Chippewas split doubleheader with Broncos; offense explodes in game two
Whether it’s football, basketball or a game of checkers, the rivalry between Central Michigan and Western Michigan is always intense.
Softball is no exception.
The rivals competed on the diamond on Tuesday and split a doubleheader at Margo Jonker Stadium.
Western Michigan (13-17, 5-3 Mid-American Conference) won game one 7-2 behind seven strong innings from pitcher Allyson Kus. CMU junior pitcher Rachael Knapp pitched 3 and 1/3 innings, surrendering four runs (two earned) on five hits.
The Chippewas (15-18-1, 2-5-1 MAC) came from behind in game two to win 8-4 behind sophomore center fielder Sarah Hansen’s three RBI performance. Sophomore starting pitcher Hanna Warren (6-6, 3.70 ERA) pitched a complete game.
“I thought momentum played a big role in both games. It went the wrong way in the first game and the right way in the second game,” said Head Coach Margo Jonker. “I thought we did a really good job coming back after (WMU) got their runs. I thought we competed really well.”
Middle-inning madness
As Western Michigan led 2-1 in the top of the fourth inning of game one, both teams were in the midst of a pitching stalemate. But Knapp (7-10, 3.14 ERA) soon got into trouble, as Erin Binkowski lead off the inning with a home run, followed by a double from Brooke Wyman.
Knapp — who lost her fourth straight start — was then pulled for sophomore Laura Vaccaro (1-0, 4.77 ERA), who gave up two doubles and a single, to push the lead to 7-1 for the Broncos. Vaccaro went 3 and 2/3 innings, giving up three runs on six hits.
Senior second baseman Chelsea DeLamielleure had an RBI double in the sixth inning to cut the lead to 7-2, but CMU was unable to add any more runs.
In game two, the Chippewas entered the fifth inning leading 2-1, after a home run by senior shortstop CarolAnn Sexauer and RBI single by Hansen. But once again, the Bronco offense woke up and scored three runs off three hits to go up 4-2.
After stranding seven runners on base in the first four innings, Central Michigan’s offense responded with a big fifth inning of its own. After an infield single by freshman infielder Allison Curtis and walk by sophomore left fielder Lacy Tolfree, sophomore catcher Maison Kalina hit an RBI single to cut the lead to 4-3.
Hansen stepped up next and delivered with a single to score both runners and regain the lead 5-4. Hansen finished the game 4-for-4 with three RBI’s.
“I really wanted to just see the ball better and put it in play and hoped something would happen and it happened to get by (the second baseman), so I was happy about that,” Hansen said. “I think just getting runners on early will help us get more momentum on our side.”
CMU extended their lead the next inning when sophomore center fielder Sydney Heath singled in two runs. The next at-bat, Kalina singled in Heath to put CMU up 8-4.
Warren was able to hold the lead for the Chippewas and ultimately get the game two victory in the doubleheader.
“I thought (Warren) did a great job,” Jonker said. “She really stuck it out well and competed and did a nice job today.”
Senior first baseman Katelyn Rentschler was held out of the doubleheader due to an illness.
Central Michigan sits in fifth place in the MAC West Division with 17 games remaining. The team heads to Bowling Green, Ohio on Friday for a three-game series with the Falcons.
