Softball Remains on Road for Three-Game Set Versus CMU

Softball at Central Michigan
Date	Friday-Saturday, April 29-30
Location	Mount Pleasant, Mich. \| Margo Jonker Stadium
Game Notes	EMU Notes
Live Stats	CMUChippewas.com
Live Stream	CMUChippewas.com (Subscription required)
Twitter	@EMUSoftball \| @EMUAthletics

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - A three-game set versus Central Michigan University marks the return to Mid-American Conference action for the Eastern Michigan University softball team. The second to last MAC series of the season takes place in Mount Pleasant, April 29-30, and opens with a Friday first pitch of 3 p.m. The weekend wraps up Saturday with a 1 p.m. doubleheader.
   Each team is coming off midweek clashes with Michigan-based Big Ten Conference opponents. The Eagles (18-26, 8-9 MAC) led nearly the whole game but MSU got the last laugh, walking off with a 3-2 win in the seventh. Meanwhile, the Chippewas (20-22-1, 7-9-1 MAC) dropped a 5-2 decision to No. 2 Michigan, April 27.
   Fans can follow both games via Twitter (@EMUSoftball), and live stats while, a webstream is available through CMUChippewas.com for a small fee.

TALE OF THE TAPE: Ahead of this weekend's series, the Eagles and Chippewas have squared off on the diamond 101 times since 1986. CMU owns a 70-30-1 lead in the all-time series, most recently coming away with a 7-4 win over the Eagles, April 12, 2015. That win marked the fifth consecutive win over EMU for the Chips and completed a sweep of last season's doubleheader. This weekend, the Eagles will look to knock off Central Michigan for the first time since March 29, 2013, when the Green and White won, 8-4. Eastern Michigan has lost eight of the last 10 against CMU and is in search of its first win in Mount Pleasant since April 30, 2011. EMU came back to upend the Chips, 5-4, after scoring four runs in the final two frame to escape victorious.

RETURNING TO THE OLD STOMPING GROUNDS: Two members of the EMU coaching staff have previously called Mount Pleasant home. Head coach Melissa Gentile began her coaching career at Central Michigan, while EMU Assistant Coach, Kim Burke, was a four-year student-athlete at CMU.
   Gentile began her coaching career as an assistant coach at Central Michigan University from 2000-02, where she served as the recruiting coordinator and camp director while also handling fundraising. In three years with the Chippewas, she helped lead the squad to a pair of MAC regular season and tournament championships as well as two NCAA regional appearances. Central Michigan also had 12 All-MAC selections, and five players earn NFCA All-Great Lakes Regional honors.
   A four-year member of the CMU softball team, Burke suited up for the Chips from 1998-2001. There, Burke reeled in All-Region and All-MAC honors. In her senior season, Burke was named to the MAC All-Tournament team and is currently tied for fourth all-time at CMU with 36 careers doubles. During her four year career, Burke helped the Chippewas to two MAC West Division titles. Burke earned her bachelor's degree in sports studies from CMU in 2001.

OH, THE POSSIBILITIES: With six games remaining in the regular season and the Mid-American Conference tournament rapidly approaching, plenty of things have yet to be determined. Currently standing in a tie for seventh overall with an 8-9 conference record and slotted third in the West Division, the Eagles could finish anywhere from first to last in the league. While a first-place finish would take the Eagles essentially winning out and some help from around the league, it is still in the realm of possibilities. On the flip side, the Eagles hold two game leads on Bowling Green and Toledo and sit three games ahead of Ball State. This weekend's opponent, Central Michigan, is just behind the Eagles and would be on the outside looking in if the season ended today.

SEVENTH INNING STUNNER: The Spartans came back to stun the Eagles in the seventh inning Wednesday, April 27, at Secchia Field. EMU held a 2-0 lead heading into MSU's final turn at bat, but five hits resulted in a three-run frame and a walk-off single. The 3-2 loss marked the first time this season the Eagles have lost a game after holding a lead through six innings of play.

ROAD WARRIORS: The Eagles will close out the season away from home, with a seven-game road trip getting underway Wednesday, April 27. Looking to snap a three-game losing skid, EMU hopes to continue its success on the road. Eastern sits at 5-8 in true road games this season, including a 5-5 mark since March 18. Additionally, the Eagles stand at 4-2 in conference road games this season.

TAKING ON THE MITTEN: The Eagles have squared off against schools hailing from the state of Michigan 395 times in EMU's history. The Green and White have been most successful against Detroit, holding a 47-8 lead in the all-time series, while clashing with Western Michigan most often. In 106 all-time meetings, the Broncos hold a 42-63-1 edge over the Eagles. EMU owns winning records against Grand Valley (2-0) and Oakland (17-6-1), but trail in the all-time series with Michigan (8-57), Michigan State (14-29), and Central Michigan (30-70-1).
   In her two seasons in charge of the Eagles, Head Coach Melissa Gentile has compiled a 5-17 record against in-state competition, highlighted by a win over Michigan State last year. This season's slate includes 12 games against teams that also call Michigan home - Michigan (L, 1-14), Michigan State (L, 2-3), Detroit (L, 4-5 & W, 4-3), Central Michigan, Oakland (L, 5-6), and Western Michigan.

OFFENSE CONTINUES TO IMPROVE: Under the tutelage of head coach Melissa Gentile, the Eagles have seen their offensive numbers improve in each of her three season's at the helm. This season, the Eagles are hitting at a .280 clip, the best since 2011. Additionally, EMU has registered 10 or more hits on 13 occasions, also the most since 2011. That season, Eastern Michigan recorded double-digit hits 15 times.

GETTING TO KNOW THE CHIPS: Central Michigan returns home this weekend for the first time since sweeping Toledo, April 15-16. After dropping a 5-2 midweek game to No. 2 Michigan, April 27, the Chippewas enter the weekend with a 20-23-1 overall record. In MAC play, the Chips sit one slot behind the Eagles in the West Division standings with a 7-9-1 mark.
   Offensively, CMU is hitting at a .265 clip in league games and are the sixth-ranked offense in the conference. CarolAnn Sexauer ranks second on the team with a .333 batting average while pacing the Chips in doubles (9) and RBI's (32). A fairly well-balanced offense, the Chips roster features five different players hitting .300 or better at the dish. Addtionally, CMU has proven to be dangerous on the base paths this season. As a team, Central has been successful on 48 of 62 attempts, led by Sara Hansen's 13-for-14 effort.
   In the circle, Central Michigan is slotted one place below the Eagles with a 3.13 team ERA in conference action with teams hitting .265. Rachael Knapp is CMU's ace, striking out 158 in 141.1 innings over work while issuing just 53 walks. In 24 starts, Knapp holds a 11-12 record with 16 complete games and four shutouts to her credit.

USING HER WHEELS TO RACK UP THE STEALS: With a stolen base against Northern Illinois, April 23, Elaine Whitbeck recorded her team-leading 10th theft of the season. Additionally, Whitbeck's 10 steals are a career-best and push her career total to 18.

CONSISTENT CONTACT: Through 45 games, Abby Davidson has proven to be one of the toughest batters to strikeout in all of NCAA Division I. The Westerville, Ohio product has totaled 86 at bats without a single strikeout. Davidson is one of three players in the country that has yet to be called out on strikes this season, joining Chloe Oro (Delaware St), and Ambrelle Burton (Southern).

DOWN THE STRETCH THEY COME: With just six games remaining in the conference season, the Eagles find themselves in the thick of things when it comes to Mid-American Conference Tournament seeding. Holding a MAC record of 8-9, the Green and White rank third in the MAC West Division and would be tied for the seventh seed in the tournament if the season ended today.

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Players Mentioned

Abby Davidson

Elaine Whitbeck

Eastern Michigan Athletics