WITH SLIDESHOW: Softball loses home opener to Michigan State
The Central Michigan softball team could not figure out pitcher Cassee Layne in its home opener Wednesday against Michigan State at Margo Jonker Stadium.
MSU defeated CMU 6-1 in front of 520 fans in attendance.
Layne entered the game with a 4-10 record and a 7.63 earned-run average, but was able to stifle the Chippewas hitters throughout the game.
CMU was shut out for the first six innings before Brittney Horan doubled in the team’s only run in the seventh.
“She was inconsistent with her pitches and that put us off a little bit,” head coach Margo Jonker said. “Offensively, we were not very aggressive. We really wanted to swing a lot earlier in the count and we didn’t do that.”
MSU (11-23) opened the scoring with two outs in the third when senior Lori Padilla lofted a double just over third baseman Summer Knoop’s head. Junior Kylene Hopkins followed with a single up the middle to drive in Padilla, giving the Spartans a 1-0 lead.
The Chippewas (14-14) threatened to tie the game in the sixth with back-to-back singles from Knoop and senior Molly Coldren, but senior Ashley Gilson popped up to end the inning.
The Spartans extended their lead to 6-0 in the seventh when they scored five runs on five hits.
Pitcher Kara Dornbos pitched six innings for the Chippewas before being replaced in the seventh. She gave up five runs, four earned on 10 hits.
“She threw well through the first few innings and then they just started getting on her and we gave them too many opportunities,” Jonker said.
Jonker said she was pleased with the opening crowd but wishes her team could have performed better.
“We had an awesome crowd and we have awesome fans, but I am just disappointed we didn’t put our best product on the field in that situation,” Jonker said. “We didn’t play terrible, but we weren’t the best we could be.”
CMU will resume Mid-American Conference play Friday at home with a double-header against Western Michigan. Game one begins at 1 p.m.
