Softball splits doubleheader with Toledo
Sanford sophomore Kristen Goodall steps up to bat during the Chippewas softball game against Eastern Michigan on April 11 in the Margo Jonker Stadium.
The Central Michigan University softball team split a home series with the University of Toledo Friday at Joker Marchant Stadium.
The Rockets were able to take the first game 2-0, while the Chippewas bounced back in game two to win 7-4.
After Friday’s action, CMU is now 24-20 overall and 11-7 in Mid-American Conference play.
Game One: Toledo 2, CMU 0
It was a pitcher’s duel throughout, with each team scoreless through six innings. Sophomore pitcher Rachael Knapp surrendered one hit through four innings, while CMU garnered three hits against Rockets starter Emily Anderson after four innings.
CMU threatened to score in the bottom of the sixth inning. Freshman left fielder Lacy Tolfree led off the inning with an infield single, then senior right fielder Kristen Kuhlman moved her over to second with a sacrifice bunt.
After senior shortstop Trista Cox flied out to left field and junior first baseman Katelyn Rentschler intentionally walked, junior second baseman Chelsea DeLamielleur flied out on a diving grab from Toledo left fielder Kylie Gross to end the inning.
Toledo struck first in the seventh inning for the only runs of the game. After recording the first two outs, Knapp allowed a single and back-to-back walks to load the bases for the Rockets. Knapp then threw a wild pitch followed by a throwing error from the catcher that was able to score two runs for Toledo.
CMU Head Coach Margo Jonker gave credit to the young and talented Toledo team.
“I thought Toledo did a great job,” Jonker said. “They competed extremely well. They hit pretty well but they played great defense. I was really impressed with them as a team overall.”
The Chippewas had one-out single in the bottom half of the frame from freshman catcher Maison Kalina. Sophomore first baseman Kristen Goodall then doubled with one out to move Kalina to third. Senior pinch hitter Karly Hansen worked a full count but then grounded out. Tolfree stuck out to end the game.
“Losing the first game was tough,” Jonker said. “We had a lot of situations where we weren’t getting very many key hits at all. We weren’t driving the ball very well. We just didn’t get many solid contact and when we did, (their defense) made a great play.”
Knapp went the distance for her 18th complete game, but the loss brings her record to 15-9. Her final line is two hits, two runs (zero earned), four walks, and eight strikeouts.
“I thought Knapp pitched well in the first game until the last inning,” Jonker said. “She all-of-a-sudden couldn’t find the plate and threw some wild pitches.”
Game Two: CMU 7, Toledo 4
CMU led off the bottom of the second inning with a triple from DeLamielleure. Freshman outfielder Sara Hansen bunted back to the pitcher Anderson and Kalina popped out in the infield. Designated hitter Kristen Goodall then hit a home run over the left field wall to give CMU a 2-0 lead.
CMU starting pitcher Hanna Warren only allowed one hit through four innings.
In the fifth inning, Gross grounded to Warren, who threw to shortstop Cox to try to get the runner Turkovich, but the ball was out of the reach of Cox and was thrown into the outfield. The play gave Warren her first error and the Chippewas their second.
With two on and two out in the fifth, Toledo second baseman Chandler Rice clobbered a pitch over the left field wall to put the Rockets in the lead.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Chippewas loaded the bases after DeLamielleure singled on a ground ball up the middle. Sara Hansen then singled in two runs to put the Chippewas back on top, 4-3.
After two Toledo runners reached in the top of the sixth, Warren was replaced by Knapp. She gave up a single to Maynard, which scored the pinch runner Scott to tie the game up at 4.
In the bottom of the sixth, Cox doubled to left with two outs. Rentschler then singled off the shortstop Toven into centerfield. A throw home made Cox stay put at third, and Rentschler was able to advance to second.
DeLamielleure intentionally walked with the base open to load the bases. Anderson hit Sara Hansen to give the Chippewas a 5-4 lead. Kalina then hit a single to left-center to score Rentschler and DeLamielleure to extend CMU’s lead to 7-4. Goodall fouled out to Turkovich to end the Chippewas’ big inning.
“It was a different ballgame,” Jonker said. “We came back. Different players stepped up when they took opportunities away from people that are hot, i.e. Rentschler right now.”
Knapp pitched a scoreless inning of relief in the seventh to help CMU hold on for the win.
“In the second game we made an adjustment (against Anderson),” Jonker said. “If you see a pitcher a number of times you are able to make an adjustment and I thought we did make that adjustment.”
Warren picked up the win to advance to 16-9. She pitched 5 1/3 innings, giving up four hits, four runs (three earned), three walks and two strikeouts. Hansen drove in three runs for the Chippewas, while Kalina and Goodall each had two.
CMU will face Bowling Green State University at 2 p.m. Saturday at Margo Jonker Stadium.
