Central Michigan Life – CMU softball falls under Ball State on Senior Day

In the final game of the regular season, Central Michigan softball trailed by five points in their game against Ball State on Sunday.

That was until senior Caitlyn Britton delivered on senior day when she secured a 2-RBI double in her first start of the 2024 season. The hit cut the Cardinals’ lead to three in the bottom of the sixth.

“(I’m) just really proud of her,” head coach McCall Salmon said. “We knew she would get an opportunity today and she would get, you know, that extra base hit and our only two RBIs. (She) came through the clutch for us and is proud of her and how she has worked her way here over the last five years.

However, the comeback came a little too late as the Chippewas fell 5-2 to Ball State.

The game honored the team’s eight seniors as they played their final game at Margo Jonker Stadium.

“They put four to five long, hard years into this university (and) committed to it,” Salmon said. “And not only as athletes, but also as students. Just very proud of them. And to have them compete on this field and their last weekend of the regular season, it’s a special feeling, regardless of the results.”

The Chippewas now advance to the Mid-American Conference tournament, where they secured the fifth seed. CMU finishes the regular season 16-31 overall and 13-12 in conference play.

“Mentality is to survive and move forward,” Salmon said. “We know you have six MAC opponents and everyone in the MAC is great, so we have to be willing to take that pitch-by-pitch mentality, surrender the outcome and just really have fun and do our best at every pitch. ”

The Cardinals also secured their spot in the tournament with the win, as it was a win or go home situation for BSU entering the match.

Ball State took an early lead in the first inning when it scored four hits, resulting in two runs.

The Cardinals didn’t stop there, as they secured three more runs in the bottom of the third on a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly. The inning ended with a solo home run by designated player Jessica Hoffman, putting BSU up 5-0.

Looking for a spark, freshman catcher Carly Sleeman stepped up in the bottom of the fourth with a lead-off double. The Chippewas couldn’t capitalize on the good start to the inning as they were held scoreless.

After five scoreless innings, CMU got on the board in the bottom of the sixth inning when Britton hit a 2-RBI double to cut the deficit to 5-2.

With one more try in the seventh, Central Michigan couldn’t get anything going in the inning to give the Cardinals the win.

The Chippewas head to Akron, Ohio to compete in the MAC tournament, where they will begin Wednesday to take on No. 4 Toledo at noon.