Friday's Softball Results
Friday's Scoreboard
Ball State 8, Sam Houston State 0
Chattanooga 6, Ball State 2
Bowling Green 6, Winthrop 1
North Dakota 14, Eastern Michigan 11
Robert Morris 7, Eastern Michigan 4
Evansville 9, Northern Illinois 1
Troy 5, Northern Illinois 4
Courtesy of MAC Athletic Communications
Ball State
Game 1 Results
Game 2 Results
MOBILE, Ala. - - The Ball State softball team opened play in the South Alabama Invitational with a Friday split, topping Sam Houston State by a score of 8-0 (5 inn.), before falling to Chattanooga, 6-2, in the nightcap at USA’s Jaguar Field.
The Cardinals, who move to 6-5 on the year with the split, continue play in the South Alabama Invitational Saturday with games versus Jacksonville (10 a.m. ET / 9 a.m. CT) and the host Jaguars (2:30 p.m. ET / 1:30 p.m. CT) who enter the event ranked 22nd in the nation.
Junior shortstop Selena Reyna (Houston, Texas/South Houston) led the Ball State offense by going a perfect 5-for-5 from the plate and adding a walk. She provided Ball State’s first runs of the weekend with her third home run of the season, a three-run blast to right-center field in the win over Sam Houston State (5-8).
Junior pitcher Nicole Steinbach (Merrillville, Ind./Andrean) also turned in a pair of solid performances in the circle, picking up her first complete game shutout win of the year versus SHSU, while allowing just one earned run in 6.0 innings of work versus Chattanooga (7-4). She finished the day with a 0.64 ERA and 12 strikeouts over 11.0 innings of work.
GAME ONE RECAP: Ball State 8, Sam Houston State 0 in 5 innings.
After three-and-a-half scoreless innings, the Cardinals broke onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth versus the Bearkats courtesy of Reyna’s third long ball of the season. Senior left fielder Hanne Stuedemann (Mattawan, Mich./Mattawan) and senior catcher Jessica Craft (LaPorte, Ind./LaPorte) were hit by back-to-back pitches to open the inning. After junior first baseman Sammi Cowger (Fenton, Mich./Fenton) reached base on a fielder’s choice, which put out the lead runner, Reyna provided a three-run blast to right-center field to give the Cardinals a 3-0 edge.
Ball State followed with five more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to end the game at 8-0. Senior left fielder Loren Cihlar (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North) reached second on a SHSU error to open the inning, and came around to score on a double by junior second baseman Emily Dabkowski (Plainfield, Ind./South Putnam).
Dabkowski advanced to third on a wild pitch, and after a walk to Stuedemann, scored on a successful double steal. Craft followed with a RBI grounder to short, driving in a run while also reaching base on an error. After a fielder’s choice gave Ball State its first out of the inning, Reyna doubled down the left field line to put a pair of runners in scoring position.
Freshman third baseman Julia Bailey (Lafayette, La./Teurlings Catholic) followed with a RBI single to make the score 7-0. Sophomore designated player Amanda Arnett (Monroe, Mich./Monroe) then ended the contest with a RBI single up the middle.
In earning her first complete game win of the year, Steinbach limited Sam Houston State to two hits over 5.0 innings of work. She also struck out six batters in the contest.
For the game, the Cardinals logged eight runs on nine hits with one error. The Bearkats tallied no runs on two hits and recorded a pair of defensive miscues.
GAME TWO RECAP: Chattanooga 6, Ball State 2
With Steinbach turning in another solid performance in the circle, the Cardinals jumped out to another early lead versus the Mocs thanks to a leadoff home run from Stuedemann in the bottom of the second inning.
The score remained 1-0 until the top of the fourth, when a RBI groundout from Chattanooga’s Criket Blanco evened the score.
Ball State recaptured the lead in the bottom of the fifth thanks to an RBI single to right field from Dabkowski. Sophomore left fielder Taylor Cooley (Chelsea, Mich./Chelsea) scored on the play after drawing a one-out walk and then stealing second base.
Unfortunately, the Mocs rallied for five runs in the top of the seventh to pull ahead 6-2. The Cardinals managed to get their first two runners on base in the bottom of the frame, only to strand both in scoring position as UTC ended the inning with three straight outs.
In six innings of work versus Chattanooga, Steinbach allowed just six hits and three runs (only one of which was earned), while striking out six more batters.
Overall, UTC scored six runs on nine hits and committed one error. Ball State tallied two runs on eight hits with one error of its own.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State softball, follow the team on Twitter: @BallStateSB and @TyraPerry13 / Instagram: ballstatesb / Facebook: BallStateSoftball
Bowling Green
Results
The Bowling Green State University softball team struck early on Friday afternoon (Feb. 20), erupting for a six-run first inning in a 6-1 defeat of Winthrop University. The game, the Falcons' first contest in the 2015 Cougar Classic, was held at Patriots Point in Mt. Pleasant, S.C.
With the win, the Falcons improve to 4-1 on the season, while dropping the Eagles to 4-7 on the year.
"I was pleased with the way we came out offensively," said BGSU head coach Shannon Salsburg. "We batted through the lineup in the first inning and really put them on their heels. I want to see us continue to attack with the intent to put the opponent away. Defensively, we were solid, fighting our way out of innings."
Freshman Morgan Evangelista had two hits to pace BG's seven-hit attack, and Evangelista and senior Emily McClelland each drove in two runs in the win.
In the circle, senior Jamie Kertes improved to 2-1 on the young season, allowing one run and five hits through four-and-two-thirds innings of work. Junior Braiden Dillow did not allow a hit in two-and-a-third innings of relief work.
The Eagles got on the board in the top of the first. After Paige Haley drew a leadoff walk, Zharne Glover moved her to second with a sacrifice bunt. Haley came home on a single up the middle by Maddie Antone. Kertes then got the final two outs of the inning on just three pitches, inducing a popup to third base and a liner to second. The Falcons, however, would respond in a big way.
BG sent 10 batters to the plate in the bottom of the first, scoring six times. Sophomore Aspen Searle drew a leadoff walk against Winthrop starting pitcher Sara Allen, and juniors Marina Cobbs singled through the left side of the Eagles' infield on the first pitch she saw. BG loaded the bases when sophomore Trista Mokienko reached on an infield single, with the runners each moving up one base. Allen got a strikeout for the first out of the inning, but with Evangelista at the plate, a wild pitch scored Searle to tie the game.
Then, Evangelista proceeded to single up the middle to plate Cobbs and Mokienko for a 3-1 Falcon lead. sophomore Haley Schrock singled through the left side, putting runners at first and second, and one out later, McClelland's single scored two more runs and chased Allen. Reliever Dallas King got the final out of the inning, but the Brown and Orange had a 5-1 lead.
McClelland, who had taken second base on a throw home, then scored when junior Molly Holliday hit a looping liner past the third baseman and down the left-field line for a double.
Through five games in 2015, the Falcons have outscored opponents by a 19-1 count in the first inning.
King was masterful in relief for the Eagles, allowing only two hits in five-plus innings. She walked one batter and struck out eight, but the damage had been done.
Kertes, staked to that 6-1 lead after an inning, kept the Eagles off the board in the second inning, allowing only a one-out infield single. But, King set down the Falcons in the bottom of the frame, striking out the side and allowing just a one-out walk.
The top of the third inning saw two Winthrop runners reach base, but none crossed the plate. Haley was hit by a pitch to start the inning, but was erased at second on a grounder. A Kertes pitch then hit Antone, however, putting runners on first and second. But, Kertes worked out of the jam, getting a grounder to short to erase the lead runner before inducing Leah Young to hit a harmless ground ball to third base to end the inning.
In the fourth, Allen led off with a single for the WU, and Allen attempted to steal second, but was gunned down by Falcon freshman catcher Lauren Newmark, making her BG debut. Newmark had replaced Evangelista behind the plate an inning earlier. Searle applied the tag on Allen for the first out of the fourth. Tara Loken singled, but was erased on a grounder to third for the second out, and another ground ball to third ended the inning.
In the Winthrop half of the fifth, Glover singled up the middle with one down, and Antone was hit by a pitch for the second time in as many plate appearances, putting runners at first and second. Kertes got a lazy fly ball to center on the next pitch, and Dillow replaced Kertes in the circle and got Young to hit an inning-ending grounder to second base.
Evangelista re-entered the game in the bottom of the fifth inning, and laced a two-out double down the left-field line. But, King worked out of it, getting a fly ball for the third out.
Dillow worked a one-two-three sixth inning, sandwiching two grounders around a strikeout of Loken. Then, in the seventh, Dillow walked the leadoff hitter, but got a fielder's choice, a strikeout and a grounder back to the circle to seal the win.
The Falcons continue action at the Cougar Classic with a pair of games on Saturday (Feb. 21). BGSU faces Massachusetts at 10:00 a.m., then meets the host College of Charleston in a 2:30 p.m. start.
Eastern Michigan
Game 1 Results
Game 2 Results
MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University softball team was defeated by both the University of North Dakota and Robert Morris University in the first day of the EMU Madeira Beach Spring Invitational Friday, Feb. 20.
The Eagles (1-6) were led by junior Abi Clark, who posted three hits on the afternoon with four RBI, while Abby Davidson notched four hits for the Green and White. Sophomore Michelle Kriegshauser added two RBI to the Eagle tally and senior Jenn Lucas nabbed five hits on the afternoon and drove in two runs against Robert Morris.
Game One: North Dakota 14, Eastern Michigan 11
EMU got its bats going early, scoring four runs off three hits in the bottom of the first inning. Freshman Haley Hostetler led off the inning with a line shot to the left center field fence before Brandice Olmos moved her to third with a sacrifice bunt.
A wild pitch allowed Hostetler to score the first run of the inning for the Green and White before Eastern's second sacrifice bunt of the inning scored Kriegshauser from third base. With a runner on third, Davidson launched a two-run homer over the left field fence to extend the Eagle lead to 4-0 heading into the top of the second.
North Dakota answered back in the top of the inning after it loaded the bases on three-straight walks and scored two runs on an EMU miscue.
EMU extended its lead in the bottom of the fourth inning when it put base runners on first and second with two-straight walks and a Kriegshauser single up the middle. After UND loaded the bases and changed pitchers, Clark hit a shallow ball to right field that brought in two RBI before an overthrow at third base allowed Rich to touch home and give the Eagles a 9-2 lead.
A two-run home run in the top of the fifth brought North Dakota within five before Head Coach Melissa Gentile put in relief pitcher, Alyssa Huntley. Following the pitching change, UND knocked two-straight hits to right field, while a walk loaded the bases with no outs.
A second EMU miscue allowed North Dakota to tack on two more runs, trailing 9-6 with one out and runners on the corner in the top of the fifth inning. Back-to-back hits knotted the score at 9-9, forcing Gentile to make her third pitching change of the inning. Rich came in and took charge with a pop up and a strikeout to close out the inning before any further damage was done.
UND took its first lead of the contest after battling back when Shelby Hard hit the third home run of the contest over the center field wall in the top of the sixth inning.
The Eagles knotted the score at 10-10 in the bottom of the sixth inning when Kriegshauser doubled and pinch runner Katie Wyman advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt. Clark tallied her third RBI of the contest when she singled through the right side of the field to tie the contest at 10-10 heading into the final inning.
After recording the first two outs of the inning in order, UND put two runners on the basepath before back-to-back homers allowed North Dakota to take a 14-10 lead with a half inning to play.
Eastern Michigan looked to push some runs across the plate in its final at-bat when Elaine Whitbeck led off the inning with a double to the right center fence and advanced to third on a wild pitch. A second-straight wild pitch from UND allowed Whitbeck to cross home, but the run would prove to be the only one of the inning as North Dakota went on to a 14-11 victory.
Despite coming on in relief, Rich suffered the loss in the circle, going 2.2 innings and allowing five runs to score, while freshman Trisha Trujillo pitched four innings in the start of the contest.
Game Two: Robert Morris 7, Eastern Michigan 4
Robert Morris would be the first to light up the scoreboard in the bottom of the second inning when back-to-back doubles to opposite fields brought in three runs for the Colonials.
The Eagles responded in the top of the third inning when Whitbeck singled to the left side of the field to lead off the inning. Following the hit, Hostetler singled to third with a line drive that would move Whitbeck to third on a throwing error. A slow rolling hit to the second baseman scored Whitbeck before a single up the middle from Kriegshauser gave EMU its second run of the inning.
The Colonials added three to their tally in the bottom of the third inning with a three-run homer to left center, taking the 6-2 lead over EMU. The Eagles started to rally in the top of the fourth when Clark led off the inning with a single up the middle and advanced to second on a walk. With no outs, Lucas ripped a double down the left field line to score one and put runners on second and third with no outs. Following a pitching change, RMU recorded three-straight outs to close out the inning, leading the Eagles 6-3.
Robert Morris used a double to left field to score one run in the bottom of the fourth inning to extend its lead to 7-3. Lucas again came through as a senior leader in the top of the fifth inning when she laced a single up the middle with EMU trailing by three.
The Eagles were unable to tack on any final runs in the remaining two innings, falling to the Colonials, 7-4. In game two, Rich suffered the loss, pitching 2.1 innings, while Abbie Minsker closed out the contest for the Green and White.
Eastern Michigan will play just one game Saturday, Feb. 21 when it takes on Columbia at 11 a.m.
Northern Illinois
Game 1 Results
Game 2 Results
TROY, Ala. - The Northern Illinois University softball team suffered a pair of losses in completely different fashion Friday, suffering a 9-1 defeat against Evansville and a 5-4 extra-inning heartbreaker to Troy.
Game One: Purple Aces Best Huskies, 9-1
A rough fourth inning doomed the Huskies in game on Friday, as they lost a 9-1 game to the Evansville Purple Aces.
NIU held a 1-0 lead through three innings, but UE put up seven runs in the ensuing frame to ultimately run away with the contest.
"You're not going to win any game walking 11 hitters," said NIU Head Coach Christina Sutcliffe. "We couldn't pitch the ball, couldn't figure out the umpire's strike zone and got rattled with it. Offensively, we couldn't make a correction, so we weren't able to push in any more runs."
After going scoreless in the first two innings, the Huskies broke through in the bottom of the third. Kali Kossakowski (Elgin, St. Edward) led off the inning with a double to left center. Two batters later, Emily Naegele (Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest) brought Kossakowski home with a RBI single, putting NIU out to a 1-0 lead.
Conversely, freshman pitcher Keegan Hayes (Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) kept the Purple Aces in check through the first three innings, limiting them to three hits and no runs. However, UE opened the floodgates in the fourth against Hayes and Tara Thacker (Uniontown, Ohio/North Canton Hoover) with a seven-run frame in which the Huskies surrendered seven walks and hit two batters with pitches.
The Huskies tried to piece together a comeback by getting each of the first two batters on base in the fourth and fifth innings. Yet, in both cases, the Purple Aces held NIU scoreless, as UE pitcher Amanda Blankenship notched four of her eight strikeouts in those innings.
Meanwhile, UE added two more runs in the top of the seventh with a RBI double from Hayli Scott and a RBI single from Susan Norris to close out the scoring.
Game Two: NIU Falls to Troy in Extras, 5-4
In the nightcap, the Huskies let a two-run lead slip away as tournament host Troy took a 5-4 win in eight innings.
After a big fourth inning put NIU out to a 4-2 lead, the Trojans came back with a run in the fifth and one in the bottom of the seventh to force extras before Hannah Day knocked an RBI single in the eighth for the go-ahead run.
"I think we went back to the basics," Sutcliffe said. "We got some bunts down, which helped move things along then we were able to put some good balls in play. We had a much better approach the second game offensively. (We) just couldn't do enough to win it."
Troy got on the board first in the bottom of the opening frame. With the bases loaded courtesy of two walks and a single, Becca Hartley drove in the first run of the game by grounding into a double play, as Bekah Harnish (Maple Park, Ill./Burlington Central) stepped on second before firing to Kayti Grable (Santee, Calif./Santana) at first. Yet, Amanda Winters singled up the middle to push the Trojan lead to 2-0.
After a rough first inning, Jessica Sturm (Wichita, Kan./Goddard) settled down and silenced the Troy lineup. While she got out of a jam in the second by stranding runners on second and third, the senior breezed through the third and fourth with a pair of one-two-three innings.
That allowed the Huskie offense to come alive in the top of the fourth. Emily Naegele opened the inning with a double into the right power alley and Alaynie Woollard (New Castle, Ind./New Castle) drew a walk, while Sturm's groundout advanced Naegele and Woollard into scoring position. Rebecca Rupard (Normal, Ill./Normal West) took advantage, driving a single to second base to score Naegele. Kali Kossakowski tied the game with a well-placed bunt to bring in Woollard and advance to second in the process.
NIU seized the lead two batters later thanks to Caitlyn Warren (Naperville, Ill./Naperville North), who smacked a single between the shortstop and third base to bring in Rupard. Harnish made it a 4-2 Huskie lead when she got on when Troy pitcher Jaycee Affeldt mishandled a ground ball, allowing Kossakowski to cross home plate.
However, the hosts trimmed the NIU lead in half in the fifth. With the bases loaded and one out, Winters got a sacrifice foul out to score Day, while advancing two runners into scoring position on the throw to home. Sturm kept Troy from knotting the game up by forcing a groundout to end the inning.
The Huskie defense kept the Trojans off the board in the sixth by stranding runners on first and third. In the seventh, things quickly turned in Troy's favor, as Michelle Phelps led off the inning with a solo home run to left center to forge a 4-4 tie and send the game to extras.
With the international tiebreaker rule used and a runner automatically placed on second, NIU went down in order in their half of the eighth. Conversely, Troy drew a walk and had an intentional walk to load the bases with one out. At that moment, Day dropped a single into left field to bring home the winning run.
"Anytime we're in those tight situations down the stretch, we're going to be learning from it," Sutcliffe said. "We need to figure out what run lead we're protecting. When international tiebreaker comes around second, it's anybody's game at that point. We just couldn't push our runners and they could."
The Huskies return to the diamond tomorrow with matchups against Kennesaw State at 10 a.m. and Troy at 12:30 p.m.
