Michigan State hits five home runs to blow past CMU softball
Junior outfielder Bella Robles prepares to spring from second base against Michigan State April 9 at Margo Jonker Stadium.
A quick start from Michigan State was too much to overcome for the Central Michigan softball team.
Sophomore right-hander Samantha Howell was given the start for the Chippewas (16-19-1, 7-3-1 Mid-American Conference) as they fell to the Spartans (14-22, 3-6 Big Ten Conference), 16-4, at Margo Jonker Stadium.
Coach Margo Jonker said that her team was not able to find the critical hit needed to keep up with the Spartans.
"The situation was we didn't get the key hits and they got the key hits," Jonker said. "They had the big hits and our pitcher can't let the ball go out of the park that often."
Michigan State was able to push across four runs before the Chippewas had the opportunity to swing the bat. MSU senior third baseman Kaitlyn Eveland rocketed an offering from Howell.
Eveland, batting right handed, hit a pitch the other way to give her team a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
Howell was quickly pulled from the game as she gave up a two-out, two-run homer to MSU freshman center fielder Charla Echols. The blast to right-center field was Echols' second extra-base hit of the game as she doubled in the first inning.
Freshman Shannon Stein replaced Howell after she allowed six runs on four hits in 1 2/3 innings pitched. Stein finished with two runs (one earned) on three hits in her 3 1/3 innings pitched.
The Chippewas pushed across two runs of their own in the bottom of the second inning and used small ball as senior second baseman Rachel Vieira singled to lead off the inning. She advanced to second base on a wild pitch and eventually scored on a double from freshman catcher Samantha Mills.
Mills was then scored on a single from sophomore right fielder Shaidan Knapp that rocketed down the first base line.
CMU benefited from the first error of the game as sophomore right fielder Katie Quinlan misplayed a Vieira base hit which allowed sophomore left fielder Tala Dean to score from first base.
Two-out scoring played an important role as each team was able to find success at the tail end of innings.
"We haven't done a lot of that this year," Jonker said. "I talked about that and that we needed more two-out rallies. That part's good but then we need to score those runs. Disappointing game."
Charla Echols continued to be a thorn in the Chippewas' side as she hit a second home run, this time to right field, in the sixth inning.
That solo blast was the first time that she has amassed that feat in her young career. She ended the day 3-of-4 with two home runs and a double.
"(Echols) hit the ball, well," Jonker said. "We were too high in the zone and she was taking advantage of our mis-location."
Sophomore pinch hitter Laney Joyner came through in a clutch moment.
With the bases loaded and two outs in the sixth inning, Joyner ripped an offering from freshman right hander Hailey John to right field for a grand slam. Junior second baseman Melanie Baccay capped off the eight-run sixth inning with a two-run blast of her own that sailed over the right field wall.
The Spartans ended the day with five home runs as part of their 12 hits.
"We got behind in the count and had to put the ball in the middle," Jonker said. "They happened to hit the ball in the air to the side of the field that the wind was blowing (right field)."
Despite the large deficit, Knapp swung away for the Chippewas in the sixth inning. She laced a triple to right-center field and scored on a throwing error from the MSU infield.
The Chippewas will return to MAC play as they take on Western Michigan at 2 p.m. April 10 at Ebert Field in Kalamazoo.
