Pitching comes through again for Chippewas in weekend doubleheaders
Friendly competition is normal between teammates, but common team goals allow CMU’s pitchers to push each other.
Senior Kari Seddon and sophomore Kara Dornbos were at it again, each picking up three wins while giving up a combined three earned runs in the three doubleheaders at Margo Jonker Stadium.
“We feed off each other,” Dornbos said. “She just helps me push myself, especially looking up to her as a senior. She helped me so much as a freshman and this year we know each other so much better.”
Seddon pitched her sixth and seventh complete games against Detroit Wednesday and Toledo Friday, shutting both teams out in the process of racking up 11 strikeouts.
“Kari pitched better than she’s pitched in a while,” Jonker said. “She had more command on her pitches and she’s excited about that, as am I.”
Three became a popular number in Seddon’s third appearance, giving up three hits and striking out three batters in three innings of play. She was relieved by freshman Chelsea Sundberg, who closed out the last two innings, giving up a solo shot in the fifth inning.
Dornbos did not give up an earned run in her first two games either, though she did see a little more trouble in her third complete game of the week. After retiring the first nine batters she faced, the sophomore right-hander gave up three consecutive hits to the strength of the Bowling Green lineup.
The first hit, a solo homerun off the bat of shortstop Hannah Fulk, tied the game.
Left fielder Rachel Proehl got on base with a single to center field following the homer, and she was knocked in by a Paige Berger two-run shot.
She kept her poise, shaking off the rough inning to pitch the rest of the game, gaining her eighth win of the season.
Seeing the strength of the lineup again in the sixth inning, Dornbos remained calm and got out of the potential jam after giving up two hits.
“Kara’s drop ball was working well as well as her rise, and she was able to set some people up with her off speed,” Jonker said. “I thought both pitchers did a nice job for us.”
The starters have been strong for CMU, and it has shown to the rest of the Mid-American Conference. Dornbos’ 1.25 ERA is second in the MAC, behind Eastern Michigan’s Jenna Ignowski (1.20).
Seddon’s 1.89 ERA lands her in third place in the conference.
