Softball sweeps Oakland; plays at Toledo Friday
The cold weather factored into a small attendance at the Central Michigan softball games Tuesday.
Low temperatures did not, however, stop CMU from winning two games against Oakland University at Margo Jonker Stadium.
CMU (18-16, 3-5 Mid-American Conference) won the first game in a mercy-shortened six-inning game 9-1. CMU won 7-6 in the second game.
GAME TWO (complete box score)
Oakland (3-30) could not sustain a rally in the last inning of the second game that would have given them a much-needed win. The game was 7-3 going into the top of the seventh inning.
CMU head coach Margo Jonker said it’s important to win games against softer opponents.
“You always want to win both games,” Jonker said. “We needed to win those games. Oakland has had a tough year.”
Temperatures were recorded in the mid-40s and dropped to 41 by the end of the second game. Wind chill made temperatures “feel like” 35 degrees, according to The Weather Channel. Winds gusted up to 20 mph.
Jonker said the cold weather and the possibility of players’ hands being numb was no excuse for CMU committing six errors.
“That’s a good point to bring up, but I will have none of that,” Jonker said. “I’m sure they would like that excuse, but, no. They train to play in all types of weather.”
Sophomore pitcher Chelsea Sundberg started the second game and pitched four innings. She gave up three runs on five hits and struck out four. She gave up no walks and earned the win.
Abbie Richardson took the loss for Oakland.
GAME ONE (complete box score)
Neither the cold nor the wind stopped senior pitcher Kara Dornbos from winning her ninth game of the season in the first game of the double header. She threw four shutout innings with four strikeouts and one walk en route to a 9-1 win.
NCAA softball rules state the mercy rule in softball takes effect with at least an eight-run lead after the fifth inning.
Sophomore pitcher Morgan Yuncker relieved Dornbos at the top of the fifth. She gave up OU’s only run and had one strikeout.
Junior utility Summer Knoop led CMU with two RBIs. Senior infielder Molly Coldren, junior catcher Brogan Darwin and sophomore leftfielder Brittney Horan each had one RBI.
Brittany Doyle took the loss for OU. She gave up three earned runs, three unearned on three hits. She walked four and struck out three.
Katie Moy relieved Doyle in the third inning to finish the game. She gave up three runs, two unearned.
CMU plays a double header beginning at 1 p.m. Friday at Toledo (10-24, 3-5 MAC).
