Saturday's Softball Results
Saturday's Scoreboard
Ball State 9, Akron 3
Kent State 2, Toledo 0
Miami 4, Ohio 1
Western Michigan 3, Eastern Michigan 2
Courtesy of MAC Athletic Communications
Ball State 9, Akron 3
Box Score
AKRON, Ohio - - A pair of two-run singles from senior left fielder Loren Cihlar (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North) helped lift the Ball State softball team to a 9-3 Mid-American Conference victory Saturday afternoon at Akron’s Lee R. Jackson Field.
With the win, the Cardinals improve to 27-22 on the year and maintain a share of the top spot in the league standings with a 12-4 MAC record. The Zips fall to 20-23 (7-9 MAC) after suffering its third league loss of the weekend.
Junior shortstop Selena Reyna (Houston, Texas/South Houston) wasted little time getting the Cardinals on the scoreboard, leading off the game with a solo home run.
Ball State would extend its lead to 3-0 in the top of the second inning thanks to Cihlar's first two-run single of the day. Freshman third baseman Julia Bailey (Lafayette, La./Teurlings Catholic) and sophomore center fielder Taylor Cooley (Chelsea, Mich./Chelsea) scored on the play after reaching base on a fielder’s choice and single, respectively. A sacrifice bunt from Reyna then moved the pair of base runners into scoring position, setting up Cihlar’s first two RBI hit.
The Zips countered with single runs in the bottom of the second, third and fourth innings to eventually even the score at 3-3. However, another strong relief appearance from junior pitcher Kelsey Schifferdecker (Belton, Mo./Belton) kept Akron off the board the remainder of the day. In earning her fourth win of the season (4-1), Schifferdecker limited the Zips’ offense to just three hits and a walk over the final 3.1 innings.
After being held silent for three straight innings, the Cardinals rallied behind a one-out home run from junior first baseman Sammi Cowger (Fenton, Mich./Fenton) in the top of the sixth to take control of the game. Following the solo blast which proved to be the game-winning run, sophomore pinch hitter Rachel Houck (Greenfield, Ind./Mt. Vernon/Louisville) and Cooley notched back-to-back singles, while a walk to Reyna loaded the bases. Cihlar followed with her second two-run single of the game, giving Ball State a 6-3 edge.
The Cardinals’ rally was not complete, however, as junior second baseman Emily Dabkowski (Plainfield, Ind./South Putnam) capped the scoring with a three-run home run to left-center field. It was Dabkowski’s team-leading 14th long ball of the season.
Overall, four Cardinals finished the day with a pair of hits apiece, including Reyna, Cihlar, Cooley and senior right fielder Hanne Stuedemann (Mattawan, Mich./Mattawan) who has reached base safely in each of the last 25 games. Cihlar led Ball State with four RBI, while Dabkowski tallied three.
Junior Nicole Steinbach (Merrillville, Ind./Andrean) started the game in the circle for Ball State, limiting Akron to six hits and three runs over the game’s first 3.2 innings.
Ball State and Akron will cap their two-game set Sunday, with a schedule 1 p.m. first pitch at Lee R. Jackson field in Akron, Ohio.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State softball, follow the team on Twitter: @BallStateSB and @TyraPerry13 / Instagram: ballstatesb / Facebook: BallStateSoftball.
Kent State 2, Toledo 0
Box Score
TOLEDO, Ohio - Senior Emma Johnson nearly matched Friday's no-hitter on Saturday afternoon by holding host Toledo to only two hits in Kent State's 2-0 win.
It is the ninth shutout of the season for Johnson, who extended her scoreless innings streak to 23 while improving to 18-5. She recorded nine strikeouts in the game to pass Brittney Robinson for second on Kent State's career strikeouts list (864).
Kent State (34-11, 12-4 MAC) used back-to-back hits and an error to take a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning. Holly Speers hit a one-out double to centerfield. Michele Duffy followed with a single that dropped just in front of the center fielder. Speers held at second on the play until it dropped, and the throw to third base got away to allow her to score and Duffy to move all the way to third. Duffy was then thrown out at the plate on a ball hit back to the pitcher by Janel Hayes, and the Flashes were unable to put any more runs on the board in the inning.
In the fifth, Kim Kirkpatrick tripled to left-center and scored on a single up the middle by Dani Ramos.
"We have won the last three games with great pitching, defense and timely hitting," head coach Karen Linder said. "Emma and Erika did another great job and the defense played excellent. Holly had a huge diving catch late in the game. In both innings we scored, we were able to put back-to-back hits together to do so."
Kent State and Toledo will meet again on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Miami 4, Ohio 1
Box Score
ATHENS, Ohio – Junior pitcher Amber Logemann’s great weekend continued as she led the Miami University softball team to a 4-1 victory over Ohio on Saturday. The RedHawks improve to 28-20 on the season and 11-6 in the Mid-American Conference. The Bobcats fall to 15-27 overall and 7-8 in the MAC.
With the victory, Miami clinched a spot in the upcoming MAC Tournament, which is double-elimination and takes place May 6-9 at the Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio.
Logemann allowed only one run on the day, which was unearned after an error in the bottom of the third inning. She gave up only two hits in 7.0 innings pitched, striking out four. For the weekend, Logemann has given up no earned runs and only five hits in 23.0 innings pitched.
The RedHawks got on the board right away with a run in the top of the first inning. Senior outfielder Tiyona Marshall led off with a double to left center. Junior designated player Tanya Busby sacrifice bunted her over to third. A sacrifice fly by sophomore second baseman Eryn McCarver allowed Marshall to come home and give Miami a 1-0 lead.
With two outs in the top of the third, McCarver singled to centerfield. Senior first baseman Shanyn McIntyre followed with her sixth home run of the season. The two-run shot over the left centerfield wall put the RedHawks in front, 3-0.
Ohio got on the board in the bottom of the third when a single, a sacrifice bunt and an error cut its deficit to 3-1.
Miami completed its scoring in the top of the sixth inning. With one out, freshman pinch-hitter Kaitlyn Gliha singled. Senior outfielder Bree Lipscomb reentered the game to run for her. A walk by freshman catcher Rylee Whispel moved Lipscomb to second. A single to shortstop by senior third baseman Remy Edwards loaded the bases. Junior pinch-hitter Hailey Reed just missed hitting a home run out to rightfield, but Lipscomb was able to come home on the play, finishing off the ‘Hawks 4-1 win.
McIntyre finished the game 1-for-3 with two RBI and one run scored. Marshall was 2-for-4 with one run scored, while Busby also had two hits on the day.
Miami completes its weekend series with the Bobcats on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Western Michigan 3, Eastern Michigan 2
Box Score
KALAMAZOO, Mich.- Sophomore first baseman Marlee Wilson smashed a two-run home run in the fourth and senior center fielder Jenny Rohn hit a two-out RBI single in the third to lead Western Michigan softball over Eastern Michigan 3-2 Saturday at Fran Ebert Field.
Junior pitcher Allyson Kus hurled a complete game allowing just four hits and one earned run while striking out four. Kus upped her record in the circle to 8-7.
Eastern Michigan turned a leadoff walk by Haley Hostetler into a run in the first inning. Hostetler stole second and scored on a two-out single through the left side by Abi Clark.
The Bronco offense got something going with two outs in the bottom of the third. Sophomore left fielder Ivy Schaaf blasted a single up the middle and senior catcher Taylor Sanicki drew a walk. Rohn came through with an RBI single through the right side.
In the bottom of the fourth, sophomore Kelsea Cichocki roped a ball down the left field line for her fourth double of the season. With two outs, Wilson drove a 2-0 pitch out over the field in left center for her third home run of the year.
Clark reached for Eastern Michigan in the lead off at bat in the top of the sixth on a Bronco fielding error. The Eagles pushed the run across to make for a 3-2 score on a squeeze bunt by Taylor Wagner that turned into extra bases. Kus got out of the inning however recording the third out with a strikeout. Kus went on to retire the Eagles in order in the top of the seventh to complete the victory.
Lindsay Rich (9-18) took the loss for Eastern Michigan yielding three runs, five hits and four walks while striking out two.
Western Michigan (19-21, 9-6 MAC) and Eastern Michigan (15-28, 4-10 MAC) return to Fran Ebert Field tomorrow for the Broncos’ regular season home finale and WMU Senior Day. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
