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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
CENTRAL MICHIGAN
Chippewas Eke Out 1-0 Win
March 30, 2003 | Softball
March 30, 2003
MT. PLEASANT, Mich. - Host Central Michigan University pushed a first-inning run across the plate and made it stand up in a 1-0 victory over the Bowling Green State University softball team Sunday afternoon (March 30). The Mid-American Conference game was held at the CMU Softball Complex.
With the victory, the Chippewas improve to 15-8 overall and 8-1 in MAC play, while the Falcons fall to 9-17-1 and 0-5, respectively.
CMU got the only run of the game in the early going. In the bottom of the first, leadoff hitter Karen Hohs drew a walk against freshman hurler Liz Vrabel. Hohs stole second and took third on a groundout. Michelle Brander then plated Hohs by slapping a single through the right side of the Falcon infield.
That was the lone run Central pitchers Jessica Garvin and Amber Puchalski would need, although the Falcons had a few threats. In the third inning, senior Libby Voshell scorched a Garvin offering to rightfield. But, CMU rightfielder Christin Sobeck charged the ball and saw the liner somehow stick in her glove, just above the grass, for an out.
Vrabel worked out of danger in both the fourth and fifth innings. In the fourth, Sobeck and Sarah Hamilton had back-to-back singles with one out, but the Falcon freshman threw a called third strike past Aimee Smith, then got Natalie de la Vega to hit an inning-ending grounder to Voshell at shortstop.
In the bottom of the fifth, Hohs drew a one-out walk, and Brittany Decker singled to put runners on first and second with the heart of the order due up. But, Vrabel got Brander to hit a popup to short, and induced cleanup hitter Karly McCormack to hit a soft grounder back to the pitcher's circle for out number three.
BGSU's final threat came in the top of the sixth. Freshman Gina Rango ripped a two-out double that rolled to the left-field wall and signalled the end of the day for Garvin. Garvin, who had allowed only two hits, was replaced by All-MAC hurler Puchalski. BGSU head coach Leigh Ross-Shaw countered by calling upon pinch-hitter Valerie Tipton, and the junior had a solid at-bat, fouling off four Puchalski pitches before drawing a walk. But, Puchalski got a strikeout to end the inning and the final BG threat. She retired the Falcons in order in the seventh.
Garvin (2-2) got the win with five-and-two-thirds innings of work. She allowed just two hits, striking out three batters without issuing a walk. Puchalski picked up her second save of the season, getting the final four outs. She had a walk and three strikeouts.
Vrabel saw her record drop to 6-6, despite surrendering just one run and seven hits in a complete-game effort. Vrabel walked three batters and had six strikeouts.
The Chippewas got two-hit games from Decker and Hamilton. All seven of CMU's hits were singles.
The Falcons return home for the next six games, beginning with a Wednesday (April 2) doubleheader vs. Ohio University. Starting time is 2:00 p.m. at the BGSU Softball Field.
