Mount Pleasant, Mich.- Central Michigan recorded a split on day two of the USF Under
Armour Tournament, losing to No. 19 Kentucky, 3-1, and defeating Loyola
Chicago, 3-2.
The Chippewas (5-4) only run came in the top of the first thanks
to a wild pitch by Lauren Cumbess. Senior centerfielder Macy Merchant started the
inning with a walk, which was followed by senior Summer Knoop's
single to left. Sophomore shortstop Carol Ann Sexauer advanced Merchant and
Knoop with a single to center. Merchant was thrown out by a fielder’s choice
that put sophomore second baseman Chelsea DeLamielleure on first. With bases
loaded, all runners advanced on a wild pitch, allowing Knoop to put Central
Michigan up 1-0.
Central Michigan couldn’t hold off Kentucky (15-3) in the third inning.
After pitching two hitless innings, senior Kara Dornbos surrendered three runs.
Sylver Samuel singled to right field, and then stole second. She advanced to
third on a throwing error by junior catcher Cory DeLamielleure. With one out
and a runner on third, Kara Dill singled to first, and then stole second. Griffin
Joiner doubled to center to score Samuel and advance Dill to third. Dill and
Joiner were brought home by a two-run single by Alice O’Brien, putting the
Wildcats up 3-1.
The Chippewas were held scoreless over the remaining four
innings. Lauren Cumbess pitched a complete game, striking out seven Central
Michigan batters and giving up one earned run.
Merchant led all Chippewa batters, going
1-2 at the plate. Knoop and Sexauer closed the Central Michigan hitting, going
1-3. Kara Dornbos (2-2) pitched her fourth complete game of the season, giving
up five hits and three earned runs.
O’Brien led Kentucky at the plate, going 1-2 with two RBIs.
Dill, Joiner and Ginny Caroll each went 1-3, and Samuel closed the Wildcat
hitting with one hit and one run.
In game two of the afternoon, the Chippewas battled back in
the seventh inning to knock off the Ramblers (3-4), 3-2.
Down 2-1 heading into
the bottom of the seventh, sophomore Lauren Smith reached first on a walk. Senior Brogan Darwin reached on an error by Brooke Andresen, moving Smith to second. Smith came home on a single by Merchant, moving junior
Raechel Zahrn, in to pinch run for Darwin, to second. After a Brittney Horan
fly out to second base, Knoop hit a walk-off single to center to bring in
Zahrn.
Loyola Chicago jumped on the scoreboard first with a sac-fly
by Brie Pasquale to score Andresen. After two scoreless innings, the Ramblers
extended their lead to 2-0 in the fourth inning. Lauren Zaworski led the inning
off with a double to right field. She moved to third on a CMU error,
which placed Annie Korth on first. Jenkins then reached first on an error, which brought Zaworski in to score.
Central Michigan responded in the sixth inning, scoring one run to cut the Rambler’s lead to 2-1. Knoop walked to reach first base, and freshman Taylor Waters came in to pinch run. Waters was brought home by a double by Sexuaer to right field.
"Comback victories are always a great feeling and are great wins," said Coach Margo Jonker.
Knoop led the Chippewas with two hits and an RBI. Sexuaer and Merchant each recorded an RBI. Junior Morgan Yuncker pitched the first 4.1 innings, striking out two batters and giving up two runs. Junior Kristen Kuhlman earned the win, stirking out two batters in 2.2 innings of work.
Zaworski led the Ramblers at the plate, going 1-3 with a double. Bittany Gardner pitched a complete game, strikign out eight Central Michigan batters and surrendering three runs.
The Chippewas are back in action tomorrow against Stephen F. Austin at 11:30 a.m.
