Chippewas Top Broncos To Advance In Winner's Bracket, 2-0
The Chippewas (26-21), who were seeded fourth, advance to play either top-seeded Kent State or eighth-seeded Ohio on Thursday at 1 p.m.
Knapp (16-10) allowed four hits, struck out seven and did not walk a batter in earning the win. The Chippewas backed her with error-free defense.
"Defensively we played really well," CMU coach Margo Jonker said. "Knapp did a great job pitching and Maison (Kalina) behind the plate did a really nice job. Defense was the key to this game."
Kristen Kuhlman singled and doubled to lead the Chippewas at the plate.
The Chippewas scored both of their runs -- both unearned -- in the second inning without a ball leaving the infield.
Chelsea DeLamielleure led off with a walk and Sara Hansen reached on an error. A Kalina bunt moved DeLamielleure to third and Hansen to second. DeLamielleure scored on Kristen Goodall's infield single.
Pinch hitter Karly Hansen followed with a chopper back to the pitcher that scored Sara Hansen.
"Getting two runs early is a little bit of relief, but we've been doing that too often, not scoring more as the game goes on," Jonker said. "It's exciting to win the first game of the tournament. You want to stay in the winners bracket the whole time.
"A lot of nerves going into it, a lot of freshman on the field playing in the tournament for the first time. To get that first win helps a lot."
Knapp held the Broncos (21-25) to one hit through four innings. Western managed a hit in each of the last three innings, but Knapp stranded the runner in each case.
The Chippewas split a doubleheader with Kent State in mid-April, and they swept a twinbill from Ohio earlier in the season.
Western Michigan will play the Kent State-Ohio loser in an elimination game on Thursday morning.
Story courtesy of CMU Sports Information
