CMU softball wins first of three games against Ball State
In extra innings with the bases loaded and a full count, junior Grace Koenig was in a situation every batter dreams of. Although she didn’t get the perfect result, Koenig got the job done, walking in the winning run.
The Central Michigan softball team beat the Ball State Cardinals 6-5 in 10 innings in its home opener.
CMU head coach McCall Salmon talked about the mindset going into the extra innings.
“The mentality is, we're the home team... if we have outs, we have opportunities,” Salmon said. “Trusting the process from an offensive standpoint, competing on defense to keep us in games, and just kept challenging them, challenging them to stay gritty and resilient.”
The Chippewas faced the Cardinals at home on March 20, their first home game of the season. Salmon spoke of the team’s excitement to play at Margo Jonker Stadium.
“We love playing at home, (we’re) just excited that our time is finally here,” she said. “I just joked with them we were so excited to be back that we wanted to play some extra softball today.”
Although she wasn’t credited for the win, senior Mackenzie Langan pitched six scoreless innings, giving up just five hits and four walks. However, during the fifth inning, she was hit by a line drive, prompting a mound visit.
“I just wanted to make sure she was OK, and then, when she looked at me, she said, ‘Nope, I'm good,’” Salmon said. “I just wiped a little scuff off her face mask, and said, ‘All right, empty the tank, give us everything you got.’”
Langan was relieved after the sixth inning, which cost her the individual win.
The pitcher who was credited with the win was senior Cierra Laska, who was also the tying run in extra innings. She also survived the last regulation inning tied, where the Chippewas had given up a four-run lead.
This was the first game of their three-game home series against Ball State, with a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. tomorrow.
“We know we're gonna have a couple more gritty games tomorrow, but excited for that opportunity again,” Salmon said.
