Rapid Reaction: CMU 10, Valpo 1
The Central Michigan softball team opened up its home schedule with a win against the Valparaiso Crusaders 10-1 in five innings in a mercy-rule victory.
The Chippewas jumped out to an early lead by scoring two runs in the first inning on four hits. Sophomore outfielder Lacy Tolfree led off with a triple, scoring the game’s first run on an RBI single from freshman Allison Curtis.
Hot start
CMU collected seven runs on 12 hits in the first three innings, gaining a 7-0 lead. Valparaiso starting pitcher Taylor Weissenhofer was pulled after pitching three innings.
Freshman Rachel Vieria hit a two-run home run in the third inning to extend the Chippewas’ lead, her first career home run at CMU.
Junior pitcher Rachael Knapp recorded strikeouts for eight of the first nine outs. Knapp threw a complete game, finishing with nine strikeouts while allowing one run on four hits.
Balanced attack
The Chippewas collected 16 hits in four innings off of the Crusaders. All nine starters for CMU reached base in the first game of the doubleheader, and eight of them were able to get a hit.
Multiple batters were able to collect multiple hits in the contest, highlighted by 3-for-3 efforts from Tolfree and Curtis. Freshman shortstop Kayla Noch went 2-for-2 with a sacrifice bunt in the contest.
