No luck against the Irish, CMU softball falls 8-4
Central Michigan freshman pitcher Madison Wendel (left) hugs sophomore infield Rachel Cairo (right) during pregame announcements at Margo Jonker Stadium, Saturday, April 19, 2025. The Chippewas went on to defeat the Falcons 4-2. (CM-Life | Mary Nowosacki)
Leading by two in the bottom of the sixth, Central Michigan softball looked to hold onto its 4-2 lead as Notre Dame infielder Anna Halloway took the plate with one runner on base.
Halloway kept herself alive through a lengthy at-bat before crushing a ball deep past the centerfield wall for the game tying two-run home run, notably her second home run of the game.
The Fighting Irish rode the momentum for the rest of the inning, scoring six unanswered runs to close the game out, giving CMU the 8-4 loss.
Central Michigan softball falls to 23-20 on the season.
The game started with Notre Dame pitcher Micaela Kastor walking two runners, but she quickly found her footing, closing the inning with the Chippewas stranding both runners on first and second base.
Notre Dame senior Emily Tran quickly got her team started, ripping a base hit past the gap at second base before making it to second on a passed ball.
Jane Kronenberger hit a double down the left field line, allowing Tran to reach home to give the Fighting Irish a 1-0 lead as the first inning closed.
The Chippewas responded in the top of the second inning when Rachel Cairo coaxed a walk, quickly advancing to second base after a wild pitch.
Cairo scored later in the inning on a base hit, hit to third base by Maddison Diekman, evening the score at one.
The team from Mount Pleasant extended its lead in the top of the fourth when Jenna Kuzara hit a single to start the inning, allowing Grace Koenig to bring her home on another base hit just minutes later, making the score 2-1 in favor of CMU.
The Chippewas loaded the bases with two outs, prepared to extend their lead further before the end of the inning, but Notre Dame found the final out and escaped with no further damage.
Halloway refused to trail for long, crushing a solo home run to tie the game in the bottom of the fourth inning.
CMU continued to match the pace of Notre Dame in the top of the fifth inning, putting runners on first and second as Koenig stepped up to the plate with only one out. She wasted no time getting a hold of the ball for a double to left field, recording two RBIs in the process to give the Chippewas the 4-2 lead.
However, the Fighting Irish proved to be too much for CMU, as the squad from South Bend scored six unanswered runs in the bottom of the sixth to close the game out with an 8-4 victory for Notre Dame.
Central Michigan softball is back at Margo Jonker Stadium at 3 p.m. on Friday, April 25 to host the Ohio Bobcats as Mid-American Conference play continues.
