A perfect recipe for the Central Michigan softball team to find success against Mid-American Conference foe Ohio was to execute on offense and have strong starting pitching.

The Chippewas (16-18-1, 7-3-1) had just that as they swept the April 6 doubleheader and the weekend series against the Bobcats (25-15, 6-5) in Margo Jonker Stadium following their 7-3 victory the day before.

Freshman pitcher Kaitlyn Bean fired two complete games over the weekend against Ohio. She gave up seven runs on 14 hits in 14 innings pitched. She also struck out nine Bobcats along the way.

"I thought Bean did a great job in the circle," said head coach Margo Jonker. "Even when we made misplays, she came back and showed a lot of intestinal fortitude."

Bean now owns a 6-3 record this season and has a 2.73 earned run average, which is the best of the Chippewa pitching staff.

Game One: CMU 6, Ohio 3

Sophomore right-handed starting pitcher Samantha Howell was strong from the beginning as she only allowed one hit through three innings.

Ohio struck first in the fourth inning when Morgan Geno scored on a base hit to left field.

Senior infielder Rachel Vieira promptly tied the game in the bottom half of the fourth inning with a home run, her first of the season.

The Chippewas would then extend their lead in the bottom of the fifth inning, freshman centerfielder Sara Hansen tripled to center field and brought home sophomore right fielder Shaidan Knapp.

Ohio and CMU traded blows in the sixth inning. Geno tied the game with a two-run home run to tie the game at three runs apiece for the

CMU would do its damage in the home half of the inning.

Junior shortstop Morgan Gardner ripped a double to center field which scored Vieira's second run of the game. The double also scored freshman infielder Stephanie Anderson.

Hansen would push across her second and third runs of the game as she doubled to left-center field. She was able to score Knapp for the second time and senior outfielder Allison Curtis.

Howell (W, 4-5) only allowed five hits and three runs (earned) and struck out four Bobcats in a complete game on the way to the Chippewa victory.

Jonker was pleased with how her starting pitchers handled early setbacks and had no doubt she wanted those two pitching against Ohio.

"They did a great job this weekend," Jonker said. "We went with them because they throw the type of pitches we needed to beat Ohio."

Game Two: CMU 7, Ohio 4

Knapp was able to score her third run of the day, and the first of the second game following a two-run double from designated player Shannon Stein. The freshman would also score senior outfielder Andrea Perlberg, who was courtesy running for senior first baseman Erika Underwood.

Stein would then add three more runs in the bottom of the third inning with a three-run home run to right field that carried about 15 feet over the wall. Her seventh round-tripper of the season capped a four-run third inning for the Chippewas.

"I was just looking to get a hit, just anything to help the team out," Stein said. "I was just focused on seeing the ball and it worked."

Ohio junior Kendall Meeks came on in relief of starter freshman Mackensie Kohl in the third inning. From there, Meeks was able to stifle the Chippewa offense by throwing off-speed pitches.

Meeks gave up two runs (unearned) on two hits in her 3 2/3 innings of work.

Bean finished her second complete game of the weekend giving up four runs (one earned) on 11 hits, striking out three.

Up next

The Chippewas will host Michigan State in nonconference action at 4 p.m. on April 9 at Margo Jonker Stadium.