Softball finishes 12-game schedule with 6-1 win against Yale
Central Michigan softball completed its 12-game spring break stretch at the University of South Florida on Sunday, beating Yale 6-1.
Yale took the lead in the first inning, scoring when Sarah Onorato was batted in by a sacrifice fly ball from Hanna Brennan. CMU quickly picked up the pace, scoring two runs in the second and two more in the third.
Sophomore outfielder Evelyn Lorimer stole second base after connecting for a single and reached home to score in the second. Freshman first baseman Kristen Goodall followed Lorimer on an RBI single from senior Brittney Horan.
Senior catcher Cory DeLamielleure hit a solo home run in the beginning of the third inning to add to CMU's lead. Senior outfielder Lauren Bowman kept up the score with an additional run after DeLamielleure, leaving one player on base at the end of the inning.
In the bottom of the sixth, Lorimer hit a triple, bringing home DeLamielleure, who was on base after grounding into a fielder's choice. The senior catcher stole second base with two outs and reached home safely after the Lorimer triple.
Yale was kept scoreless thanks to senior pitcher Chelsea Sundberg in the circle. Sundberg pitched all seven innings, allowing only two hits and one earned run.
Overall the Chippewas had 13 hits, led by Lorimer, who went 3-for-4. Goodall contributed two RBIs.
In its previous game against Yale, CMU won 7-0. Junior infielder Trista Cox went 3-for-4, picking up one RBI and scoring twice.
CMU opened the USF Under Armor Showcase with a six-game winning streak, outscoring opponents 31-16. The team suffered its first loss to host South Florida, 1-9.
The Chippewas then dropped the next game to Purdue, being shutout 0-2. After struggling offensively, batting improved against Connecticut, scoring six runs on eight hits to win 6-2.
They then beat Long Island 4-1, before losing to Maine 2-4.
As of March 15, Cox leads offensively, batting .354 with a team-high 28 hits, 19 RBIs and seven home runs. She leads the Chippewas in almost all offensive categories including on base percentage (.384), slugging percentage (.696) and game starts (25).
Freshman pitcher Rachael Knapp has emerged as a leader in the pitching rotation, with a 6-2 record and 1.88 ERA in her 12 appearances. Knapp has started five games, consistently allowing fewer hits and runs than her teammates.
Knapp has struck out 73 batters this season and allowed only 15 earned runs with an opponents' batting average of .193.
Senior pitcher Morgan Yuncker has a near perfect 5-1 record in 11 appearances, holding a 2.59 ERA and allowing 38 hits. Yuncker has only allowed one home run this season as well.
CMU picks up on March 26 in Detroit against University of Detroit Mercy.
Central Michigan Athletics could not be reached for comment by print time.
