Softball leaders step up on long trip to Indiana
Softball coach Margo Jonker wanted her seniors to step up after Central Michigan lost the first two games of its 12-day, 12-game spring break.
“I challenged our upperclassmen to be leaders,” Jonker said. “On the field, off the field and vocally they stepped up. The entire senior class.”
Seniors Kari Seddon, Amanda Patrick, Brittini Merchant, Amanda Klosterman and junior Molly Coldren answered the call, leading the Chippewas to eight wins in 10 games at the University of South Florida Under Armour Invitational in Clearwater, Fla.
After Jonker’s challenge, the Chippewas beat both Columbia and Quinnipiac 8-0 on the second day.
“The whole team stepped up,” Jonker said. “I’m proud of the way they came back from (the opener).”
Coldren led the charge, going 5-of-6 at the plate, hitting her first of four home runs on the trip. Coldren tied the CMU career home run record with Christina Novak at 19 homers.
Seddon did her part in the circle, winning three games and allowing just three earned runs in 32 2/3 innings pitched.
“When she has her off-speed pitches going, she’s on fire,” Jonker said. “She’s been a big positive so far, pitching and offensively.”
Seddon also turned in a big week at the plate with 11 hits and five runs batted in. Seddon was awarded Mid-American Conference Pitcher of the Week for her outings in Florida.
Pitching was pivotol to the Chippewas’ success. The team shut out their opponents in half their games in Clearwater. On three of those occasions, CMU pitchers had no-hitters heading into the other teams’ last at bats, but all three were broken up.
Sophomore Kara Dornbos had two of the near no-hitters. Jonker said she had an “excellent dropball” that stifled hitters. She holds a 1.27 earned run average that is second on the team to Seddon’s 1.11 ERA.
The Merchant sisters, senior Brittini and sophomore Macy, both lifted the Chippewas’ offense. Macy had 12 hits, scored 10 runs and stole eight bases from the leadoff spot.
“It’s really important to get the leadoff hitter on,” Jonker said. “Macy does a nice job of it, stole some bases, which was fun.”
Big sister Brittini did more of the same, getting 11 hits, scoring five runs and driving in another five during the trip.
The Chippewas leave Thursday for Indiana to play five games in the Hoosier Classic. Three games are against Big Ten teams; two against Indiana and one against Michigan State.
Coldren will be on the hunt to break the home run record with 20 in a career as she heads to Indiana.
