Softball splits series against Buffalo
Three Chippewa softball players change out their playbook wristbands as a new pitcher is put in April 24 in Margo Jonker Stadium.
Caitlyn Britton stepped into the box and blasted the ball over the fence, claiming her second solo home run for the series.
Triumphant, the pitcher took a victory lap, putting the first and only run on the board for the Chippewas.
CMU (9-21, 7-13) dropped the final game of its Mid-American Conference series against Buffalo (12-27, 10-14) in a 10-1 mercy loss at Margo Jonker Stadium, splitting the series 2-2.
"Dropping the end two of a series leaves a bitterness in our mouth," said head coach McCall Salmon. "I'm excited to see how our team comes back on Tuesday for practice and how we prepare Tuesday to compete at home again on Wednesday, I think it keeps us hungry and in the position to know we have to keep getting better."
Key moments
As the first in the line-up, Buffalo's Anna Aguon opened the fourth game just as she did the first, blasting one of Britton's first pitches over the fence. With two on and one out, Morgan Gardner, Skylar Coberley and Shannon Stein put forth a double play from second to first on Lucyshyn's hit to shortstop to close the frame.
Buffalo's Olivia Kincanon stepped into the box with two on base, ripping the ball out of the right side of the stadium for three runs in the top of the second. CMU swapped Britton for Grace Lehto mid-frame, but the latter loaded the bases instantly with two walks and a single, allowing Alexis Matheney to send a double down the left field line for three more runs. Lucyshyn found redemption for her first at-bat, singling down the left line to send Matheney home for a 8-0 lead.
Pitcher Cloe Mallory stepped into the circle for Lehto to open the third inning and closed the frame in three with a strikeout and two fly-outs. With a mercy rule looming, the Chippewas continued to struggle against Lucyshyn. While Mallory continued delivering strikes to put a handle on Buffalo's scoring, Matheney extended the Bulls' lead to nine in the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run.
Britton opened the bottom of the fourth with a run on the board for CMU, sailing a solo home run over the center field fence. Catcher Kelsey Alexander knocked a single to the shortstop and reached first on an error, but was left stranded after her next three Chippewas were retired.
Mallory threw two straight outs in the top of the fifth, but back-to-back singles allowed Aguon to make double digits with a double to right field to score Brianna Castro. The Chippewas looked to hit hard in hope of a redemption frame, but two ground-outs and a fly-out closed the game and invoked the mercy rule.
Key performances
Mallory faced 13 batters across three of five innings, striking out five with no walks and allowing two runs for four hits.
Four Chippewas shared one hit each, but Britton laid claim to the only run, a homer.
Lucyshyn pitched the full five innings for Buffalo, allowing just four hits and one run upon one walk and one strikeout.
Matheney offered four RBI upon two hits, a double and a solo run.
Kincanon followed suit with three RBI upon two hits and one run, responsible for a three-run homer.
Up next
The Chippewas will host rival Western Michigan in Margo Jonker Stadium for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. on April 28.
