Knapp pitches in both games of doubleheader, softball wins both against Detroit
Sophomore pitcher Rachael Knapp throws to a Ball State batter Saturday at Margo Jonker Stadium. The Chippwas fell to the Cardinals, 14-7.
A pair of power pitching performances from sophomore Rachael Knapp secured a two-game sweep for the Central Michigan University softball team Wednesday against the Detroit Titans.
The Chippewas battled through two high scoring performances, beating the Titans 7-1 in the first game and 8-7 in the second.
“This will help us believe we can win games and that we have the players to get it done,” Head Coach Margo Jonker said. “We just have to stay focused and dialed in at all times for us to be successful.”
Knapp stared in the opening game of the doubleheader, pitching a one-hit complete game, striking out 13 of the 28 batters she faced.
The Chippewa bats wasted no time putting runs on the board. CMU tallied a total of five runs in the first inning including a three-run home run down the left field line driven in by sophomore first baseman Kristen Goodall.
“We have a lot of young players in our lineup,” Jonker said. “We depend on a lot of them to get through. Goodall had some timely offensive skills that helped us out.”
The Chippewas tacked on two more runs in the top of the fifth inning. Senior third baseman Trista Cox blasted a hit past the third baseman, which was good enough for a RBI double. Freshman catcher Maison Kalina notched the final run for the Chippewas off a one-run single.
“When you score runs early, it really takes the pressure off,” Jonker said. “What we have to do is learn how to keep scoring throughout the game.”
CMU’s bats didn’t cool off as the team started the second game. The Chippewas opened the contest by scoring seven runs in the first three innings.
Freshman pitcher Taylor Weaver pitched two scoreless innings before getting into trouble in the bottom of the third. The Titans scored four runs with just one out and tied the game at seven in the bottom of the fifth inning with back-to-back home runs.
Knapp would come in for relief and continued her dominance. The St. Joseph native struck out nine of the 10 batters she faced in three innings of work.
“That’s who Rachael Knapp is,” Jonker said. “When she is on, she is very good.”
Goodall proved to be the hero in the top of the seventh inning, laying down a bunt that drew an error. Freshman outfielder Sara Hansen scored from first on the play to put the Chippewas up 8-7.
Goodall finished the series going 2-for-6 at the plate with four runs batted in, while Cox chipped in with five hits and three runs batted in.
