Shaidan Knapp finds stride in batters box, paces softball to victory
Freshman infielder Shaidan Knapp runs to first base after hitting the ball during the game against Western Michigan University on April 11 in Margo Jonker Stadium.
The crowd gathered at Margo Jonker Stadium was in a frenzy as they watched a ball roll around in the outfield and the batter slide into third base for a triple.
The player responsible for the commotion was Shaidan Knapp.
Knapp, a sophomore outfielder for the Central Michigan softball team, leads the Chippewas with a .341 batting average.
She has also started all but one game, but has played in them all for the Chippewas (13-18-1, 4-3-1 Mid-American Conference).
The Vicksburg native is tied for the team lead with senior first baseman Erika Underwood at 30 hits apiece. Knapp has four doubles, a home run and three RBIs.
Coming into the doubleheader against Western Michigan on April 2, she had just one triple.
That changed quickly in the second game of the doubleheader.
WMU defeated CMU in the first game with a 12-5 win to open the day. Knapp said she knew her team needed a spark, and she was given that opportunity to do just that by leading off the game. She normally bats ninth in the lineup.
The speedy Knapp seized her opportunity and turned the tide in her team's favor with a triple down the right field line to lead off the game.
"I knew I got to start the game off strong," Knapp said. "I've got to get something rolling for us, I just felt really focused and zoned in and just kind of did it."
Following Knapp's triple, senior centerfielder Sara Hansen scored Knapp with a triple of her own. The hot start at the plate set the tone for the rest of the game, that was dominated by the Chippewas on their way to a 12-3 victory.
Head coach Margo Jonker said that setting the tone was important for her team to find success.
"I thought we did an excellent job of coming back after a bad game and setting the tone," Jonker said.
CMU batted around the order in the first inning, meaning Knapp would lead off again in the second inning. She would provide a spark once again for her teammates.
Knapp hit her second triple of the game.
That three-bagger was the launching pad for a seven-run second inning for the Chippewas that saw them send 12 batters to the plate. Jonker said that inning for her offense was all about momentum.
"We talk a lot about momentum," Jonker said. "We want to keep the momentum and get the momentum on our side, I was happy with that.
"When you start out strong after you just got crushed the game before, it definitely makes you have more energy."
Knapp finished the game 2-for-3 from the plate and reached base three times with a walk in the fourth inning.
The strong outing for her, individually, bolstered confidence in herself.
"Obviously it feels good," she said. "Kind of got my confidence back up but I had to make sure I stayed calm and didn't get too over-worked up."
