For the first time in school history, the Eastern Michigan
University women's softball team captured the Mid-American
Conference Tournament.
The Eagles, seeded #2 coming into the tournament, won
an extra-inning thriller, defeating #5-seed Central Michigan
University 6-5 in eight innings in the final game of the
tournament, which took place May 12 at Currie Stadium in
Midland.
"The MAC championship means so much to this program,"
said Karen Baird, the women's head softball coach. "Not
only to the current team, but also for alumni who have
supported this program over the years. I am happy to be
a part of an eight-MAC championship year for EMU athletics
as well. This is great news for EMU softball and our University."
 |
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS: The EMU
women's
softball team proudly display
their trophy and
celebrate after winning
the Mid-American Conference
for the first
time ever with a 6-5 extra-inning
win over
Central Michigan University. |
The win marked the eighth MAC championship EMU teams
have recorded during 2006-2007. The Eagles marched through
the tournament undefeated, beating Ohio University 8-3
in the first round; knocking off Bowling Green State University
7-3 in the second round; and taking Ohio out again, 8-3,
in the semi-finals of the double elimination tournament.
With the scored tied, one out, and a runner on second
base in the bottom of the eighth against CMU, senior
Lindsay Schmid singled to center field, driving home junior
Stephanie Sabo, who slid into home plate safe for the tournament
win.
The May 12 contest was the second time that the tournament
championship game was decided in extra innings. It also
happened in 1998. With the win, EMU earned an automatic
bid into the NCAA Regional Tournament.
Schmid was named the tournament MVP and senior Lauren
Clark, senior Michelle Lloyd and junior Lindsay Ritz were
named to the All-Tournament team.
Four Eagles posted multi-hit games with Schmid totaling
three hits, including the game winner. Junior Ashley Strauss,
freshman Jenny Scherer and sophomore Heather Han each recorded
two hits. Han also registered two RBIs.
During a stretch from the first to the fifth inning, senior
Aimee Woodrum retired 11 straight Chippewa batters. Woodrum
pitched the first six innings, recording three strikeouts.
Lloyd (12-7) relieved Woodrum, throwing the final two innings
and allowing just one hit.
With one out in the top of the first, CMU's Suzie Giroux
doubled down the right field line. Woodrum hit the following
batter to put two runners on, but a ground out and a strikeout
ended the Chippewa's threat.
The Eagles threatened, to no avail in the third, after
Clark doubled with one out but was left stranded on the
base.
In the fourth, Schmid singled to start the frame. Freshman
Jessica Patterson pinch-ran for Schmid and advanced to
second after Scherer drew a walk. A fake bunt attempt by
Han led to a successful double steal to put both runners
in scoring position with no outs. A single by Han scored
Patterson. Back-to-back groundouts to third base moved
Han to second with Scherer remaining on third. A suicide
squeeze bunt by junior Heather Giroux scored Scherer, giving
EMU a 2-0 lead.
A solo home run by CMU's Christina Novak to start the
fifth inning cut the Eastern advantage to 2-1.
The Eagles could not add to their lead in the fifth after
three straight singles. Schmid and Scherer both connected
on one-out singles. Han singled to center field, but Schmid
was thrown out at home.
Controversy surrounded the sixth inning as the umpires
overruled an original call. CMU's Giroux singled to start
the frame. A one-out high pop up by Jacque Benedict fell
in the Eastern infield and Han, the catcher, fired the
ball to second base, forcing the runner out at second.
However after an umpire conference, the call was overturned
and the runner was called safe. After a pop up that would
have ended the inning, Central's Novak hit her second home
run of the game that gave Central a 4-2 lead. This
marked the first time EMU had trailed during the entire
tournament.
A leadoff double by Ritz and a walk to Giroux put two
on with no outs for the Eagles in the bottom of the sixth.
A walk to Clark loaded the bases. After a strikeout, CMU
made the call to the bullpen, bringing in reliever Jill
DeRoche with one out and the bases loaded. An RBI single
through the left side of the infield scored Ritz. After
a strikeout, Scherer tied the game with an infield single
to second base. A walk to Han let every runner advance
a base, with Clark scoring from third. A strikeout
ended the inning, leaving three runners on base, but EMU
had regained the lead, 5-4.
On the first pitch of the seventh inning, CMU's Stephanie
Crews hits a home run to tie the contest, 5-5.
The Eagles went down in order in the seventh to send the
game into extra innings. Sabo doubled to open the bottom
of the eighth, setting the stage for Schmid's heroics.
A MAC championship is a far cry from the 1-11 start the
softball team struggled with.
"Starting off 1-11 was not easy on the team, but they
have fought and fought all season long," Baird said. "They
have a 'never say die' attitude and it obviously has paid
off in the long run. I am very happy for our seniors and
all they have gone through in the past four years."
"We envisioned
winning a MAC title. We did not set our goal on just a
MAC West title. We wanted it all," she said. "As
the old saying goes, 'if you dream it you can achieve it!'
That is exactly what we did."
Eagles competitive at regionals
By virtue of winning the MAC Tournament, the Eagles qualified
for the NCAA Regionals, which took place in Ann Arbor.
While competitive, EMU fell to eventual regional champion
University of Michigan, 3-0, and Oregon State 6-1. The
Eagles concluded their season with a 27-22 record. — Ron
Podell contributed to this report.
