Friday's Softball Results
Friday's Scoreboard
Akron 2, Kent State 1
Kent State 12, Akron 2
Ball State 1, Toledo 0
Toledo 8, Ball State 7
Bowling Green 4, Miami 3
Miami 4, Bowling Green 1
Akron 2, Kent State 1
Kent State 12, Akron 2
Results
Results
KENT, Ohio – The University of Akron softball team split a twinbill in PNC Wagon Wheel Challenge action on an overcast and windy Friday afternoon at the Diamond at Dix.
The Zips won game one, 2-1 in eight innings, while the Golden Flashes took game two, 12-2 in five innings.
The Zips improved to 14-18 overall and 2-5 in Mid-American Conference play. The Golden Flashes improved 24-9 overall and 5-2 in league play.
In the PNC Wagon Wheel Challenge, each team was awarded a half-point. The Zips currently lead the Golden Flashes, 5.5-4.5.
In the first game, Kent jumped on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first as Dani Ramos singled, stole second, and came home on an error.
Akron tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the fourth as senior shortstop Chelsea Wildey (Oviedo, Fla.) doubled to left field, was sacrificed to second and came home on a an RBI single down the left field line by sophomore third baseman Alyssa Nicholas (Cortland, Ohio).
All tied up after seven innings, the teams went an extra inning to decide a winner.
In the top of the eighth, senior centerfielder Taryn Allmon (Grove City, Ohio) scored the game-winning run after singling to center, sacrificed to second, and coming home after freshman first baseman Cassie Gillespie (Sylvania, Ohio) reached on an error by the first baseman.
In the bottom of the eighth, junior right-hander Erin Seiler (Bowling Green, Ohio) struck out three batters swinging to seal the win. Seiler (14-11 overall, 2-4 MAC) hurled all eight innings, fanning seven and walking none.
Overall, Akron out-hit KSU, 6-3. Both teams had one error.
In game two, Kent State scored five runs in the bottom of the first as Michele Duffy nailed a three RBI home run over the centerfield fence.
KSU added two runs in the second as Maddy Grimm smacked a two RBI homer over the centerfield fence.
Akron got on the scoreboard in the top of the third as senior second baseman Kellie Roudabush (Hilliard, Ohio) nailed a two RBI home run over the leftfield fence, scoring Wildey who reached on a single. The homer was Roudabush's second this spring and the sixth of her career.
Kent countered with another home run in the bottom of the third for two runs.
Seiler took the loss. She gave up five runs on three hits while throwing a third of the first inning. Freshman right-hander Paige McMenemy (Westerville, Ohio) threw 2.2 innings, fanning one. Senior Sara Pearson (Somerville, Ohio) closed out the game, hurling the final inning, striking gout one and walking two.
Overall, KSU out-hit Akron, 12-4. The Zips committed two errors to e Golden Flashes' one.
Akron will host Buffalo for single MAC games on Saturday, April 11, at 2 p.m., and Sunday, April 12, at 1 p.m. at Lee R. Jackson Field.
Ball State 1, Toledo 0
Toledo 8, Ball State 7
Results
Results
TOLEDO, Ohio - - A strong pitching effort from for junior Nicole Steinbach (Merrillville, Ind./Andrean) helped the Ball State softball team earn a doubleheader split with Toledo Friday afternoon at the Scott Park Softball Complex.
The Cardinals picked up a hard-fought 1-0 win in the opener, thanks to the pitching of Steinbach and a fifth-inning sacrifice fly from junior shortstop Selena Reyna (Houston, Texas/South Houston). Trailing 8-4 entering the seventh inning of the nightcap, the Cardinals rallied for three runs, but could not push across the game-tying run in an 8-7 setback.
“Nicole turned in a strong performance in the first game, hitting some key pitches a big times to help push us across the line,” Ball State head coach Tyra Perry said. “While we fell short in the second game, we made a good push at the end to draw within one. Unfortunately, we missed a few key plays throughout the game which could have pushed us over the top. Overall, we are a team that is still trying to figure out our identity. We are starting to see moments where we are playing solid ball on both offense and defense, we just need to put it all together on a more consistent basis.”
In earning her second complete game shutout win of the season, Steinbach limited the Toledo offense to just four hits and one walk over seven innings of work. She also struck out four batters on the day, while improving to 10-10 on the season.
Freshman catcher Leigh McAnally (Trussville, Ala./Hewitt-Trussville) helped carry the Ball State offense, going a perfect 3-for-3 on the day with all three hits being doubles. McAnally’s second double was responsible for the game-winning run in the opener, as she was replaced by sophomore pinch runner India Steward (Matteson, Ill./Rich South/Western Kentucky) who scored on Reyna’s sacrifice fly.
In the nightcap, McAnally came through with a clutch pinch hit double in the seventh inning, driving in the first two runs and advancing to third on the throw. Senior designated player Jessica Craft (LaPorte, Ind./LaPorte) then reentered the game to run at third and later scored the third run of the inning.
Sophomore pitcher Jocelyn Rivera (Brooklyn, Ohio/Brooklyn) also played a big role in the second game, entering to pitch with bases loaded and no outs in the bottom of the fifth with Ball State trailing 8-3. Rivera proceeded to strike out the first two batters she faced, before forcing a fly out to end the inning and keep the Cardinals alive in the game. Rivera finished the game with four strikeouts over two innings of work.
The Ball State softball team returns to action Saturday, when it travels to Bowling Green, Ohio, to face the Falcons in a 2 p.m. single game. The teams will close out their two-game series Sunday with a 1 p.m. first pitch.
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 4, Miami 3
Miami 4, Bowling Green 1
Results
Results
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Miami University softball team gained a split with Bowling Green in its doubleheader on Friday. The RedHawks took a 4-1 victory in the opener. Miami then nearly made a comeback from an early 4-0 deficit, but ultimately fell, 4-3, in the nightcap. The ‘Hawks are now 22-15 on the season and 6-2 in the Mid-American Conference. The Falcons are 13-17 overall and 4-4 in the MAC.
Miami got on the board right away in the opener. Senior outfielder Tiyona Marshall led off with a single to leftfield. A groundout by junior designated player Tanya Busby moved her up to second. Marshall then scored when junior outfielder Taylor Shuey reached on a fielding error.
In the top of the third, the RedHawks scored again off the bat of Shuey when another fielding error allowed Busby to come home and make it 2-0.
Junior pitcher Amber Logemann cruised throughout the opener, holding Bowling Green to only two hits in the contest. She did not give up a hit until the fifth inning. The Falcons scored their only run of the contest in the bottom of the third off a pair of walks and a fielding error. Logemann finished the game having allowed no earned runs, while striking out eight to earn her 18th victory of the season.
Miami got two more insurance runs in the top of the fourth. With two outs, senior shortstop Kylie McChesney doubled to right center. She advanced to third on a pass ball. When Marshall beat out an infield single, McChesney scored. Marshall followed by stealing second. Busby reached on an infield single. On the play, the shortstop threw the ball away, allowing Marshall to score and completing the ‘Hawks scoring for the game.
Marshall finished the opener 2-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored. Busby was 2-for-4 with one run scored.
In the nightcap, Bowling Green scored a single run in the bottom of the first and three runs in the bottom of the third off of starter Megan Mattera. Senior Remy Edwards came in to relieve her in the middle of the frame and combined with Logemann to shut out the Falcons over the last 3.2 innings.
Still trailing 4-0, Miami got on the board in the top of the fifth. With two outs and no one on, McChesney singled through the left side. She then stole second. Marshall followed with a grounder to the pitcher. The pitcher threw the ball away as McChesney scored. That also allowed Marshall to advance all the way to third. Busby singled through the left side to score Marshall and cut the deficit to 4-2.
With one out in the top of the sixth, senior first baseman Shanyn McIntyre singled to the shortstop. After another out was recorded, Edwards doubled to left center, scoring McIntyre and making it 4-3.
Miami would get another runner on in the top of the seventh after a Busby single, but was unable to bring her around as the Falcons held on for the victory.
Busby finished the nightcap 2-for-4 with one RBI. Edwards was 1-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored.
The RedHawks return to action on Saturday when they travel to Toledo for a single game beginning at 2 p.m.
