Softball sweeps double header against Oakland
It took the team nine innings but Central Michigan University softball eventually came away with an 8-5 win over Oakland University to sweep a double header from the Golden Grizzlies.
With the pair of victories, the Chippewas climb above .500 with a 17-16 record. They are currently 5-3 in Mid-American Conference play. CMU has won nine of its previous 10 games.
“I think the team is getting better and getting more confidence as we go through the season,” said Head Coach Margo Jonker. “Today’s games were a fight. We just have to come out fighting every time.”
In what was a back-and-forth affair, both teams took turns exchanging the lead as well as the long ball.
After OU jumped out to a 2-0 lead on a two-run home run in the first inning, CMU took advantage of defensive miscues and tied the game at two in the third inning.
Then, in the bottom of the fifth inning, senior third baseman Trista Cox homered to center field to give her team a 3-2 lead, but it would not hold as OU had another two-run home run the next half inning.
Cox finished game two going 2-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored. She was among four Chippewas who had two hits on Tuesday.
Sophomore Taylor Lewallen, also with two hits, drove in two runs in the win.
Even in extra innings the two teams exchanged blows with one another. With the international tiebreaker rule in effect CMU and OU traded a single run in the eighth inning.
Jonker’s team was finally able to make a lead stick after scoring three runs in the top of the ninth inning. Freshman Maison Kalina reached on an error and this was followed by a pinch-hit RBI base hit by sophomore Michelle Dornan.
Going into the double header, Oakland had one seven games in a row.
“We’re just paying attention to everything that we had to do and focus on our game,” Jonker said.
In the circle for the second game of the afternoon was freshman Hanna Warren. She lasted five innings, surrendering four earned runs on eight hits while striking out four.
Sophomore Rachael Knapp relieved Warren in the circle and got her 11th win of the season in the process. She tossed four innings, gave up a pair of hits and struck out two.
“(Knapp) is good as a starter and out of the bullpen,” Jonker said. “It doesn’t really matter-she’s good in both places, in both roles.”
CMU will be back in action again at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Friday afternoon as they take on Kent State University for a double header at Margo Jonker Stadium.
Game One
In the first game of the double header, the Chippewas held onto a narrow one-run margin to secure a 2-1 victory over the Golden Grizzlies
CMU got a runner on base to begin the top half of the second inning after freshman center fielder Sara Hansen was hit by a pitch. She proceeded to steal second base.
With Hansen on second base, sophomore third baseman Taylor Lewallen drew a walk. A throwing error by OU’s catcher allowed Lewallen to take second base and Hansen to come around and score.
A shallow base hit to right field by senior right fielder Kristen Kuhlman plated Lewallen to make it a 2-0 CMU lead.
Two runs would be all the women needed, despite Oakland’s attempt at a late-inning comeback.
The Golden Grizzlies got one run back with a single in the bottom of the fourth inning. They managed to load the bases but did not score another run in the inning.
Freshman Taylor Weaver got the start and earned her second win of the year in the circle for CMU. Weaver went four innings and scattered seven hits on four walks and a strikeout.
Knapp earned her third save of the year, going three innings while giving up a single hit and striking out five batters.
