TOLEDO, Ohio – A two-out ninth-inning RBI single from center fielder Allison Curtis was all Central Michigan (25-11, 10-3 MAC) needed on Friday afternoon at Scott Park as CMU prevailed in a pitcher's duel over Toledo Softball (19-26, 7-6 MAC), 1-0.
 
Though tagged with the loss, sophomore Heather Webb (9-9) was outstanding in the circle in pitching her seventh complete game of the season. She took a no-hitter into the ninth and only permitted one walk in the third.
 
Central Michigan's Rachael Knapp (16-6) limited the Toledo offense to just four hits in the match-up with UT junior center fielder Ashley Rausch (2-for-3), senior second baseman Chandler Rice (1-for-3) and junior first baseman Samantha Showalter (1-for-3) accounting for Toledo's hits.
 
The Rockets threatened in the opening frame when Rice and Rausch reached on a walk and fielding error, respectively. Both runners advanced into scoring position off a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt by Showalter. UT missed a golden opportunity as a pop out to shortstop and a retired batter left the Rocket duo stranded.
 
CMU catcher Danielle Marlink gave her team its best scoring opportunity in the first eight innings after she reached via walk with one down in the third inning. Markink advanced on a wild pitch but wouldn't move from second as Webb retired the next batter and left fielder Lacy Tolfree grounded out to Showalter at first.
 
Toledo put two aboard in the bottom half of the third with consecutive two-out singles by Rausch and Showalter, but senior Celeste Fidge ripped a line drive to right that found first baseman Erika Underwood's glove.
 
In the next three frames, the only athlete to get on base was Rice with a deep double to center in the fifth. Toledo tried to get its offense going again in the home-half of the seventh when sophomore third baseman Katie Cozy reached on a free base. Junior Courtney Heinritz pinch ran for Cozy at first and advanced on a groundout to second by sophomore shortstop Megan Choate. Freshman Maddie Emery stepped into the box and connected for a deep ball to left that was unfortunately caught by the left fielder.  
 
Once again, Rausch stepped into the dish and got things started for Toledo with a single to right. Showalter advanced her on her second sacrifice bunt of the contest. Fidge followed with a walk to put two Rockets aboard but a fielder's choice to third on the next play ended the UT threat with zero damage.
 
 After two immediate pop outs to Rice at second, Tolfree ended Webb's no-hitter with a single up the middle in the ninth. After she swiped second, Allison stepped up to bat and connected for a single to right field. Fidge launched the ball home but not before Tolfree crossed the plate to grant CMU a 1-0 lead.
 
Central Michigan secured its victory with three straight outs in the bottom half of the frame.