CMU softball sweeps Day 2 of Hoosier Classic; Kara Dornbos throws shutout
Central Michigan softball swept Day 2 of the Hoosier Classic Saturday in Bloomington, Ind., with wins against Michigan State and Wright State.
The Chippewas dropped both of their games Friday, falling in close contests with Illinois-Chicago and Indiana. Poor weather caused the cancellation of the final day of the tournament on Sunday, ending the weekend 2-2.
The even record maintains a recurring theme with CMU, which is now 12-10 on the season. Consistency is something that is often a struggle to achieve, said head coach Margo Jonker, who was encouraged by the progression her team has shown so far.
“We weren’t as strong on Friday, but we came out the next day and turned it around," Jonker said. "We had some outstanding defensive plays, and it’s a weekend we can build on."
In the first game, the team faced off against the Spartans, winning 3-0 with a shutout from senior pitcher Kara Dornbos. Dornbos kept MSU down with five strikeouts and surrendered six hits but was able to rely on a strong defensive effort from the Chippewas to get the win.
“I’m not a strikeout pitcher, so I rely on ground balls and pop flies," Dornbos said. "If the defense plays well, I play well, and they did a great job."
This makes the second shutout for Dornbos this season and the 17th of her career, which ties her for eighth all-time in program history.
The Chippewas came out of the gate scoring two runs in the bottom of the first to take an early lead. Senior Macy Merchant led off with a triple to right field in her fourth extra base hit of the year. Merchant would finish with two hits on the game.
Senior Summer Knoop reached on an error then stole second base to set up a scoring chance. Sophomore CarolAnn Sexauer answered with a double, scoring Knoop and Merchant while also pushing her RBI total to 17.
Up 2-0, freshman Taylor Waters reached first on a walk in the bottom of the fifth and was moved to second on a Merchant bunt. Knoop sent her home with a single up the middle to put the game at 3-0 where it would stay.
In game two, they defeated Wright State in a close game. Behind by one entering the sixth, the Chippewas took the victory from a two-run double from freshman Katelyn Rentchler.
Knoop started the rally with a double to left and was joined on the bases by a Sexauer single who advanced to second on the throw. Rentschler sent them home with a double to right-center field, sealing the game 3-2.
Sexauer also hit a solo homerun early in the game, her third of the year.
CMU will be back in action on March 27 with a doubleheader at IPFW.
