a full count, and sent the sixth pitch of her at bat over the right field wall for a walk off home run, completing the Chippewas comeback. The solo shot was Tolmie's third collegiate home run, all of which in the form of a walk-off.
Madelyn Wallace earned the win for CMU, her third of the season.
Six Chippewa batters earned multi-hit games, with Koenig ending the first game going four for five, with five RBI. As a team, CMU combined for 17 hits.
With their bats still hot, Central Michigan was able to score first in the second game of the doubleheader, with Alyssa Holo laying down a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher allowing Briggs to score.
Madelyn Wallace, CMU's game two starter was then able to sit Akron down in order on 10 pitches to return Chippewa batters to the plate.
The Chippewa batters wasted no time in the bottom half of the second, Koenig drew a lead-off walk, and Tolmie drove her to third on a single. Lotus then knocked Koenig home with an RBI single, doubling CMU's lead.
In the top of the third the Zips took their first lead of the game, stringing together four hits to score four runners.
Bats went quiet until the bottom of the fourth, when the Chippewas notched two hits, and ran aggressively on the base paths to gain a 5-4 lead. Sleeman knocked in the first two runs of the inning with a single to right field, right before Springer sacrificed herself trying to steal second allowing Briggs to score the Chippewas third and final run of the inning.
Akron took their final lead of the game in the top of the fifth, responding quickly with a two-run home run down the left field line, the Chippewas enter the bottom of the fifth down 6-5.
The Zips lead however was short lived, Koenig as the second batter of the inning drew a four-pitch walk, and advanced to second on a ground out. Lotus then scored Koenig on a single and was able to advance to third after a throwing error.
Akron threatened in the top of the sixth, loading the bases but were unable to convert on the opportunity.
Central Michigan kept the offense rolling with a three-run bottom half of the sixth, taking a 9-6 lead off a Cairo RBI, scoring Sleeman. Koenig then doubled into the right center gap driving in Cairo and Bila for the Chippewa's final runs of the game.
Akron came out quickly in the top of the seventh with a leadoff double, but was halted after a flyball to right field, and a pair of strikeout by Brooklyn Compau to secure the victory.
Compau was awarded the game two win, throwing three full innings, allowing no runs and only two hits facing 14 Akron batters.
On the day Koenig went five for seven, drew two walks, totaled four extra base hits, 6 RBI, and four runs.
Central Michigan looks to complete the series sweep Saturday at 2:00 p.m. in Margo Jonker Stadium.
For the latest news and updates on CMU Softball, follow the team on X (@cmusoftball) and Instagram (@cmichsoftball).
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Compau , Brooklyn (3-4)
L: Sydney Selker (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Meagan Lee 1 ; Andrea Day 1
HR: Sydney Selker 1
RBI: Meagan Lee 1 ; Sydney Selker 2 ; Andrea Day 2 ; Alexis Campbell 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Brooke Sivek 1 ; Meagan Lee 1 ; Sydney Selker 2 ; Sophia Wygast 1 ; Delaney Jenkinson 1
Batting:
2B: Koenig, Grace 1
RBI: Sleeman, Carly 2 ; Hollo, Allyssa 1 ; Cairo, Rachel 1 ; Koenig, Grace 2 ; Lotus, Emma 2
SH: Hollo, Allyssa 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Briggs, Tori 2 ; Sleeman, Carly 1 ; Bila, Ashley 1 ; Cairo, Rachel 1 ; Koenig, Grace 2 ; Tolmie, Keira 1 ; Diekman, Maddison 1
SB: Cairo, Rachel 1
CS: Springer, Maddie 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
LHP/UTL
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballC
/ Softball
RHP
/ SoftballUTL
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