Softball wins exhibition game against Northwood, 11-1
The softball team defeated Northwood 11-1 in a nine-inning exhibition game Saturday at Margo Jonker Stadium.
Despite 15 minutes of rain, Central Michigan's offense rolled on.
Head coach Margo Jonker said the exhibition game is a good way to test players in game situations. Jonker played 19 players throughout the game.
“The purpose of the game is to put everybody in a uniform, put them in a game setting and see who performs in a game and who doesn’t,” Jonker said. “Some players are game players and some are practice players, so this is a good way to find out who can do what.”
CMU took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning, but Northwood tied the game in the next half-inning. The Chippewas went on to scores the final 10 runs.
A three-run homer by Chelsea DeLamielleure in the bottom of the seventh inning highlighted a stretch of offense in which CMU scored nine runs in the last four innings of the game.
Jonker said she likes the offense this year, which she said has more balance than last year.
“I was really excited to see the offense today,” Jonker said. “We have more power hitters and we have more speed.”
Kara Dornbos started for CMU and pitched three innings. Chelsea Sundberg and Morgan Yuncker both pitched three innings as well.
A couple runs were scored from drag bunt singles by junior second-baseman Raechel Zahrn. Jonker said the team’s ability to play small ball is critical and there are a few players on the team, including Zahrn, that focus on small ball.
“In our game, we need the table-setters – small ball – and people with power to hit them in,” Jonker said.
For Sunday’s exhibition game against Grand Valley, Jonker said she plans on playing about the same amount of players, but in different orders to put them in different situations than today. The second game in as many days will be played at 12:30 p.m. at Margo Jonker Stadium.
