Saturday's Softball Results
Saturday's Softball Scoreboard
Akron 6, Bowling Green 1
Akron 8, Bowling Green 0
Ball State 7, Northern Illinois 6
Northern Illinois 4, Ball State 2
Kent State 2, Eastern Michigan 1
Eastern Michigan 2, Kent State 0
Western Michigan 1, Miami 0
Western Michigan 2, Miami 1
Central Michigan 5, Buffalo 3
Buffalo 4, Central Michigan 2
Toledo 4, Ohio 3
Ohio 3, Toledo 2
Akron 6, Bowling Green 1
Akron 8, Bowling Green 0
Results
Results
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The University of Akron softball team swept a Mid-American Conference twinbill at Bowling Green on Saturday afternoon at the Meserve Field.
Akron won the first game, 6-1, and swept the Falcons, 8-0 in five innings, in the night cap.
The Zips stand to 20-20 overall and 7-6 in MAC play, while the Falcons fell to 14-23 overall and 5-9 in league play. Akron has won nine of its last 12 games, including seven of its last nine games in MAC play.
"We were pleased with all aspects of our game today," head coach Julie Jones said. "Erin had a solid day and kept them in-check through both games. Our offense came to play and hit the ball hard. In the first inning of game two, we executed a lot of the things we work on very well. It was very good day for the Zips."
In game one, BGSU scored a run in the bottom of the first, but the Zips retaliated with a run in the top of the second. Senior outfielder Sara Pearson (Somerville, Ohio) had an RBI single, scoring sophomore outfielder Savannah Fruin (Del Ray Beach, Fla.), who reached on an error.
The Zips went ahead for good with two runs in the fifth. Sophomore third baseman Alyssa Nicholas (Cortland, Ohio) hit a two-RBI home run to left field.
UA added insurance runs in the sixth and seventh.
Junior right-hander Erin Seiler (Bowling Green, Ohio) picked up her 19th win of the season, hurling the complete game. She struck out seven batters and walked none.
Overall, Akron out-hit BGSU, 11-3. The Falcons has four fielding errors, while the Zips had none.
In the second game, the Zips scored five runs in the first after two outs. Senior outfielder Taryn Allmon (Grove City, Ohio) hit an RBI single, scoring senior second baseman Kellie Roudabush (Hilliard, Ohio), who reached on an error. Freshman designated player Taylor Kirian (New Riegel, Ohio), singled to the left for two RBI, scoring Allmon and Nicholas. Fruin scored on an error after reaching on a fielder's choice. Junior catcher McKenzi Rhodes (Marengo, Ohio) drove in the final run with a single, scoring Fruin.
Akron sealed the run-rule win in the fourth with three insurance runs. Nicholas singled, bringing home Wildey, while Kirian doubled, scoring Fruin and Nicholas.
Seiler (20-12 overall, 7-5 MAC) earned her second win on the day. She struck out seven and walked none.
Overall, Akron out-hit BGSU, 9-4. Bowling Green committed three errors while Akron had none.
Akron returns to Lee R. Jackson Field for an eight-game homestand. The Zips host Dayton in a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday, April 22, at 3 p.m.
Kent State 2, Eastern Michigan 1
Eastern Michigan 2, Kent State 0
Results
Results
YPSILANTI, Mich. - Outstanding pitching performances from both teams highlighted the day, as Kent State split two games against Eastern Michigan on Saturday. The Golden Flashes came out on top in an 11-inning opening game, 2-1, but lost in the nightcap, 2-0.
Kent State (30-11, 9-4 MAC) received stellar pitching from senior Emma Johnson and sophomore Ronnie Ladines, who combined to fan 19 Eagles while surrendering just one run and six hits over 14.2 innings.
The Golden Flashes collected seven hits in both games, but did not have an extra-base hit. The Flashes also struggled in producing the timely hitting needed to score runs and left 19 runners on base.
Freshman Holly Speers reached safely in six of her eight plate appearances with five hits and a walk. Senior Kim Kirkpatrick and sophomore Paige McCrary added two hits each.
Game 1: Kent State 2, Eastern Michigan 1 (11 innings)
For the second day in a row, Emma Johnson (16-5) was dominant in the circle for the Golden Flashes. Johnson allowed just one run and four hits in 11 innings on her way to a 15-strikeout day.
As the pressure continued to grow with each passing inning of a tied game, Johnson continued to get better. After allowing a run in the fourth inning on a walk, a single and two sacrifice bunts, Kent State's ace held Eastern Michigan to just one hit the rest of the way. Johnson retired the final 11 batters she faced and kept the Eagles without a hit over the final 6.1 innings of the ballgame.
Kent State did not need a hit to score the winning run in the 11th. With one out, Ronnie Ladines reached after being hit by a pitch. Brooke Dodson laid down a sacrifice bunt that allowed pinch runner Chloe Kesterson to advance into scoring position. Janel Hayes then sent a fly ball into shallow right field that the second baseman was unable to haul in, allowing Kesterson to come home.
It was an error in the third inning that aided the Flashes in scoring the first run of the game. Kim Kirkpatrick started the inning with a single. Kirkpatrick then swiped second and was able to move to third when the throw went into the outfield. Maddy Grimm brought her home with a single that just got past the second baseman.
Holly Speers went 3-for-4 in the game, while Kirkpatrick added two hits.
Game 2: Eastern Michigan 2, Kent State 0
Kent State outhit Eastern Michigan, 7-6, and had the leadoff batter reach safely in five innings, but went just 2-for-15 with runners on base and could not score a run.
Eastern Michigan scored on a Michelle Kriegshauser solo home run in the top of the first inning and an Abi Clark double in the third.
Kent State had its best scoring opportunity in the fifth. Arika Roush led off with a single but was thrown out at second on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Paige McCrary. Lauren Kesterson followed with a single and both runners moved into scoring position after a groundout on the right side of the infield. Dani Ramos drew a walk to keep the inning alive and load the bases, but the Eagles got out of the jam with a huge strikeout.
Down to its final three outs, Kent State started the seventh inning with a single by McCrary. After back-to-back outs, Ramos singled to bring the go-ahead run to the plate. However, Ramos was retired on the way to second on a ball hit to the second baseman to end the game.
Alyssa Frankenfield (3-1) got the start in the circle and earned her first loss of the season. Frankenfield had one strikeout while allowing two runs and four hits in 2.1 innings. Ronnie Ladines threw 3.2 scoreless innings in relief and had four strikeouts while not walking any batters.
The Eagles found their offense early in game two when Kriegshauser drove a two-out solo home run over the right center field wall to give EMU the early 1-0 lead.
Eastern extended its lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the third with a Jenn Lucas leadoff single followed by an Abi Clark double in the left center gap.
Kent State struggled offensively in game two against Rich as the senior hurler kept it to four hits through the first five innings, while the Golden Flashes stranded six batters.
Rich continued to force Kent State into outs, allowing just two hits in the final two innings of work as the Eagles went on to shutout the MAC East leaders in game two of the doubleheader.
Eastern Michigan will remain in Ypsilanti for a mid-week doubleheader against Youngstown State University Wednesday, April 22. Game one is slated to start at 2 p.m.
Ball State 7, Northern Illinois 6
Northern Illinois 4, Ball State 2
Results
Results
MUNCIE, Ind. - - The Ball State softball team celebrated senior day with a doubleheader split versus Northern Illinois on a beautiful Saturday afternoon at the Softball Field at First Merchants Ballpark Complex.
After suffering a 4-2 (9 inning) loss to the Huskies in the opener, the Cardinals rallied behind the strong play of its seniors in the nightcap to pull out a thrilling 7-6 come-from-behind victory. With the spilt, Ball State maintains its lead in the overall Mid-American Conference standings with a 24-21 (10-3 MAC) record. Northern Illinois moves to 23-19 (7-5 MAC) with the split.
“Our seniors are three of the hardest-workers I have coached both on the field and in the classroom,” Ball State head coach Tyra Perry said. “They provide leadership every single day. I have had quite a few senior days over my career, and these three exhibit everything you would want in a senior class.”
Including today’s games, Ball State’s senior class of Loren Cihlar (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North), Jessica Craft (LaPorte, Ind./LaPorte) and Hanne Stuedemann (Mattawan, Mich./Mattawan) have led the Cardinals to a 134-72 overall record over their careers, including a 57-13 record in MAC play. Only of only two classes in league history to win three straight MAC regular season titles, joining the 2014 Ball State senior class, this year’s seniors are trying to become the only class in league history to graduate as four-time MAC Champions.
In Saturday’s second game victory, it was a pair of key sixth inning plays by Ball State’s seniors which pushed the Cardinals over the top. Cihlar opened the inning with a double off the third base bag, and after advancing to third on a bunt single from junior second baseman Emily Dabkowski (Plainfield, Ind./South Putnam), scored what proved to be the game-winning run on a sacrifice fly from Stuedemann.
One inning earlier with the Cardinals trailing 6-4, Craft singled up the middle to open the frame and scored the first of two runs as Ball State tied the game on a RBI single from sophomore pinch hitter Amanda Arnett (Monroe, Mich./Monroe) and a NIU error on the throw to first.
Overall, Cihlar finished the second game a home run shy of the cycle with a second inning single, a fourth inning RBI triple and her key double to open the sixth. She scored two runs and also had an RBI. Stuedemann added a two-run double in the second inning of the nightcap to go along with her game-winning sac fly. Craft finished the second game with two hits, a walk and two runs scored.
In the circle for the nightcap, junior Kelsey Schifferdecker (Belton, Mo./Belton) picked up her second win of the weekend by holding the Huskies to six hits and one earned run over 5.2 innings of work, her longest appearance since coming back from injury.
In the opener, Cihlar and Stuedemann combined for three of Ball Sate’s five hits in the game, with two coming from Cihlar who finished the day a combined 5-for-8. Unfortunately, in a game which was played to a 2-2 tie through eight innings, it was a Ball State error which helped the Huskies score a pair of unearned runs in the ninth to pull out a victory.
Not to be lost in the opening game setback was another strong pitching performance from junior Nicole Steinbach (Merrillville, Ind./Andrean) who limited Northern Illinois to eight hits and a pair of earned runs, while striking out seven batters over 9.0 innings.
The Ball State softball team closes the home portion of its 2015 schedule Tuesday, when it hosts Indiana in the final non-conference game of the regular season. First pitch in the game is set for 4 p.m.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State softball, follow the team on Twitter: @BallStateSB and @TyraPerry13 / Instagram: ballstatesb / Facebook: BallStateSoftball.
Western Michigan 1, Miami 0
Western Michigan 2, Miami 1
Results
Results
OXFORD, Ohio – The Western Michigan softball team was dealing from the circle in Oxford on Saturday afternoon, as the Broncos swept both ends of a doubleheader with the Miami RedHawks, winning 1-0 in the early game and 2-1 in the nightcap to improve to 8-4 in Mid-American Conference play. The Broncos are now 17-19 overall in 2015.
WMU claimed both pitchers’ duels thanks to timely hitting, with the Broncos scraping together just enough offense in each game to overcome the RedHawks. Allyson Kus pitched a complete-game shutout in the early game, giving up just six hits in her seven innings. Anissa Sanchez picked up the win in the second game, giving up just one run in five innings, and Kus came on to shut the door on Miami with two shutout innings.
Jenny Rohn went 3-of-5 at the dish with a double, and Melissa Palmer continued her strong weekend with one hit and two RBI over the course of two games. The Broncos picked up both wins despite being held to 11 total hits in the two games, including just two extra-base hits. The Bronocs allowed just two extra-base hits themselves, a double and a solo home run.
The Broncos got the only run they needed in the first game in the top of the first inning, manufacturing a run with smart situational hitting. Ivy Schaaf led off the game with a single to center field and was followed at the dish by Taylor Sanicki, who bunted Schaaf over to second base. Palmer lashed a two-out single to center field to drive in the lone run of the game for the Broncos, making it 1-0 from the start.
Kus put up goose eggs the rest of the way, working her way through a few jams and never letting the RedHawks break through. Miami had runners on second and third with two outs in the bottom of the second inning after Bree Lipscomb lifted a double to deep right center. Kus induced a fly out to escape the damage.
The other tight situation came in the bottom of the sixth inning when the Redhawks loaded the bases with no outs, but Kus was again able to dance between the raindrops. Kat Lee hit into a fielder’s choice that led to Eryn McCarver being thrown out at home plate, and Lipscomb hit a shallow fly ball to right field that wasn’t deep enough to score Taylor Shuey from third. Kus induced a pop-up from Remy Edwards to finish the inning, and the Broncos shut down the RedHawks for the remainder of the game to record the shutout win.
The teams traded zeroes early in the second game but the Broncos got on the board first by once again manufacturing a run. Schaaf singled up the middle to lead off the inning and reached second on a sac bunt by Saniciki. Rohn rapped a single to left-center to advance Schaaf to third base and Palmer brought her home in the next at-bat, poking a long fly ball to right field for a sacrifice fly RBI.
Lipscomb hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth inning to tie the game at 1-1, but the Broncos responded in the top of the seventh to plate the game-deciding run. Geordin Craun reached on a fielder’s choice and Schaaf drove one to deep right center, with Craun scoring on a throwing error by the RedHawks to make it 2-1. Kus pitched a near-perfect bottom of the seventh inning to close it out, inducing a groundout by Lipscomb to end the game and to earn the save.
Toledo 4, Ohio 3
Ohio 3, Toledo 2
Results
Results
TOLEDO, OH - The Toledo softball team split its Mid-American Conference doubleheader against Ohio on Sunday at Scott Park, winning game one, 4-3, but falling in the second game, 3-2.
The Rockets are now 19-26 overall and 4-10 in league play.
In game one, Toledo fell in a 3-0 hole through five innings, but exploded for four runs in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead back.
With one out in the sixth, junior OF Jessica Lemieux singled to center field, and one batter later freshman IF Samantha Showalter singled up the middle. Lemieux scored on a wild pitch to cut the OU lead to 3-1, then freshman C Kaitlyn Bergman stepped to the plate and delivered a two-run single down the right field line to score senior IF Allissa Turkovich and Showalter.
An RBI single up the middle by senior OF Alyssa Smith scored Bergman to conclude the Rockets' scoring.
Lemieux and Showalter both ended the game going 2-for-3 with one run scored, as the Midnight Blue & Gold outhit the Bobcats 9-6.
Sophomore P Emily Anderson earned the victory, her ninth of the season, going the distance and striking out five, while allowing six hits and two earned runs.
In the day's second game, Toledo took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth, as Turkovich scored on a throwing error by the OU catcher.
The Bobcats tied the game on a solo home run to left field, and scored two more runs in the top of the eighth to take a 3-1 lead.
The Rockets threatened in the bottom of the eighth, scoring one run, but a double play by the Bobcats ended the game for the Midnight Blue & Gold.
Lemieux had her second multi-hit game of the day, going 2-for-4 with a triple, while sophomore OF Celeste Fidge also went 2-for-4 in the game.
Graduate transfer SS Nichole Toven went 1-for-4 in the game with a solo home run off the left field foul pole in the eighth.
In the circle, junior P Marla Gooding suffered the lost, pitching 7.1 innings and allowing six hits and three earned runs.
The Rockets are back in action on Wednesday, April 22 with a non-conference game at Notre Dame, and will resume MAC play on Friday, April 24 with a doubleheader against Buffalo at Scott Park.
Central Michigan 5, Buffalo 3
Buffalo 4, Central Michigan 2
Results
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- The Central Michigan softball team earned a doubleheader split with Buffalo Saturday, winning game 1, 5-3, and dropping the second, 4-2, at Margo Jonker Stadium.
CMU's is 19-18, 7-5 in the Mid-American Conference. Buffalo is 9-33, 1-11. Buffalo's win in the nightcap was its first in league play this season.
"I don't think we played as well as I wanted us to against them," said CMU coach Margo Jonker, who watched her team split a MAC doubleheader with Kent State on Friday. "We certainly didn't want to lose a game to Buffalo, but we did and it's disappointing."
The Central Michigan offense was aggressive early Saturday, scoring two runs in the first two innings in both games.
"Well we tried to get ahead, but we didn't keep hitting," said Jonker. "We have had that issue before this year, not so much recently, but we need to not have it happen again."
Rachael Knapp (12-7) started for the Chippewas in game 1 and pitched all seven innings in the win. She gave up eight hits and struck out four.
"Rachael was sick today, so she had a bit of rough time," Jonker said. "I wasn't sure if she was going to pitch at all, but she sucked it up and obviously pitched pretty well for us in the first game."
The Chippewas celebrated Alumnae Day Saturday, recognizing several former Chippewa players.
Former CMU All-American Pam Stanley was honored for her achievements during the fifth inning of game 1 and had her No. 4 jersey retired.
"Other than the game it was a great day as far as so many alumni coming back and Pam Stanley's jersey retirement," Jonker said. "There was some great memories and I'm sure some great stories we'll be telling later."
Katelyn Rentschler and Trista Cox led CMU at the plate in the opener. Both had two hits. Rentschler drove in two runs, while Cox had one RBI, a fifth-inning single that broke a 2-2 tie.
Cox also collected a pair of hits in the nightcap.
"Trista is one of our top hitters," said Jonker. "She is a senior and has done a nice job leading us offensively."
Hanna Warren (5-8) took the circle for the Chippewas in game two and tossed five innings of one hit ball before running into trouble in the sixth, when the Bulls touched her up for four runs on five hits.
The Chippewas committed one error in the inning, and just one of the Bulls' runs was earned.
Chelsea DeLamielleure and Maison Kalina drove in CMU's runs. DeLamielleure finished with two hits.
The Chippewas will play next on April 22 at Michigan in a non-conference game.
