Watch: Highlights | Postgame Interview
AKRON, Ohio - The Central Michigan softball team defeated Miami 1-0 Thursday after only recording three hits, one of which was a home run from Molly Coldren.
The Chippewas (29-25) will now face No. 5 Western Michigan, who like CMU has also won three-straight games in the Mid-American Conference Tournament, on Friday at 5 p.m. The winner will advance to the championship game Saturday, with the loser falling into the losers bracket.
In the top of fourth inning, Coldren broke the scoreless game open with a solo shot over the left field fence, her school-record 16th home run of the season. The single run stood up as CMU recorded its third straight one-run victory in the tournament.
In the bottom of the second, the RedHawks (35-18) used a walk and CMU error to get runners on first and second with one out. Kara Dornbos went right at the RedHawks, striking out Remy Edwards and getting the final batter to pop out.
Miami got the lead off batter on in the bottom of the third. Dornbos again helped her team, recording her second strikeout of the game. The next batter moved the runner to second, but Dornbos got the final batter to ground out, keeping the game scoreless.
An infield single with one out put a runner on for Miami in the bottom of the fifth, but the next batter lined out to Chelsea DeLamielleure at third, who then fired over to first to double up the RedHawks and end the inning.
Dornbos (14-14) pitched all seven innings for CMU, holding the RedHawks to five hits and striking out four.
The MAC Pitcher of the Year, Jessica Simpson (26-13), lasted all seven innings for Miami, allowing one run on three hits. She struck out seven Chippewa batters.
Coldren, CarolAnn Sexauer and Cory DeLamielleure accounted for the Chippewas' three hits.
The Maroon and Gold are now on an eight-game winning streak, the longest of the season.
