Friday's Softball Results
Friday's Scoreboard
Ball State 7, Western Michigan 1
Ball State 5, Western Michigan 4
Eastern Michigan 15, Buffalo 7
Eastern Michigan 7, Buffalo 0
Kent State 7, Central Michigan 0
Central Michigan 5, Kent State 0
Ohio 7, Bowling Green 2
Bowling Green 7, Ohio 3
Toledo 3, Akron 2
Akron 2, Toledo 1
Miami 4, Northern Illinois 3
Northern Illinois 2, Miami 1
Courtesy of MAC Athletic Communications
Ball State 7, Western Michigan 1
Ball State 5, Western Michigan 4
Results
Results
MUNCIE, Ind. - - The Ball State softball team picked up a pair of crucial Mid-American Conference West Division wins Friday afternoon, sweeping Western Michigan by scores of 7-1 and 5-4 at the Softball Field at First Merchants Ballpark Complex.
With the wins, the Cardinals improve to 23-20 (9-2 MAC) and are currently in sole possession of first place in the league standings after Kent State (29-10 / 8-3 MAC) split a doubleheader at Central Michigan. The Broncos drop to 15-19 (6-4 MAC) with the losses.
“I was extremely proud of the way we performed today,” Ball State head coach Tyra Perry said. “I thought we turned in a great team effort, attacked from the first pitch and stayed steady throughout both games. There were some moments in there where it could go either way, and we stayed strong, stayed confident and played great softball.”
The Ball State softball team returns to action Saturday at 1 p.m. when it hosts Northern Illinois in another important MAC West twinbill. The two teams were originally scheduled to play single games Saturday and Sunday, but the threat of rain Sunday led to a change in the schedule.
Following the conclusion of Saturday's twinbill, the Cardinals will celebrate senior day by honoring Loren Cihlar (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North) , Jessica Craft (LaPorte, Ind./LaPorte) and Hanne Stuedemann (Mattawan, Mich./Mattawan).
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State softball, follow the team on Twitter: @BallStateSB and @TyraPerry13 / Instagram: ballstatesb / Facebook: BallStateSoftball.
GAME 1 RECAP: Ball State 7 – Western Michigan 1
Once again junior shortstop Selena Reyna (Houston, Texas/South Houston) got the Ball State offense rolling in the bottom of the first, leading off the inning with a single up the middle. After a groundout from Cihlar moved Reyna to second, junior second baseman Emily Dabkowski (Plainfield, Ind./South Putnam) drew a walk to give BSU a pair of base runners. Two batters later, Craft drove a double to the right-center field gap to bring in Ball State’s first two runs of the game.
After throwing three straight games without allowing an earned run, the only blemish on another strong outing by junior pitcher Nicole Steinbach (Merrillville, Ind./Andrean) came in the top of the second when WMU’s Melissa Palmer led off the inning with a home run. From there, however, Steinbach dominated as she limited the Broncos to just five hits and the one run over the course of 7.0 innings of work. She also struck out six batters and did not issue a single walk to improve to 12-10 on the year.
The Ball State offense came to life again in the fourth, extending the lead to 6-1 with four more runs. Dabkowski was hit by a pitch to open the inning, while Stuedemann and Craft notched back-to-back singles to load the bases. Following a Western Michigan pitching change, sophomore designated player Shelbie Scamihorn (Terre Haute, Ind./South Vigo) dropped a bloop single into right-center field to bring home the first run of the inning.
Junior first baseman Sammi Cowger (Fenton, Mich./Fenton) drove in the second run of the inning with a hard groundout to her counterpart on the Broncos defense. Sophomore pinch hitter Rachel Houck (Greenfield, Ind./Mt. Vernon/Louisville) followed with a two-run double to left field giving Ball State the 6-1 lead.
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The Cardinals scored their final run of the opening game in the bottom of the fifth on a sacrifice fly from Stuedemann. Cihlar scored on the play after singling to open the inning and advancing to third on a single from Dabkowski.
GAME 2 RECAP: Ball State 5 – Western Michigan 4
Long ball was the name of the game for the Cardinals in the nightcap, as all five of Ball State’s runs came via the home run in a 5-4 victory.
Ball State’s first homer was a three-run blast off the bat of Stuedemann in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, Cihlar singled down the left field line, while Dabkowski drew a walk to set up Stuedemann’s 25th career home run.
After Western Michigan countered with two runs in the top of the third inning, a solo blast from Dabkowski in the bottom half of the inning helped the Cardinals pull ahead by two at 4-2. The home run was Dabkowski’s 11th of the season.
Western Michigan used a two-run double from Jenny Rohn to tie the score at 4-4 in the top of the fourth, only to have another Ball State home run in the bottom of the inning stop their momentum. This time it was Cowger who would go yard for the Cardinals’ offense, as her third long ball of the season also stood up to be the game-winning run.
After entering the game in relief in the bottom of the fourth, junior pitcher Kelsey Schifferdecker (Belton, Mo./Belton) would shut down the WMU offense to pick up her first win of the season. Over the final 3.1 innings, Schifferdecker held the Broncos to just three hits and a pair of walks. She also recorded a strikeout to improve to 1-1 on the year.
Eastern Michigan 15, Buffalo 7
Eastern Michigan 7, Buffalo 0
Results
Resuls
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University softball team not only picked up its first home win of the 2015 season, but swept its Mid-American Conference doubleheader against the University at Buffalo, April 17. The Eagles nabbed a five-inning 15-7 win before defeating the Bulls 5-2 in game two.
Coincidentally, the last time Eastern mercied a team was exactly three years ago when EMU took down Detroit, 8-0, in six innings. Furthermore, the last time the Eagles have defeated a team in five innings was also in the 2012 season when they took down the Bulls, 13-4, Mar. 30.
The Eagles (12-24, 3-6 MAC) posted a season-best 24 hits through two games, paced by junior Abi Clark who went 5-for-7 on the afternoon with two RBI, while Taylor Wagner went 4-for-7 at the dish and drove in 5 runs for the Green and White. Freshman Haley Hostetler also had four hits on the day for EMU with 1 RBI, while both Jenn Lucas and Michelle Kriegshauser had three hits apiece for Eastern with three and two RBI, respectively. Senior hurler Lindsay Rich (8-16) nabbed the win in game one, going all five innings, while Alyssa Huntley (2-1) earned the victory in game two, tossing 2.2 innings of relief.
UB tallied 16 hits on the afternoon with Alexis Curtiss going 4-for-8 at the plate with 3 RBI, while Lauren Gambone went 3-for-6 with two RBI and Danielle Lallos went 3-for-5 for the Bulls. Pitcher Charlotte Miller suffered the loss in game one, throwing 2.2 innings, while Bobbi Langlois was defeated in game two, throwing five innings.
Game One: Eastern Michigan 15, Buffalo 7
The Eagle posted a season-best 18 hits and 15 runs in game one with Clark going 4-for-4 at the plate with two RBI while Wagner went 3-for-4 at the dish with three RBI and scoring three runs for the Green and White. Four other EMU players had multi-hit contests for Eastern and Brandice Olmos drove in three runs to secure the mercy. Rich garnered the win in the circle, pitching all five innings with two strikeouts.
Curtiss had three hits and two RBI for the Bulls, while Lallos went 2-for-2 at the plate. In the circle, Miller suffered the loss, tossing 2.2 innings and Madison Vaught pitched two innings of relief.
A leadoff double to the left field fence followed by a walk proved to be detrimental for the Green and White when Hayley Barrow launched a three-run home run over the left field wall to take a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
After the Bulls retired the back-to-back outs, Kriegshauser knocked a shallow single to center field before Clark roped a double down the left field line to put runners on second and third for Wagner. The sophomore catcher stepped up for EMU and placed a shallow double on the right field line. Rich helped herself when she lined a double to the right center fence to knot the score at 3-3 in the bottom of the first inning.
Eastern used a single from Hostetler and a stolen base to put a runner in scoring position before Lucas singled right past the shortstop to bring in Hostetler and allow EMU to take the 4-3 lead. Kriegshauser reached first on a walk, while a passed ball advanced Lucas to third. Clark picked up her second hit of the day when she hit a shallow sky-high double to left center field, extending the Eagle lead to 5-3 in the bottom of the second.
For the third-straight inning, Eastern rallied with two outs on the scoreboard to score seven runs off of eight hits and two Buffalo errors in the bottom of the third inning, including six-straight hits through the heart of the lineup. The Eagles first run of the inning came in when pinch hitter Katy Wyman ripped a double to left center field before Hostetler singled to center field, which would allow EMU to take a 7-3 lead. The Green and White continued its two-out rally with two-straight singles and a double that brought in three runs for Eastern Michigan. The Eagles used two more singles to bring in two final runs to take the comfortable 12-4 lead into the top of the fourth inning.
UB came within eight of Eastern when Curtiss drove a one-out home run over the right field fence, while Savanna Norcio followed it up with a single through the left side of the for the Bulls. EMU recorded the second out of the inning with a ball to the center field fence, but Buffalo field used a hit to the edge of the right field grass, scoring a run for the Bulls. With runners on base, Rich came up with a swinging strikeout to end the innings before Buffalo was able to push any other runs across the plate.
The Bulls continued to work their way back into the contest in the top of the fifth inning when a single through the left side of the field scored the runner from third base as Buffalo trailed 12-6 with only one out and runners on the corners. A slow roller to second base allowed the Eagles to record the second run of the inning but not before UB brought in its second run with the hit to the opposite side of the field. Clark caught a sharp-hit liner to first base, giving EMU the final out it needed in the inning.
Eastern Michigan used two-straight singles and a walk to load the bases in the bottom half of the fifth inning before Olmos stepped in a double to the right center gap, clearing the bases and securing the 15-7 mercy in game one.
Game Two: Eastern Michigan 5, Buffalo 2
Eastern picked up right where they left off in game one when Kriegshauser reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to third on a double from Clark. Both runners came across the plate when Wagner roped a single down the left field line to give EMU the early 2-0 advantage in game two.
The Bulls came within one of Eastern Michigan in the top of the fourth inning when Gambone launched a homer over the center field fence, bringing the score to 2-1.
The Bulls knotted the score at 2-2 when Curtiss doubled off the right wall to plate Leandra Jew and force an EMU pitching change in the fifth inning.
The Eagles took back its two-run lead in the bottom of the fifth inning when Elaine Whitbeck reached first on an UB fielding error and touched home on a Lucas home run over the right field fence. Kriegshauser followed Lucas with a homer of her own over the right field wall, extending the Eastern lead to 5-2 in the fifth.
Due to expected inclement weather Sunday, April 19, the Eagles and Kent State University will play a doubleheader at Varsity Field Saturday, April 18. Game one is slated to start at 2 p.m.
Kent State 7, Central Michigan 0
Central Michigan 5, Kent State 0
Results
Results
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Kent State opened the weekend with a decisive 7-0 victory over Central Michigan on Friday to become just the second Mid-American Conference softball program with 1,000 wins.
It was a fitting opponent win for No. 1,000, as Central Michigan is the only other MAC school that has reach the victory total on the softball diamond.
"It has been an honor to be a part of this storied program and to get the 1,000th win," said head coach Karen Linder, who has led the Golden Flashes to 536 wins over the past 19 seasons. "Congratulation goes to all of the previous and present players and coaches for making Kent State softball one of the premier programs in the MAC and region. Our alumni deserves so much credit for their contributions throughout the years."
Kent State (29-10, 8-3 MAC) rode the arm of senior Emma Johnson, who tossed 6.2 innings of hitless ball. At the plate, eight players combined for 10 hits. Junior Shelbi Tilton led the way with three hits while driving in three runs.
The Golden Flashes fell 4-0 in the nightcap, as they were unable to come through with timely hitting and left nine runners on base, including five in the final two innings.
Game 1: Kent State 7, Central Michigan 0
Emma Johnson nearly gave Kent State its 1,000th win in style, but Karly Hansen delivered a single up the middle with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning for Central Michigan's only hit of the game. Johnson recorded her seventh shutout of the season to improve to 15-5. She had 10 strikeouts while walking four and hitting one.
"Emma and Erika Warren did a great job in the first game," said Linder. "We were in total control of the game both offensively and defensively."
Patience at the plate proved to be rewarding as the first two batters of the game drew walks. Following a groundout to move both runners into scoring position, Holly Speers gave the Flashes a 1-0 lead with a single to the left side of the infield. Shelbi Tilton followed with a single to left field that scored another run. Tilton and Speers both advanced an extra base on an error, but were unable to go any further when a fly out and strikeout ended the inning.
Clutch timely hitting helped Kent State break the game open in the fifth, as it scored five runs with two outs. Tilton brought two runs in with a single up the middle. Michele Duffy followed with another single. After advancing on a wild pitch, Tilton and Duffy scored on a double by Janel Hayes. Pinch hitter Ronnie Ladines made it four straight hits with a single up the middle that scored pinch runner Chloe Kesterson.
While the Flashes collected 10 hits in the game, Tilton was the only player with multiple hits. She went 3-for-4 with three RBIs.
Ohio 7, Bowling Green 2
Bowling Green 7, Ohio 3
Results
Results
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -- The Ohio softball team split a doubleheader with Mid-American Conference opponent Bowling Green (14-21, 5-7 MAC) on Friday afternoon at Meserve Field. The Bobcats (13-23, 5-5 MAC) defeated the Falcons 7-2 in game one, and fell 7-3 in the second game.
The Bobcats jumped on the board in the top of the first inning. Amanda Dalton (Salem, Va.) led off with a base hit and then Sloan Walker (Cypress, Texas) would advance her to second with a bunt single. Adrienne Gebele (Annapolis, M.D.) would then walk to load the bases, then on the first pitch of the at bat, Madison Claytor (Alpharetta, Ga.) smoked the ball into leftfield for the two-RBI single scoring Dalton and Walker and putting Ohio up 2-0.
Bowling Green tied the game up at 2-2 in the bottom of the frame on a two-run single to leftfield by Morgan Evangelista. However, that would be the last time the Falcons would score, as the Bobcat pitching would hold Bowling Green to no runs over the next six inning.
The Bobcats retook the lead in the top of the second inning when Timmie Rappe (Wheaton, Ill.) scored on an error by the catcher, giving Ohio a 3-2 advantage.
After two scoreless innings, the Bobcats added on another run. This time, Walker led the inning off with a base hit, she would then steal second and later in the inning, she would steal third and then score on an error by the catcher, putting Ohio up 4-2.
The Bobcats added on in the top of the seventh inning. Dalton would start the inning by reaching first on a throwing error by the third baseman and then advance to third when Walker recorded her fourth base hit of the game. Dalton would then score when they next batter, Casie Hutchinson (Lebanon, Ohio) singled home Dalton and then Walker would score when Raven King (Alpine, Utah) roped a ball into right center. The Bobcats would score their final run of the inning when Hutchinson scored on an infield single by Gebele, putting Ohio up 7-2, which would be the final.
At the plate, the Bobcats has 11 total hits, with Walker leading the way, going 4-for-4 with three runs scored. Dalton went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and King went 2-for-4 with one run batted in. Claytor added a hit and two RBIs and Rappe and Hutchinson each had a hit with a run scored.
In the circle, Mikayla Cooper (Delaware, Ohio) got the start, going three and two-thirds innings, allowing two runs on four hits and striking out four. Lauren McClary (Pasadena, Texas) took over in the fourth and pitched three and a thirds innings and did not allow a run on three hits, all while striking out three.
The Bobcats threatened in the top of the fourth inning when Walker led off with a base hit and then advance to second on a sacrifice bunt by Hutchinson and then third on a passed ball. However, the Bobcats would not score.
In the second game of the doubleheader, it took until the bottom of the fourth inning for any scoring to take place. In the bottom of the fourth, Amanda Durham hit a two-run homerun to Bowling Green up 2-0. Bowling Green would add on in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring four runs to take a 6-0 lead.
The Bobcats cut the Bowling Green lead in half in the top of the sixth inning when Rappe led off the inning getting hit by a pitch. Walker would then single to put two runners on. Hutchinson then grounded into a fielder's choice, setting up King to smash a three-run bomb to straight away center, cutting the score to 6-3.
The Falcons added on one run in the bottom of the sixth inning on an RBI double by Chloe Giordano to put BGSU up 7-3, which would be the final.
At the plate, the Bobcats had seven hits. Walker led the way, going 2-for-3. King went 1-for-3 with a homeruns, a run scored and three RBIs. Dalton, Gebele, Cooper and Pyles all had hits and Hutchinson and Rappe each had a run scored.
In the circle, McClary got the start, pitching five and two-thirds innings, allowing six runs on seven hits and striking out six. Sydney Compston (Wellston, Ohio) allowed one run on one hit and Cooper pitched a third of an inning, striking out the only batter she faced.
The Bobcats return to action tomorrow afternoon against Toledo. Due to rain in the forecast for Sunday, the series will now be a doubleheader on Saturday, April 18. Game one is set to begin at 1 p.m. with game two to follow at 3 p.m. inside the Scott Park Softball Complex.
Toledo 3, Akron 2
Akron 2, Toledo 1
Results
Results
TOLEDO, OH - The Toledo softball team split its doubleheader against Akron on Friday at Scott Park, dropping game one, 2-1 in nine innings, but winning a game two nailbiter 3-2.
The Rockets improve to 18-25 overall this season and 3-9 in conference play.
In game one, Toledo outhit the Zips 9-6, but could not manage a run after scoring one in the bottom of the first inning. Following walks to senior IF Allissa Turkovich and freshman IF Samantha Showalter, junior OF Jessica Lemieux stepped to the plate and hit a single off the pitcher's glove, scoring Turkovich from third.
Lemieux went 1-for-3 in the game, while senior OF Alyssa Smith led the way with a 3-for-4 game from the No. 9 spot in the lineup. Sophomore IF Chandler Rice also had a multi-hit game, going 2-for-5.
The Zips tied the game at one in the top of the fourth and the game was held scoreless through the next four innings.
Sophomore P Emily Anderson had a strong outing, going nine innings and allowing just six hits and one earned run with one walk and six strikeouts. She suffered her 12th loss of the season.
A solo home run to right center by Akron's Taryn Allmon ended as the game winning run, as the Rockets could not match in the bottom of the frame.
In game two, it was Akron's turn to strike first, going ahead 1-0 in the top of the first inning.
Toledo tied the game in the bottom of the fourth, as Lemieux stole three bases, including home after a single to center field.
After the Zips took the lead back in the top of the fifth, the Midnight Blue & Gold answered, as Lemieux once again came through. A two-run single up the middle scored graduate transfer SS Nichole Toven and Rice to give Toledo the 3-2 lead.
Junior P Marla Gooding held off the Akron offensive attack the next inning, and Anderson came in for her fourth save of the year with a 1-2-3 inning in the final frame.
Gooding pitched six innings, and allowed just one earned run with one walk and one strikeout.
The Rockets will conclude the weekend tomorrow, as Sunday's game against Ohio was flexed into a doubleheader on Saturday. Game one of the league doubleheader will begin at 1:00 p.m. at Scott Park.\\\
Miami 4, Northern Illinois 3
Northern Illinois 2, Miami 1
Results
Results
OXFORD, Ohio – After it dropped the opening game of its doubleheader to Northern Illinois, 2-1, senior first baseman Shanyn McIntyre made sure the Miami University softball team went home happy on Friday, blasting a walk-off double to lead the RedHawks to a 4-3 win. Miami is now 24-17 on the season and 8-4 in the Mid-American Conference. The Huskies are 22-18 overall and 6-4 in the MAC.
The opening game was a classic pitcher’s duel between the ‘Hawks Amber Logemann and NIU’s Keegan Hayes. While Miami was able to tag Hayes for eight hits, it was never able to string together the hits it needed to put the game away.
The RedHawks got their run in the bottom of the third inning. Senior outfielder Tiyona Marshall led off with a single to third base. Junior designated player Tanya Busby reached on a fielder’s choice bunt, moving Marshall up to second. Junior second baseman Eryn McCarver also reached on a fielder’s choice; after retiring Busby on the play the NIU second baseman threw the ball away allowing Marshall to score.
Logemann held Miami’s 1-0 advantage until the top of the seventh. Alaynie Wollard led off the frame with a home run over the leftfield wall to tie the score. After a couple of outs were recorded, a double followed by a single brought in another run to put the Huskies in front, 2-1. The RedHawks got a baserunner on in the bottom of the seventh, but were unable to bring her home.
Marshall finished the opener 2-for-4 with one run scored. Senior third baseman Remy Edwards was 2-for-2. Logemann took the hard-luck loss, giving up two runs on four hits in seven innings pitched. She struck out seven.
Sophomore Kelsey Fredericks and Edwards combined to keep Northern Illinois off the board for the first three innings of the nightcap. With two out and a runner on third in the top of the fourth, an infield single off of Edwards allowed the Huskies to take a 1-0 lead.
Miami answered with two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Edwards led off with a single to right center. Senior shortstop Kylie McChesney bunted into a fielder’s choice; Edwards was retired at second. Busby reached on a throwing error, while a walk by McCarver loaded the bases with one out. Junior outfielder Taylor Shuey then hit a slow roller to the shortstop. The NIU shortstop was unable to get the runner at third as McChesney scored to tie the game. McIntyre followed with an infield single to short of her own, allowing Busby to score and give the RedHawks a 2-1 lead.
Logemann came in to pitch in the top of the sixth. The Huskies used a pair of hits to tie the score in the top of the sixth, while a leadoff home run in the top of the seventh put them in front, 3-2.
With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Busby reached on an infield error by the right fielder (she was playing in the infield on a shift). McCarver then reached on a fielding error. A walk from Shuey loaded the bases with one out. McIntyre came up and hit a blast that went over the centerfielder’s head and all the way to the wall. Busby and McCarver easily scored, allowing Miami to take a dramatic, 4-3, victory.
McIntyre finished the nightcap 3-for-4 with three RBI. Shuey was 2-for-3 with one RBI, while Busby was 1-for-4 with two runs scored. Logemann earned the victory to improve to 20-7 on the season. She is only the fourth different pitcher in school history to record 20 victories.
Miami returns to action on Saturday when it hosts Western Michigan. Due to the rain in the forecast on Sunday, this will now be a doubleheader. The first game will begin at 2 p.m., with the nightcap following 20 minutes after the first game’s conclusion. Following the doubleheader, there will be a staff vs. alumnae slow-pitch softball game.
