CMU softball plays host to Toledo, Bowling Green this weekend
The Central Michigan softball will play its first Mid-American Conference home games this season this weekend with a doubleheader against Toledo at 1 p.m. on Friday and single games with Bowling Green on Saturday and Sunday.
CMU is trying to shake off a rocky start in MAC play last weekend that left it 1-3 in conference play. Sweeping Detroit Wednesday by a total score of 21-0 was a confidence booster for the Chippewas.
“It was great because the weekend before we struggled,” senior pitcher Kari Seddon said after throwing a shutout Wednesday. “I felt better today than I did last weekend.”
She wasn’t the only one that turned things around as the offense hit four home runs after a slow start in the conference.
“It was important to play,” said CMU head coach Margo Jonker. “To get people experience and gain confidence.”
Seddon (5-5) and sophomore Kara Dornbos (6-4) will likely start multiple games during the home stand.
“We just need to focus on our team and play Chippewa softball,” Seddon said. “We want to go on a long run.”
If there’s a time to do it would be now, with the last-place MAC West team visiting Friday and the MAC East's last-place team playing out the rest of the weekend.
The Toledo Rockets (5-22, 1-3 in MAC) will bring the MAC’s worst earned run average up against the Chippewas' league-best 2.19 ERA. The Rockets, who have combined to hit 13 home runs, have three players with a batting average above .325.
Bowling Green (4-17, 0-4 MAC) will start Zada Lines (3-4), who has a 3.36 ERA and leads BG in most pitching categories.
The Chippewas haven’t lost their sight of a MAC title after last weekend’s 1-3 conference start.
“It’s so important (MAC play),” said sophomore Summer Knoop. “(We are) relentlessly pursuing a ring.”
Knoop isn’t the only one that has gotten that point.
“We have a mindset in every practice and every game is going to lead us to a MAC championship,” said sophomore centerfielder Macy Merchant said, who repeated the same “Relentlessly pursue the ring” motto.
For some players, like Seddon, it’s their last opportunity to get that ring.
“As an older player looking at it, this is our last chance to get our MAC championship,” she said. “Get our wins under our belt and get those rings. That’s what we’ve been talking about all along — conference play.”
CMU (16-12, 1-3 MAC) plays Bowling Green at 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.
