Watch: Highlights | Postgame Interview
AKRON, Ohio - The Central Michigan softball team will advance to face Bowling Green tonight at 7:30 p.m., following a 2-1 win over Kent State in the first round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament.
In the bottom of the sixth, pinch hitter Raechel Zahrn drew a leadoff walk to begin the inning for the Chippewas (27-25). Chelsea DeLamielleure placed runners on first and second with a bunt single to second. Zahrn was out at third following a fielder's choice by Cory DeLamielleure. Batting in the ninth spot, Brittney Horan singled over the first baseman's head, scoring Chelsea DeLamielleure, allowing CMU to regain the lead at 2-1.
The Golden Flashes (26-29) threatened early in the top of the first inning. Following a base hit and a walk, they had runners on first and second with one out. Kara Dornbos got the fourth batter to fly out to left field, bringing Alex Marcantonio to the plate. She roped a ball to left for a single, but an on-target throw from Ashley Gilson to Cory DeLamielleure at the plate allowed the Chippewas to record the out and prevent the score.
Macy Merchant got the CMU offense rolling in the bottom half of the inning with a single to the pitcher. A few batters later a walk and hit by pitch allowed the Chippewas to load the bases. A big strikeout by Emma Johnson for the final out kept the score knotted at 0-0 after the first inning.
In the top of the third the Golden Flashes got their first batter on base with a single to left field. A catcher's interference call on the next batter put two runners on with no outs. Lauren Grimes hit into a fielder's choice at first that allowed Molly Coldren to throw to Chelsea DeLamielleure at third for the first out. Dornbos got the next batter to pop up and ended the inning with a strikeout, keeping the game scoreless.
In the bottom of the third, Molly Coldren broke her single-season home run record with a bomb over the center field fence, handing the Maroon and Gold an early 1-0 lead. Coldren broke her own record that she set last year at 14 home runs.
In the top of the sixth, the leadoff batter, Grimes, doubled to the right field fence to begin the inning. She was moved to third following hit to the shortstop and a single to center by Marcantonio locked game at 1-1.
In the top of the seventh, Kim Morgason blasted a ball off the left field fence for a double. With the tying run on second, Dornbos got the next batter to strike out and ended the game with a fly ball to center.
Horan finished 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI, while Coldren was 1-for-3, also with an RBI.
Dornbos (13-14) threw her 16th complete game of the season allowing one run on six hits, while striking out three.
Johnson (15-15) threw all six innings for KSU, allowing two runs on seven hits, while striking out nine Chippewas.
Check back to cmuchippewas.com tonight for coverage of the game against the Falcons.
