CMU softball loses four in Bluegrass Challenge
Eaton Rapids freshman Grace Letho pitches the ball during the Chippewa's game against Buffalo April 24 in Margo Jonker Stadium.
Central Michigan softball struggled in Lousiville at the Bluegrass Challenge, dropping all four games during the week. The Chippewas fall to 9-10 on the season.
Game One
Grace Lehto would take the mound for the Chippewas, looking to get her fifth win of the season. Despite the loss, she would record seven strikeouts and two walks on the afternoon.
Lehto would keep Valparasio scoreless until the third inning with a bunt from Taylor Herschbach to knock in Jaina Westphal to get Valpo on the board. They would add onto their score in third with a homer to make the score 4-0 going into the fourth.
The Chippewas were unable to capitalize on their hits and get on the scoreboard. Abbey Tolmie, Sammi Mills, and Michaleigh Vallimont would get the only three hits for the Chippewas.
Valpo would add onto their lead in the seventh inning and bring its final score to 5-0.
Game Two
Nine innings were needed as the Chippewas took on the Louisville Cardinals. Despite a valiant effort, the Cardinals would come out victorious with a final score of 5-4.
Kaitlyn Bean would start on the mound and pitch six innings. She tossed six strikeouts, no base on balls, nine hits, and gave up two runs. Lehto would come in in the seventh, giving up two more runs and getting the loss.
Catcher Sammi Mills would show off her arm as she gunned down a runner attempting to steal in the first.
After Louisville took an early lead, the Chippewas would respond in the third inning with three runs to reclaim the lead.
The game would be scoreless until the fifth inning with the Cardinals getting on a hot streak and tying the game at three.
With the game being tied at three after seven, the Chippewas and Cardinals headed to extra innings.
The score would stay at three until the Chippewas got their bats rolling again in the eighth inning with an RBI single from Coberley to knock in Sam Souva who pinch ran for Stein and was placed on second because of extra innings. The Chippewas would regain their lead and make the score 4-3.
Refusing to go down, the Cardinals would tie the game again with an RBI single from Jenna Servi to score Mia Frosthye and tie the game 4-4. The Cardinals would shut down the Chippewas in top of the ninth and a fielders choice scored Easton Lotus to give the Cardinals a 5-4 win.
Game Three
Despite opening the scoring with a home run, the Chippewas dropped game three against Indiana University with a final score of 6-5.
Kaitlyn Bean would take the mound again for the Chippewas giving up six runs, one base on balls, and striking out four. Lehto would replace Bean in the seventh. Bean would get the loss bringing her to 3-3 on the season.
A homer to left field from Caitlyn Britton would open the scoring from the Chippewas in the second inning.
Indiana would quickly answer with a homer from Lindsey Warick and tie the game at one. It would take a few more innings, but Indiana would eventually take the lead in the third with a single from Grayson Radcliffe to score Cora Basset, making the score 2-1. A homer from Brittany Ford would extend the lead to 4-1.
The Chippewas opened the sixth with a back-to-back doubles from Tolmie and Vallimont, cutting Indiana's lead in half with a score of 4-2. A double from Kelsey Alexander would score Britton, Coberley, and Knapp giving the Chippewas a 5-4 lead.
With good pitching from Bean, a diving catch from Tolmie in center field and a strong arm from Sammi Mills who managed to gun down a runner, the Chippewas would keep Indiana off the board in the sixth and keep their lead alive.
The Chippewas efforts would fall short as Indiana tacked on two runs in the seventh taking the lead and eventually the win.
Game Four
The Chippewas would play their final game of the Bluegrass Challenge against the Cardinals once again. This time, they would fall to them in only five innings with a score of 9-1.
Lehto took the mound looking to end the weekend on the high note. She would only pitch half an inning giving up four runs. Caitlyn Britton would take the mound in the first and give up three more runs and throw thirty four pitches. Maddy Wallace would pitch the last two innings and give up two more runs on thirty four pitches. Lehto would get the loss and fall to 4-5 on the season.
The Chippewas lone run came from Souva scoring on a double from Britton. Britton and Mills were the only Chippewas to record a hit in seventeen at bats.
The Chippewas head to Akron, Ohio for MAC play on Friday, March 18th and Saturday, March 19.
