Sunday's Softball Results
Sunday's Scoreboard
Akron 9, Buffalo 0
Ball State 9, Bowling Green 0
Central Michigan 7, Eastern Michigan 4
Kent State 9, Ohio 6
Toledo 3, Miami 0
Western Michigan 5, Northern Illinois 4
Akron 9, Buffalo 0
Results
AKRON, Ohio – On the scoreboard as the visiting team for the second consecutive day, the University of Akron softball team shut out Buffalo, 9-0 in five innings in Mid-American Conference play, on a sunny Sunday afternoon at its own Lee R. Jackson Field.
The Zips, who have won four of their last five contests, improved to 16-18 overall and 4-5 in Mid-American Conference play. The Bulls fell to 7-28 overall and 0-8 in league play. The nine runs are the most the Zips have scored in a single game this season.
Akron started the contest with three runs in the top of the first. Senior shortstop Chelsea Wildey (Oviedo, Fla.), who reached on a single to left center field, scored the first run on a fielder's choice by sophomore third baseman Alyssa Nicholas (Cortland, Ohio). Senior outfielder Taryn Allmon (Grove City, Ohio) homered for a two-run RBI, scoring herself and Nicholas.
In the top of the second, the Zips added three more runs. Senior second baseman Kellie Roudabush (Hilliard, Ohio) homered to left field for two runs, scoring freshman first baseman Cassie Gillespie (Sylvania, Ohio), who singled to center as the Zips' lead-off batter. Senior outfielder Sara Pearson (Somerville, Ohio) doubled to center field, bring Nicholas home for the sixth run of the game.
Akron added a solo run in the top of the third as Roudabush singled to bring pinch-runner Kayla Schlosser (Erie, Pa.) home.
The Zips sealed the five-inning victory with two insurance runs in the top of the fifth. Roudabush had an RBI single before scoring the final run on a single by Nicholas.
Junior right-hander Erin Seiler (Bowling Green, Ohio) picked up her 16th win of the season (16-12 overall, 4-5 MAC). She struck out seven batters and walked none. With her seven strikeouts on the day, Seiler re-wrote her own school record for Ks in a season. She now has 225 strikeouts in 29 games. The previous season record was 219 strikeouts, which she set as a freshman in 2013. Last weekend Seiler became Akron's career strikeout leader. To date, the junior has 615 career strikeouts. The previous record was 575 by Tina McCauley (2001-05).
On the day, Roudabush led Akron at the plate, going 3-of-4 with a home run, four RBI, and a stolen base.
Overall, Akron out-hit UB, 14-3. The Bulls had two errors, while the Zips had none.
Akron travels to Youngstown State for a doubleheader on Tuesday, April 14, at 3 p.m.
Ball State 9, Bowling Green 0
Results
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - - Behind another strong pitching performance, this time from freshman Carolyn Wilmes (Evansville, Ind./Mater Dei), the Ball State softball team closed the week with a 9-0 (5 inning) win over Bowling Green Sunday afternoon at Meserve Field.
In improving to 21-19 (7-2 Mid-American Conference), the Cardinals picked up their third complete game shutout win of the weekend with one in Friday’s doubleheader at Toledo and two against the Falcons (13-18 / 4-6 MAC).
“I am really proud of the way we played today,” Ball State head coach Tyra Perry said. “We caught the balls that were hit, Carolyn hit her pitches and we had quality at bats throughout the game. We saw a lot of quality play today. Overall, I am excited about our pitching performances this weekend. Nicole was masterful in both her outings and Carolyn really came through today and threw extremely well. Jocelyn also did her job today, coming in at the end of the game and throwing an important pitch to get the final out with bases loaded.”
In Sunday’s win it was Wilmes’ turn to dominate in the circle, as she held the Falcons to just three hits over 4.2 innings of work. Two of the hits, however, came after a Ball State error which would have ended the game. Wilmes also logged a pair of strikeouts.
Sophomore Jocelyn Rivera (Brooklyn, Ohio/Brooklyn) entered the game in relief of Wilmes with bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the fifth, inducing a game-ending pop foul to third on her first and only pitch.
On offense, the Cardinals bats came to life early as they posted three runs on four hits and four BGSU errors in the top of the first inning. With one out, senior Loren Cihlar (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North) reached base on BGSU’s first error and advanced to third on a single from junior second baseman Emily Dabkowski (Plainfield, Ill./South Putnam). Senior right fielder Hanne Stuedemann (Mattawan, Mich./Mattawan) followed with a RBI single to left-center to drive in the game first run.
With runners at the corners, Stuedemann proceeded to steal second and an errant throw to the bag allowed Dabkowski to come home. Senior designated player Jessica Craft (LaPorte, Ind./LaPorte) followed with a fly out to deep center field, moving Stuedemann to third, while another BGSU error on the throw in allowed Stuedemann to score.
Ball State extended its lead to 4-0 in the top of the second on another RBI single from Stuedemann. Cihlar scored on the play after reaching base on a fielder’s choice and stealing second with two outs.
The Cardinals added another run in the top of the fourth, starting with a one-out walk to junior shortstop Selena Reyna (Houston, Texas/South Houston). Cihlar followed with a RBI double over a drawn-in outfield which found its way to the wall in left-center field.
Ball State scored its final four runs in the top of the fifth, starting with a one-out double by sophomore catcher Shelbie Scamihorn (Terre Haute, Ind./South Vigo). With sophomore India Steward (Matteson, Ill./Western Kentucky/Rich South) in to pinch run at second, freshman third baseman Julia Bailey (Lafayette, La./Teurlings Catholic) dropped a blooper into center field to give BSU a pair of base runners. Junior third baseman Sammi Cowger (Fenton, Mich./Fenton) followed with a RBI single through the right side to push the Cardinals ahead 6-0. Two batters later, Reyna deposited a three-run blast over the left-center field wall to cap the scoring at 9-0.
The Ball State softball team returns to action Tuesday, when it hosts Butler for a 3 p.m. first pitch at the Softball Field at the First Merchants Ballpark Complex.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State softball, follow the team on Twitter: @BallStateSB and @TyraPerry13 / Instagram: ballstatesb / Facebook: BallStateSoftball.
Central Michigan 7, Eastern Michigan 4
Results
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- The Central Michigan softball team completed the two-game Mid-American Conference sweep of Eastern Michigan with a 7-4 win Sunday at Margo Jonker Stadium.
The victory came on heels of a dramatic walk-off win on Saturday, when Katelyn Rentschler blasted three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning to propel the Chippewas to a 5-2 victory.
CMU's record improves to 15-16 overall, 5-3 in the MAC. Eastern is 9-24, 1-6.
"We got the hits when we needed them and pitching when we needed it," CMU coach Margo Jonker said. "It wasn't the prettiest game, but we got the win and that's what its all about."
Central Michigan committed two errors in the win.
Kristen Kuhlman highlighted the Chippewas offense with two this and two RBI.
Maison Kalina and Kristen Goodall also tallied two hits on the day while driving in a run apiece. One of Goodall's hits was a sixth-inning solo homer that upped CMU's lead to 6-4.
Hanna Warren (4-7) made the start for the Chippewas, going 4 2/3 innings while earning the win. Warren gave up four runs (three earned) on five hits, two walks and two strikeouts.
Rachael Knapp came in to pitch in the fifth inning after Warren surrendered a two-run homer to Abi Clark, which pulled Eastern within 5-4.
Knapp slammed the door, working 2 1/3 hitless innings while striking out three to earn the save, her second of the season.
Knapp also started Saturday's game pitching seven innings in the win.
"Well Rachael is very good pitcher and I certainly have a lot of confidence in her," Jonker said. "Her teammates have a lot of confidence in her as well, so when so comes in we feel like we are in pretty good shape."
The Chippewas broke a 2-2 tie with three runs in the fourth inning. Sara Hansen led off the inning with a walk and Kalina followed with a single. Goodall bunted for a base hit and Hansen scored on a throwing error to make it 3-2.
Lacy Tolfree added an RBI sacrifice fly and Kuhlman drove in a run with a single to make it 5-2.
The Chippewas return to action on April 14 at Oakland in a non-conference doubleheader. CMU entertains Kent State and Buffalo in MAC games next weekend. The Chippewas and Flashes will playa doubleheader on Friday, then CMU and Buffalo will play single games on Saturday and Sunday.
Kent State 9, Ohio 6
Results
KENT, Ohio – After surrendering a four-run lead in the fifth inning, Kent State put five runs on the board in the bottom of the sixth inning to beat Ohio, 9-6, in a wild ballgame Sunday afternoon at the Diamond at Dix.
Kent State (26-9, 7-2 MAC) trailed 6-4 entering the bottom of the sixth when the top of the lineup came through once again. Kim Kirkpatrick worked a full count before hitting a single to center field. Dani Ramos followed with a single up the middle. A four-pitch walk to Maddy Grimm loaded the bases for Holly Speers, who delivered with a single through the left side of the infield that scored two runs to tie the game. Shelbi Tilton put the Flashes ahead with a sacrifice fly to right field to bring home Grimm. Michele Duffy then provided insurance runs with a two-run homer to left field.
"Today's game was really a challenge for us," said head coach Karen Linder. "Most of the games we've been winning, we have scored first and taken the lead early. Today, we gave up the lead and were able to take it back and come away with a win. It took a moment for us to let it go and get refocused."
This is the first time this season the Flashes have won a game when trailing after five innings, losing the previous four such games.
Kent State got off to another quick start and extended its runs-scored streak to 10 innings on back-to-back solo home runs by Ramos and Grimm in the bottom of the first. While it was the first career home run at any level for Ramos, it was Grimm's 12th of the season and 25th of her Kent State career.
After the scoring streak came to an end in the second, the Flashes used a handful of singles to score in the next two innings. After Grimm walked in the third, she moved to second on a single by Tilton and came home to score on a single by Duffy. In the fourth, back-to-back singles by Arika Roush and Kirkpatrick got the Flashes going. With two outs, Ohio elected to walk Grimm and load the bases. The decision proved costly, as the Flashes did not need another hit to score when a passed ball allowed Roush to dash home and make it 4-0.
Ohio took the lead with a six-run fifth inning. Other than a two-run home run by Madison Claytor that put the Bobcats on the board for the first time, only one of the six hits in the inning made it out of the infield. After loading the bases on a blooper that landed perfectly just beyond the pitcher's circle, Ohio scored three runs on a routine pop up to the left side of the infield that would have ended the inning had it not been lost in the sun. Another weak pop up that landed just a few feet in front of home plate allowed the Bobcats to go ahead 6-4.
For the second straight day, Kent State scored 9 runs on 11 hits to beat the Bobcats. The Golden Flashes smacked three home runs to total eight in the two-game series. Duffy led the way with two hits and three RBIs. Kirkpatrick and Ramos also had two hits each. Grimm homered in her only official at-bat and was walked in her other three plate appearances to score three runs.
Emma Johnson (14-5) earned the victory out of the bullpen for the Flashes. Johnson recorded six strikeouts in just three innings of action and allowed three runs on five hits, although only one hit left the infield. Ronnie Ladines started the game and had five strikeouts through four innings. Ladines left the game three batters into the fifth inning and was responsible for three runs.
Catcher Erika Warren was terrific behind the plate and threw out both Ohio baserunners attempting to steal second base.
Kent State steps out of conference action to host Cleveland State a doubleheader on Tuesday at the Diamond at Dix. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
Toledo 3, Miami 0
Results
TOLEDO, OH - The Toledo softball team got revenge against Miami on Sunday afternoon, handing the RedHawks a 3-0 loss at Scott Park one day after the Rockets were shut out themselves.
With the victory, the Rockets move to 15-24 on the year and 2-8 in conference action.
Toledo jumped out to a lead in the bottom of the first inning, as graduate transfer SS Nichole Toven blasted her team leading fifth home run over the left center field wall.
The one-run first inning was all the Rockets needed, as sophomore P Emily Anderson earned her seventh win of the season in a complete game shutout, with six hits allowed and three strikeouts.
Toledo extended its lead in the bottom of the fourth, as senior IF Allissa Turkovich recorded a bunt single, scoring sophomore IF Chandler Rice. Later in the inning, freshman IF Samantha Showalter crossed the plate when freshman IF Kaitlyn Bergman was hit by a pitch.
Toven and Showalter led the way offensively, each going 2-for-3 with a run scored. Showalter also added her ninth double of the year.
Senior OF Alyssa Smith, freshman OF Kylie Gross and Rice all tallied hits in the game as well, as the Rockets ouhit the RedHawks 8-6.
Toledo is back in action on Wednesday, April 15, for a doubleheader at Detroit. The Rockets resume MAC play next weekend with home games against Akron and Ohio.
Western Michigan 5, Northern Illinois 4
Results
KALAMAZOO, Mich.- Western Michigan trailed Northern Illinois 3-1 through five and a half innings, but rallied back to pull off a 5-4 victory Sunday. The win was the Broncos’ sixth straight at home and sixth-straight in Mid-American Conference play. WMU also defeated Northern Illinois Saturday at Fran Ebert Field, 8-5.
Senior center fielder Jenny Rohn delivered the game-winning RBI for Western Michigan in the bottom of the seventh and sophomore Erin Binkowski hit a three-run home run in the sixth to help lead the Bronco comeback. Binkowski finished with four RBIs in the game, also driving in a run for the Broncos with a single up the middle in the fourth.
The game was tied 1-1 after four innings of play and the Huskies scored a run in the top of the fifth and sixth to pull ahead 3-1.
Binkowski changed the dynamic of the game with one swing of the bat, blasting her fourth home run of the season in the bottom of the sixth. With one out in the inning, Western Michigan put two runners on. Junior second baseman Melissa Palmer walked and sophomore third baseman Kelsea Cichocki laid down a sac bunt. Both runners were safe on the sacrifice as Northern Illinois’ throw to get the lead runner out was off the mark. Binkowksi stepped to the plate and smashed the first pitch she saw over the left field fence to give WMU a 4-3 lead.
Northern Illinois scored the tying run with two outs in the top of the seventh, but the Broncos gunned down a runner at home to keep go-ahead run from scoring. With two outs, the Huskies had runners at the corners. Emily Naegle cracked a hit to right field to score the runner from third. As the ball moved from the outfield around the infield, NIU’s Kaitlyn Barrett also tried to make her way home from first but was tagged at the plate for the third out.
In the bottom of the seventh Bronco sophomore left fielder Ivy Schaaf drew a one-out walk. Senior catcher Taylor Sanicki also went to put down a sacrifice bunt and the Huskies’ throw to first skipped into foul territory. Sanicki would be safe at first and Schaaf made her way over to third. Rohn clinched the victory, lofting a pitch into right field for a sac fly. The speedy Schaaf darted home from third to beat the throw at the plate.
Junior pitcher Allyson Kus was credited with the win, entering the game in the top of the seventh. She improved her record to 4-5 on the year. Binkowski worked 1.2 innings on the rubber and freshman Anissa Sanchez threw 4.2 frames.
Western Michigan’s record is now 14-17 overall and 6-2 in the MAC. Northern Illinois fell to 19-17 and 5-3 in the conference.
WMU is on the road for the next five-straight, playing games at Ball State and Miami next weekend and at Michigan State on April 22.
