Eastern Michigan Athletics
Saturday, April 30
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
2 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
5
at
4
Central Michigan
Jaclyn Caro
Late-Inning Offense Lifts Eagles Over Chippewas in 5-4 Thriller
4/30/2011 4:52:11 PM | Softball
Two home runs in the sixth help push the Eagles past Central Michigan this afternoon
Box Score.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Late clutch hitting helped lift the Eastern Michigan University softball team past Central Michigan University Saturday afternoon, April 30, as the Eagles overcame a three-run deficit to win a 5-4 thriller at Margo Jonker Stadium in Mount Pleasant, Mich.
With the win, the Eagles improve to 23-12 on the season with a 9-6 mark in Mid-American Conference play, while the Chippewas fall to 25-18 overall and 9-8 in the MAC.
The Green and White recorded nine hits in the contest, with three members posting multiple-hit performances.
McKenna Russ (North Canton, Ohio-Hoover) continued to dominate with her 3-for-4 outing at the plate, increasing her league-leading batting average 14 points to .462. In the process, Russ also drove in a run for her 23rd of the season.
Jessica Richards (Canton, Ohio-Jackson) contributed with two hits and scored twice for EMU, while freshman Kayla Kostich (Taylor, Mich.-Cabrini) belted two hits, including her second home run of the season.
Jenna Ignowski (Niles, Mich.-Niles) started in the circle, lasting three and two thirds innings before handing the reigns over to senior Jaclyn Caro (Chino, Calif.-St. Lucy's Priory). Caro earned the win to improve to 3-4 on the year, striking out two and scattering two hits in 3.1 scoreless innings.
The Eagles were first to strike in the opening frame, taking an early 1-0 advantage. Richards led off the Green and White offense with a line drive that ricocheted off the shortstop's glove, tallying EMU's first hit of the game. The speedy junior moved into scoring position with her 16th stolen base of the season, setting up a sacrifice fly for Stacie Skodinski (South Bend, Ind.-Washington). With Richards at third, Nellie Coquillard (Niles, Mich.-Niles) connected on another liner to dead center field that gave Richards an opportunity to tag up and plate the go-ahead run. With the steal, Richards now has a .941 stolen base percentage, the best percentage of anyone in the MAC with more than seven attempts.
The Chippewas' bats responded in the bottom of the second inning on a first-pitch solo shot over the left field fence. An EMU error and a walk gave Central Michigan runners at the corners with two outs as the home team looked to take the lead, but a ground out to Ignowski ended the threat.
In the fourth, CMU used the long ball for the second time on the day to take a 2-1 advantage, as Kari Seddon turned on an inside pitch to drive the go ahead run over the left field fence.
CMU's Molly Coldren followed with a one-out double down the left field line and was later waved around on a slow rolling single to center field by Amanda Klosterman.
Caro was called in to take over the pitching duties, inheriting a two-out situation with a runner at second base in the bottom of the fourth. The senior hurler forced the ground out as the Eagles headed into the fifth facing a two run deficit.
Lindsay Smith (Seville, Ohio-Cloverleaf) reached second base to start the fifth after a CMU miscue in right field as the Eagles searched for an answer offensively. Richards belted a line drive to short that unfortunately caught Smith in a double play as she was tagged during her attempts to return to second base.
Skodinski singled down the third base line and advanced to second, but a strikeout retired the Eagles' side, shutting down the Green and Whites' attempt at a comeback.
CMU registered another run in the fifth with two outs on an errant throw in the dirt, but the Eagles bats came alive with a three-hit sixth inning, including two tape measure blasts over the left field fence.
Sarah Gerber (North Canton, Ohio-Hoover) dug in at the plate to lead off the frame for the Eagles. With one swing of the bat, the Canton, Ohio-native diminished the CMU lead to just two when she drove an 0-1 delivery out of the park for her fourth round-tripper of the season.
Courtney Nicholson (Navarre, Ohio-Canton Central Catholic) reached after her sacrifice bunt attempt was tossed to second to catch Russ, bringing Kostich to the plate with one out and a runner on. The freshman did not disappoint, belting her second career home run to left to tie the score at four.
In the top of the seventh, Richards led with a walk and advanced to second on Skodinski's sacrifice bunt. Gerber drew a two-out walk to place runners at first and second with Russ due up at the plate. Russ popped up to shallow left field, but windy conditions created trouble for the CMU defense as they dropped the potential third out. Richards scored on the play to give the Eagles a 5-4 lead, but Russ was out on the play in a run down to end the inning.
CMU put pressure on the Eagles' in the final frame with runners at first and second with one out, but the Green and White converted two ground balls into outs to secure the 5-4 come-from-behind win.
The Eagles return to action tomorrow afternoon at Margo Jonker Stadium for the second matchup with the Chippewas. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Late clutch hitting helped lift the Eastern Michigan University softball team past Central Michigan University Saturday afternoon, April 30, as the Eagles overcame a three-run deficit to win a 5-4 thriller at Margo Jonker Stadium in Mount Pleasant, Mich.
With the win, the Eagles improve to 23-12 on the season with a 9-6 mark in Mid-American Conference play, while the Chippewas fall to 25-18 overall and 9-8 in the MAC.
The Green and White recorded nine hits in the contest, with three members posting multiple-hit performances.
McKenna Russ (North Canton, Ohio-Hoover) continued to dominate with her 3-for-4 outing at the plate, increasing her league-leading batting average 14 points to .462. In the process, Russ also drove in a run for her 23rd of the season.
Jessica Richards (Canton, Ohio-Jackson) contributed with two hits and scored twice for EMU, while freshman Kayla Kostich (Taylor, Mich.-Cabrini) belted two hits, including her second home run of the season.
Jenna Ignowski (Niles, Mich.-Niles) started in the circle, lasting three and two thirds innings before handing the reigns over to senior Jaclyn Caro (Chino, Calif.-St. Lucy's Priory). Caro earned the win to improve to 3-4 on the year, striking out two and scattering two hits in 3.1 scoreless innings.
The Eagles were first to strike in the opening frame, taking an early 1-0 advantage. Richards led off the Green and White offense with a line drive that ricocheted off the shortstop's glove, tallying EMU's first hit of the game. The speedy junior moved into scoring position with her 16th stolen base of the season, setting up a sacrifice fly for Stacie Skodinski (South Bend, Ind.-Washington). With Richards at third, Nellie Coquillard (Niles, Mich.-Niles) connected on another liner to dead center field that gave Richards an opportunity to tag up and plate the go-ahead run. With the steal, Richards now has a .941 stolen base percentage, the best percentage of anyone in the MAC with more than seven attempts.
The Chippewas' bats responded in the bottom of the second inning on a first-pitch solo shot over the left field fence. An EMU error and a walk gave Central Michigan runners at the corners with two outs as the home team looked to take the lead, but a ground out to Ignowski ended the threat.
In the fourth, CMU used the long ball for the second time on the day to take a 2-1 advantage, as Kari Seddon turned on an inside pitch to drive the go ahead run over the left field fence.
CMU's Molly Coldren followed with a one-out double down the left field line and was later waved around on a slow rolling single to center field by Amanda Klosterman.
Caro was called in to take over the pitching duties, inheriting a two-out situation with a runner at second base in the bottom of the fourth. The senior hurler forced the ground out as the Eagles headed into the fifth facing a two run deficit.
Lindsay Smith (Seville, Ohio-Cloverleaf) reached second base to start the fifth after a CMU miscue in right field as the Eagles searched for an answer offensively. Richards belted a line drive to short that unfortunately caught Smith in a double play as she was tagged during her attempts to return to second base.
Skodinski singled down the third base line and advanced to second, but a strikeout retired the Eagles' side, shutting down the Green and Whites' attempt at a comeback.
CMU registered another run in the fifth with two outs on an errant throw in the dirt, but the Eagles bats came alive with a three-hit sixth inning, including two tape measure blasts over the left field fence.
Sarah Gerber (North Canton, Ohio-Hoover) dug in at the plate to lead off the frame for the Eagles. With one swing of the bat, the Canton, Ohio-native diminished the CMU lead to just two when she drove an 0-1 delivery out of the park for her fourth round-tripper of the season.
Courtney Nicholson (Navarre, Ohio-Canton Central Catholic) reached after her sacrifice bunt attempt was tossed to second to catch Russ, bringing Kostich to the plate with one out and a runner on. The freshman did not disappoint, belting her second career home run to left to tie the score at four.
In the top of the seventh, Richards led with a walk and advanced to second on Skodinski's sacrifice bunt. Gerber drew a two-out walk to place runners at first and second with Russ due up at the plate. Russ popped up to shallow left field, but windy conditions created trouble for the CMU defense as they dropped the potential third out. Richards scored on the play to give the Eagles a 5-4 lead, but Russ was out on the play in a run down to end the inning.
CMU put pressure on the Eagles' in the final frame with runners at first and second with one out, but the Green and White converted two ground balls into outs to secure the 5-4 come-from-behind win.
The Eagles return to action tomorrow afternoon at Margo Jonker Stadium for the second matchup with the Chippewas. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.
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