Saturday’s MAC Softball Results
Kent State 6, Central Michigan 4 (7 innings)
Kent State 6, Central Michigan 1 (7 innings)
 
Toledo 6, Ball State 4 (7 innings)
Ball State 14, Toledo 5 (7 innings)
 
Miami 14, Bowling Green 9 (7 innings)
Bowling Green 2, Miami 1 (7 innings)
 
Buffalo 5, Northern Illinois 0 (7 innings)
Northern Illinois 11, Buffalo 4 (7 innings)
 
Western Michigan 5, Akron 3 (7 innings)
Akron 3, Western Michigan 2 (7 innings)
 
Stories courtesy of MAC Sports Information Departments
 
 
Kent State 6, Central Michigan 4 (7 innings)
Kent State 6, Central Michigan 1 (7 innings)
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
 
KENT, Ohio – Kent State secured its fourth Mid-American Conference series victory, beating Central Michigan by scores of 6-4 and 6-1 in a doubleheader Saturday at the Diamond at Dix.

The Golden Flashes (19-21, 15-11 MAC) never trailed and scored in six of 12 trips to the plate on the day. Junior Megan Turner reached safely in five of seven plate appearances on three hits and two walks to lead the offense. Junior Sabrina Kerschner added three hits, including two doubles, to share the team lead with three RBIs. Senior Kennadie Goth was the third Kent State batter with three hits and scored a team-high three runs. Senior Kaitlyn Miller matched Kerschner with three RBIs.

Sophomore Gabbie Sherman and freshman Jessica LeBeau each earned complete game victories in the circle.

Game 1: Kent State 6, Central Michigan 4

Megan Turner launched her seventh home run of the season to lead off the bottom of the second inning and make it 1-0.
A two-base error on a ball hit to the warning track allowed Central Michigan to tie the game in the top of the fifth.

Kent State took advantage of a Chippewas error to start the bottom half of the inning and plate five in the frame. Kennadie Goth followed with a bunt single, and Kaitlyn Miller ripped a triple down the first base line to score a pair. Miller then scored on a wild pitch for a 4-1 lead. Turner collected her second hit of the game with a single to left field. Emily Lippe delivered as a pinch hitter with her first collegiate home run to center field.

Central Michigan fought back in the top of the sixth and got within 6-4 on a three-run homer. Only one Chippewas batter reached the rest of the game.

Gabbie Sherman (6-9) recorded four strikeouts and allowed three earned runs on five hits.

Game 2: Kent State 6, Central Michigan 1

Megan Turner gave the Flashes an early 1-0 lead once again with a two-out double that scored Kaitlyn Miller in the bottom of the first inning.

Central Michigan got on the board with a solo homer in the top of the second.

Kent State registered three hits in the bottom of the second, taking a 4-1 lead on a bases-clearing double by Sabrina Kerschner.
Turner drew her second walk of the game to start the bottom of the fifth and later scored on a double by Carlee Selle.

The Golden Flashes added a final run in the sixth inning with a Kennadie Goth double and single up the middle off the bat of Miller.
Jessica LeBeau (12-10) fanned eight batters while walking just one and holding the Chippewas to four hits.

Kent State will go for the series sweep of Central Michigan on Sunday at 12 p.m.
 

Toledo 6, Ball State 4 (7 innings)
Ball State 14, Toledo 5 (7 innings)
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
 
MUNCIE, Ind. – If there was one thing the Ball State softball team needed Saturday afternoon at the Softball Field at First Merchants Ballpark Complex, it was a big inning.
 
The Cardinals (26-16, 20-6 MAC) had just suffered their second straight 6-4 loss to Toledo in the Saturday's opening game. Then, the Rockets (22-18, 12-12 MAC) put a five-spot on the scoreboard in the top of the first in the second game.
 
While Ball State had managed to chip away at the lead with single runs in both the first and second innings, the team badly needed to recapture the offensive momentum it enjoyed during a 19-2 start in league play.
 
The Cardinals got just what they needed in the bottom of the third, exploding for a nine runs on their way to a 14-5 (5) victory. It was Ball State's 12th come-from-behind win in 20 MAC victories, and marked the largest inning of the season.
 
It was also the Cardinals' 20th inning of the season with four-or-more runs, topping its previous best of eight runs in the first inning of the 16-5 (5) win at Central Michigan (April 4).
 
Senior outfielder Faith Hensley opened the nine-run third with a double, and scored one out later on a double from junior second baseman Amaia Daniel. Following a second out, an RBI single from junior designated player Trinity Eckerty drove in the second run.
 
Toledo looked to get out of the inning in the next at bat, but a shallow fly was dropped by the Rockets center fielder to keep the rally alive. Seven hits later, Ball State had put up seven more runs to take control of the game.
 
After a rough opening inning, which was aided by a Ball State error, junior pitcher Tieghan Morio was able to regain control in the circle, limiting Toledo to just three base runners over the final four innings. In addition, one of the baserunners was caught in a double play and another was caught stealing.
 
In all, Morio improved to 9-3 on the year after holding the Rockets to just five hits and five runs, only three of which were earned, over her 5.0 innings of work. She also struck out four batters in the game.
 
Highlighting a Ball State offense which put up 14 runs and 17 hits was Hensley who went 4-for-4, with three RBI, three runs scored and three doubles. Two of those doubles came in the third inning, capped by a two-run shot to the fence in left field.
 
Daniel finished the game with three hits, including a walk-off, two-run bomb in the bottom of the fifth inning.
 
In all, eight different Cardinals recorded at least one hit in the win, while seven had at least one RBI and 11 scored at least one run.
 
That effort helped offset an opening game which saw the Cardinals take an early lead, only to have Toledo use a five-run fourth to take control.
 
Trailing 6-2, Ball State did manage to score single runs in the fifth and sixth, but could not complete the comeback win.
 
Senior first baseman Stacy Payton provided a pair of runs in the game, with RBI singles in both the third and fifth innings. The other two runs came courtesy of a RBI double from senior outfielder Haley Dominique in the first inning, and Daniel's first to two home runs on the day in the sixth.
 
Senior Alyssa Rothwell also put together a brilliant effort in relief in the opener, striking out six batters and allowing just one hit over the final 3.0 innings.
 
The Ball State softball team will look salvage a series split with the Rockets Sunday, with a noon first pitch on what will serve as the program's senior day. 
 
Following the conclusion of the game, the Cardinals will recognize the following seniors for their contributions over their Ball State careers: Hailey Demnianiuk, Haley Dominique, Kendall Fields, Janae Hogg, Katie Janiga, Delanie Johnson, Gabby Magnifico, Alyssa Rothwell and Kennedy Wynn.
 
Unfortunately, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and resulting department of health guidance, there will be no general public attendance at Ball State softball home games this season. 
 
 
Miami 14, Bowling Green 9 (7 innings)
Bowling Green 2, Miami 1 (7 innings)
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
 
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio—After a collecting a 14-9 win in the opening game of a Saturday doubleheader at Bowling Green, the Miami University softball team was edged in the nightcap, 2-1. The RedHawks move to 35-8 on the season and 25-2 in Mid-American Conference action, while the Falcons move to 21-24 overall and 13-17 in MAC play.
 
GAME ONE:
 
Miami burst out of the gates with a six-run first inning. BGSU responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning. The RedHawks' scoring was highlighted by a solo home run by freshman Karli Spaid to start the scoring and a two-RBI single by junior Riley Coyne.

Behind a five-run fifth inning, Miami pushed its lead to 11-2. Senior Morgan Lott hit an RBI single, while junior Allie Cummins blasted a three-run homer to right center to aid in the RedHawks' scoring.

The Falcons scored four in the bottom of the fifth and three in the bottom of the sixth to close within two, 11-9.
Miami tacked on three more runs in the top of the seventh and went on to the 14-9 win. Cummins hit a two-run shot over the right center field fence, her second homer of the game, before senior Mackenzie Moore hit a one-run single.  

Spaid went 2-for-2 with three runs and an RBI, while Cummins was 2-for-3 at the plate with three runs and five RBI. Senior Courtney Vierstra got the win in the circle. She struck out eight batters in 5.2 innings of work.

Cummins and Spaid each broke Miami's single-season home run record and each have 12 on the season. The previous record was 11.
 
GAME TWO:
 
Greta L'Esperance singled to score pinch-runner Makailah Dees as the Bowling Green State University softball team posted a walk-off win against league-leading Miami Saturday afternoon (May 1) at Meserve Field.

Logan Everett had begun the seventh inning with a pinch-hit double, and a Sarah Gonzalez ground ball moved Everett to third. Marlie McNulty was hit by a pitch to put runners at the corners, and L'Esperance then followed with her walk-off hit.

Payton Gottshall earned the complete-game win for the Falcons, allowing just two hits and striking out nine. In the process, Gottshall set the school single-season strikeouts record.
 
Miami and Bowling Green conclude the four-game weekend series with a 12 p.m. game on Sunday, May 2 in Bowling Green, Ohio.
 
 
Buffalo 5, Northern Illinois 0 (7 innings)
Northern Illinois 11, Buffalo 4 (7 innings)
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
 
BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo softball team split their doubleheader with Northern Illinois on Saturday afternoon at Nan Harvey Field. The Bulls defeated the Huskies 5-0 in game one before falling 11-4 in game two.

The Bulls struck first in game one as Anna Aguon continued her leadoff magic, drilling the third pitch she saw over the wall in left center field to give the Bulls an early 1-0 lead.

Sophomore shortstop Brianna Castro flashed some leather in the top of the second as she fielded the line drive and then fired to first to complete the double play to end the half inning. Freshman Rachel Steffan got in on the defensive action in the top of the third as she fielded the line out at third base and fired across the diamond to catch the runner and complete the double play.

The Bulls added to their lead in the bottom of the fourth as Castro crushed a ball over the wall in left field and into UB Stadium to give UB a 2-0 lead.

Buffalo would break the game open in the bottom of the sixth as Alicia Peters led off with a double down the left field line and after two walks, Alexis Lucyshyn drew an RBI walk to put the Bulls up 3-0. Madison Fernimen would then hit an RBI sac fly to center field and Castro would follow with an RBI single to left to put UB up 5-0.

Northern Illinois would get a runner on second base in the top of the seventh but Ally Sobaszek made a fantastic catch in right field and doubled up the runner at second for a game-ending double play to secure the win.

Graduate student Ally Marcano pitched a gem in the circle for UB giving up just one hit in a complete game shutout victory.

The Huskies would get off to a fast start in game two as they scored two runs on two hits and a UB error to take an early 2-0 lead and would add to their lead in the third, scoring three runs on two hits and two Bulls' errors to go up 5-0.

Aguon would put UB on the board in the bottom of the third as she blasted a two-run home run to straightway center field to cut the NIU lead to 5-2 but the Huskies would answer in the top of the fourth as Sam Mallinder hit a three-run home run to give NIU an 8-2 lead.

Castro would hit her second home run of the day, a solo shot to left center field, in the bottom of the seventh inning and later, Steffan would line an RBI single to right, but the rally would fall short as NIU held on for the 11-4 win.

The Bulls will conclude the series tomorrow with a single game starting at 12pm.
 
 
Western Michigan 5, Akron 3 (7 innings)
Akron 3, Western Michigan 2 (7 innings)
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
 
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The University of Akron softball team garnered a split of its Mid-American Conference doubleheader at Western Michigan (10-24, 6-14 MAC) on Saturday, May 1 as the Zips (7-33, 6-20 MAC) won the opener, 3-2, before the Broncos triumphed in the nightcap, 5-3.

Game One:

Freshman P Olivia Stefanoni (Hudson, Ohio) kept the Broncos at bay on the afternoon striking out six while Western Michigan stranded eight runners on base.

Akron opened the scoring in the second inning of game one plating a run on a Western Michigan throwing error. The Zips extended their advantage to 3-0 with single tallies in the fifth and sixth inning.
 
A two-out single from senior LF Jessie Holzman (Medina) placed a pair of runners on base for Akron in the fifth before freshman 1B Atlantis Taufa (Fullerton, Calif.) delivered an RBI single to drive in redshirt freshman DP Laurel DeVoe (North Canton, Ohio).
 
A one-out double from senior SS Samantha Malik (Orlando, Fla.) set the stage in the sixth inning for an RBI single off the bat of redshirt freshman CF Tiffany Stevens (Toledo, Ohio) to extend the Zips' lead to 3-0.
 
Western Michigan cut its deficit to a run with a pair of tallies in its final at-bat, but Akron was able to escape the jam with its third consecutive victory.
 
Game Two:
 
Autumn Godwin earned her second victory of the year by allowing seven hits and just two earned runs over seven innings. Mackenize Swinehart was 4-for-4 with a homer and two runs scored. Kaylen Glenfield went 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI, while Farrish was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Jordyn Swinehart added an RBI.

Akron used three pitchers, with Alexa DiFeo taking the loss after allowing six hits and two earned runs in three innings of work. Zip pitching struck out just one Bronco on the game. Jessie Holzman was 2-for-3. Stevens, Kalli MacIntosh-Houlder and Molly McChesney each had an RBI.

The Zips jumped out to a 2-0 lead thanks to an RBI double from Stevens and RBI triple from MacIntosh-Houlder in the first. WMU got one run back in the first on an RBI single from Farrish, then tied it in the second on an RBI single by Jordyn Swinehart.

The score remained 2-2 until the fifth when Mackenzie Swinehart hit the first pitch of the inning over the fence in right-center for her sixth home run of the season. A suicide squeeze from Bajusz scored Glenfield and made it 4-2 later in the inning.

Akron struck back when DeVoe scored on a wild pitch in the sixth, but the Glenfield delivered an RBI double in the bottom half of the inning to restore the 2-run lead. Godwin threw a perfect 1-2-3 seventh to seal the victory.

WMU and Akron meet for the fourth and final game of the series on Sunday, May 2. First pitch is set for Noon ET.