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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
CENTRAL MICHIGAN
Chippewa Comeback Foils Falcons, 6-5
April 07, 2002 | Softball
April 7, 2002
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - Central Michigan University rallied from a three-run deficit to record a 6-5 victory over the Bowling Green State University softball team Sunday afternoon (April 7). The Mid-American Conference game was held at the BGSU Softball Field.
The win improves the Chippewas' records to 19-11 overall and 7-1 in MAC play. The Falcons drop to 12-17-1 and 3-6, respectively.
BGSU broke on top first in an entertaining game, as the Falcons scored twice in the first inning. After a leadoff groundout, the next four Falcons reached base to chase CMU starter Wendy Stephens. Senior Natalie Phillips singled to centerfield, and junior Libby Voshell drew a walk, her first of three on the day. Then, senior Renee Rosemeier hit a sharp single to left to load the bases, and junior Crystal Wilson's chopper bounced over third baseman Michelle Brander's head to score Phillips.
Amber Puchalski, the reigning MAC Pitcher of the Year, replaced Stephens for the Chippewas, and was greeted by senior Holly Frantz. Frantz fouled off six pitches in an 11-pitch at-bat. On that 11th pitch, Frantz singled through the right side of the infield to score Voshell. But, the Falcons were unable to do any further damage, as Puchalski struck out the next two batters to end the threat.
Those two strikeouts began a stretch in which Puchalski struck out five consecutive batters. BGSU senior Andrea Genter was matching her pitch for pitch, however, as Genter fanned four-straight batters at one point. Genter's only baserunner allowed over the opening three innings came when she hit Karly McCormack with a pitch in the first frame.
BGSU added to the lead with an unearned run in the third. After a leadoff walk to Voshell, Rosemeier hit into a fielder's choice. With two outs, and Rosemeier still at first, Frantz hit a long drive to left that CMU's Jen Skuta tracked down. But, the ball popped out of Skuta's glove, allowing Rosemeier to score BGSU's third run.
McCormack led off the top of the fourth inning with a single to center, CMU's first hit of the game. Brander's sacrifice hit allowed pinch-runner Melissa Luplow to advance to second, but Genter induced Skuta to hit a soft liner to shortstop and Sarah Hamilton to hit a grounder back to the pitcher's circle to retire the side. The visitors would rally in the fifth, however.
In that fifth frame, Stephens drew a one-out walk, and pinch-runner Ari Ault moved to second on a single by Christin Sobeck. Then, Genter hit Kristen White with a pitch to load the bases and bring on junior McKenna Houle.
The first batter, Becky Manson, hit a double to deep centerfield to score a pair of runners. Then, with McCormack at the plate, White was caught off third base in a rundown, but Voshell's throw to the plate was high, allowing White to score the tying run and Manson to take third.
McCormack walked, but Brander hit a grounder back to Houle, who looked Manson back to third before retiring Brander. Skuta walked to reload the bases, and Hamilton hit a ball off Houle's glove that caromed slowly toward short. Hamilton beat Voshell's throw to first as Manson scored the go-ahead run, but first baseman Phillips fired home in time to gun down McCormack trying to score from second base. But, the Chippewas had batted around and taken a 4-3 lead.
BGSU responded with a run in the bottom of the fifth. Voshell drew yet another walk with one out, and Rosemeier singled through the left side of the infield to advance pinch-runner Liz Tuza to second. Wilson blooped a single to left-center field to load the bases, and Frantz hit a fly ball to center, with Tuza tagging and scoring as the ball trickled away from CMU catcher Lindsay Horvath. The sac fly tied the game at 4-4. Puchalski was able to get a strikeout to end the inning.
The Chippewas retook a one-run lead in the sixth. Ault drew a one-out walk, but was retired on a Sobeck fielder's choice for the second out. Natalie de la Vega singled up the middle to send Sobeck to second. Then, Manson, who was a thorn in the Falcons' collective side all series long, hit a sharp single through the left side, and Sobeck beat the throw to the plate. Houle walked McCormack to load the bases, but got Brander to hit a soft infield popup to end the inning.
Puchalski retired the Falcons in order in the bottom of the sixth, and Central got what would prove to be an important run in the top of the seventh. Hamilton reached on a one-out error, and Horvath advanced her to third with a double to right-center. Then, Ault hit a blooper that landed just in front of a diving Rosemeier along the right-field line for an RBI single, as Hamilton crossed the plate to put the Chippewas up by two runs.
With runners on first and third and one out, Houle got Sobeck to hit a grounder up the middle. Voshell grabbed the ball, stepped on the second-base bag and fired to Phillips at first for an inning-ending double play.
BGSU did not go quietly in the bottom of the seventh. Voshell hit a seeing-eye single through the right side with one out, and took second on an illegal pitch. Rosemeier followed by lashing a single to left, scoring Voshell as Rosemeier took second on the throw home. Puchalski got a strikeout of Wilson, but threw a wild pitch that allowed Rosemeier to take third. That wild pitch made the count 3-1 on Frantz, and the Chippewas then intentionally walked the Falcon catcher. Puchalski was able to get Sam Moore to hit an infield popup to end the game.
Puchalski got the win with six-and-two-thirds innings of relief, improving her record to 8-5. She allowed five hits and three runs (two earned), walking three batters and striking out nine. Stephens surrendered two runs, three hits and a walk in her one-third of an inning.
Houle suffered the loss in relief, allowing three runs (just one earned) and six hits in two-and-two-thirds innings. She issued four walks and struck out one batter. Genter, in four-and-a-third innings, allowed three runs (two earned) on just two hits. She walked one hitter and fanned four.
At the plate, each team had eight hits. Rosemeier had a game-high three hits in four at-bats, while Wilson had a pair of hits. Frantz was 1-for-2 with two RBI, while Voshell reached base in all four plate appearances, with a hit and three walks, and scored two runs.
Manson led the Chippewas with two hits and three RBI, and Sobeck scored a pair of runs. McCormack, like Voshell, reached base in each plate appearance, with a hit, two walks and a hit-by-pitch.
The Falcons will return to action with a Wednesday (April 10) doubleheader against MAC East Division-leading Akron. The first game is scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m. at the BGSU Softball Field.
