Eastern Michigan Athletics
Sunday, May 7
Varsity Field
1 p.m.
Eastern Michigan University
17-33, 3-19
4
vs
6
Central Michigan
35-13, 17-5
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Central Michigan
0
0
0
0
0
4
2
6
11
0
Eastern Michigan
1
0
0
0
0
0
3
4
9
2
Photo by: Steve King/KingStudios
Softball Senior Day Spoiled by Central Michigan
5/7/2017 6:08:00 PM | Softball
The Eagles finished the season with a 17-34 record
YPSILANTI, MIch. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University softball team saw its season come to a close Sunday, May 7, at Varsity Field. The Eagles dropped both ends of a doubleheader to Central Michigan University, 6-4 and 5-4, spoiling EMU's Senior Day.
Game #1: Eastern Michigan 4, Central Michigan 6
EMU touched up CMU's ace Rachael Knapp for nine hits, spread among five players. Sophomore Sam Saporito (Eastvale, Calif.-Eleanor Roosevelt) turned in a three-hit performance, the first of her career, going 3-for-3 at the plate. Meanwhile, senior Michelle Kriegshauser (New Lenox, Ill.-Lincoln Way Central) and sophomore Olivia Logan (Riverview, Mich.-Riverview) each went 2-for-4. Kriegshauser added two runs and an RBI, while Logan came through with two RBI's.
Eastern Michigan garnered a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first as Kriegshauser launched her team-leading ninth home run of the season. A solo shot that cleared the scoreboard in left marked the 29th home run of Kriegshauser's career.
The Eagles maintained the 1-0 lead into the sixth, as Miranda struck out four and stranded six over the first five innings.
Central gained its first lead of the day with a four-run sixth. A single to right brought a run across the plate as the Chippewa baserunner slid under the attempted tag of Saporito to tie the score at one. Moments later, a three-run home run to center put CMU up, 4-1, into the Eagles' half of the sixth.
The Green and White threatened in its next trip to the plate, putting two on, but could not plate a run.
The Chippewas tacked on two more runs in the seventh, extending their lead to 6-1, with the Eagles coming to the plate for their final at bats.
Not going down without a fight, Eastern Michigan rallied in the seventh. Saporito kick started the Eagles with a leadoff single and Kriegshauser followed suit, putting two on with one out. Sophomore Amanda Akles (La Habra, Calif.-La Habra) then drew a walk, loading the bases for Logan, who came through with a two-run single to pull the Eagles within three, 6-3. Junior Haley Hostetler (New Haven, Ind.-Woodlan) added an RBI single to cut the deficit to two, 6-4, but a strikeout left the tying run on second, allowing CMU to take the win.
Game #2: Eastern Michigan 4, Central Michigan 5
Eastern Michigan pounced on the Central pitchers for four runs and eight hits in the game, while three Eagles picked up multi-hit efforts. Kriegshauser and senior Taylor Wagner (Marshalltown, Iowa-Marshalltown) each went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, while Hostetler turned in a 2-for-3 showing with a run scored.
Senior Abbie Minsker (Howell, Mich.-Hartland) took the circle for the final time in her career, getting the start in game two. Minsker went 6.0 innings with four strikeouts, while allowing just two earned runs on seven hits.
Behind a senior-laden lineup, the Eagles got out to a strong start once again in game two. Following a 1-2-3 frame by Minsker, Kriegshauser's hot bat got the Eagles going with a double off the right field fence. Wagner kept things rolling with a single up the middle, before Hostetler drove a pair in with a single down the right field line.
Central Michigan responded, plating two runs on three hits and an EMU error to level the score at two.
Turning over to the top of the lineup in the third, Eastern tacked on two more runs to reclaim the lead. Kriegshauser and Wagner opened the frame with back-to-back singles, before moving into second and third on a sacrifice bunt. Taking the signs from Head Coach Melissa Gentile, Logan laid down the squeeze to score Kriegshauser. An errant throw allowed Wagner to score as well, putting EMU in front, 4-2, through three innings.
The Chippewas manufactured runs in the fifth and sixth to tie the score at four with an inning and a half to play.
After a 1-2-3 inning at the plate for the Eagles, the Chippewas broke the seventh open with a leadoff double, ending Minsker's day. Entering in relief, junior Trisha Trujillo (Whittier, Calif.-California) struck out one before a single brought in the go-ahead run.
Trailing 5-4 and coming to the plate for the final time, the Eagles mounted a comeback. Junior Brandice Olmos (Riverside, Calif.-Grand Terrace) ripped a pinch hit single with one out, but Kriegshauser's long fly ball was caught at the warning track in left. Down to its final out, Wagner battled at the plate, but ultimately grounded out, ending the game, 5-4, in favor of CMU.
The doubleheader marks the end of the careers of Katy Wyman, Taylor Wagner, Alyssa Huntley, Abbie Minsker, and Michelle Kriegshauser.
Game #1: Eastern Michigan 4, Central Michigan 6
EMU touched up CMU's ace Rachael Knapp for nine hits, spread among five players. Sophomore Sam Saporito (Eastvale, Calif.-Eleanor Roosevelt) turned in a three-hit performance, the first of her career, going 3-for-3 at the plate. Meanwhile, senior Michelle Kriegshauser (New Lenox, Ill.-Lincoln Way Central) and sophomore Olivia Logan (Riverview, Mich.-Riverview) each went 2-for-4. Kriegshauser added two runs and an RBI, while Logan came through with two RBI's.
Eastern Michigan garnered a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first as Kriegshauser launched her team-leading ninth home run of the season. A solo shot that cleared the scoreboard in left marked the 29th home run of Kriegshauser's career.
The Eagles maintained the 1-0 lead into the sixth, as Miranda struck out four and stranded six over the first five innings.
Central gained its first lead of the day with a four-run sixth. A single to right brought a run across the plate as the Chippewa baserunner slid under the attempted tag of Saporito to tie the score at one. Moments later, a three-run home run to center put CMU up, 4-1, into the Eagles' half of the sixth.
The Green and White threatened in its next trip to the plate, putting two on, but could not plate a run.
The Chippewas tacked on two more runs in the seventh, extending their lead to 6-1, with the Eagles coming to the plate for their final at bats.
Not going down without a fight, Eastern Michigan rallied in the seventh. Saporito kick started the Eagles with a leadoff single and Kriegshauser followed suit, putting two on with one out. Sophomore Amanda Akles (La Habra, Calif.-La Habra) then drew a walk, loading the bases for Logan, who came through with a two-run single to pull the Eagles within three, 6-3. Junior Haley Hostetler (New Haven, Ind.-Woodlan) added an RBI single to cut the deficit to two, 6-4, but a strikeout left the tying run on second, allowing CMU to take the win.
Game #2: Eastern Michigan 4, Central Michigan 5
Eastern Michigan pounced on the Central pitchers for four runs and eight hits in the game, while three Eagles picked up multi-hit efforts. Kriegshauser and senior Taylor Wagner (Marshalltown, Iowa-Marshalltown) each went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, while Hostetler turned in a 2-for-3 showing with a run scored.
Senior Abbie Minsker (Howell, Mich.-Hartland) took the circle for the final time in her career, getting the start in game two. Minsker went 6.0 innings with four strikeouts, while allowing just two earned runs on seven hits.
Behind a senior-laden lineup, the Eagles got out to a strong start once again in game two. Following a 1-2-3 frame by Minsker, Kriegshauser's hot bat got the Eagles going with a double off the right field fence. Wagner kept things rolling with a single up the middle, before Hostetler drove a pair in with a single down the right field line.
Central Michigan responded, plating two runs on three hits and an EMU error to level the score at two.
Turning over to the top of the lineup in the third, Eastern tacked on two more runs to reclaim the lead. Kriegshauser and Wagner opened the frame with back-to-back singles, before moving into second and third on a sacrifice bunt. Taking the signs from Head Coach Melissa Gentile, Logan laid down the squeeze to score Kriegshauser. An errant throw allowed Wagner to score as well, putting EMU in front, 4-2, through three innings.
The Chippewas manufactured runs in the fifth and sixth to tie the score at four with an inning and a half to play.
After a 1-2-3 inning at the plate for the Eagles, the Chippewas broke the seventh open with a leadoff double, ending Minsker's day. Entering in relief, junior Trisha Trujillo (Whittier, Calif.-California) struck out one before a single brought in the go-ahead run.
Trailing 5-4 and coming to the plate for the final time, the Eagles mounted a comeback. Junior Brandice Olmos (Riverside, Calif.-Grand Terrace) ripped a pinch hit single with one out, but Kriegshauser's long fly ball was caught at the warning track in left. Down to its final out, Wagner battled at the plate, but ultimately grounded out, ending the game, 5-4, in favor of CMU.
The doubleheader marks the end of the careers of Katy Wyman, Taylor Wagner, Alyssa Huntley, Abbie Minsker, and Michelle Kriegshauser.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: KNAPP, Rachael (21-8)
L: Miranda, Nicolle (6-10)
Batting:
2B: CURTIS, Allison 1
HR: FULKER, Kaila 1
RBI: UNDERWOOD, Erika 1 ; LEWALLEN, Taylor 1 ; FULKER, Kaila 3
Base Running:
RUNS: CURTIS, Allison 1 ; KALINA, Maison 1 ; WATERS, Shanel 1 ; HEATH, Sydney 1 ; LEWALLEN, Taylor 1 ; FULKER, Kaila 1
Batting:
HR: Kriegshauser, Michelle 1
RBI: Kriegshauser, Michelle 1 ; Logan, Olivia 2 ; Hostetler, Haley 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kriegshauser, Michelle 2 ; Schilke, Angel 1 ; Saporito, Sam 1
SB: Peters, Alex 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
1
H
3
RBI
0
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
3B/1B
/ SoftballSS/2B
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball1B/3B
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
2B/SS
/ SoftballC/OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
2B/1B
/ SoftballThank You, Team 38
Monday, May 07
Overcoming Adversity: A Lauren Holdsworth Feature
Saturday, February 24
Closing Out a Legacy: Michelle Kriegshauser
Thursday, May 18
EMU Softball Signs Alyssa Feiler
Saturday, March 25