Sunday's Softball Results
Sunday's Scoreboard
Ball State 5, Akron 3
Bowling Green 1, Buffalo 0
Buffalo 3, Bowling Green 1
Kent State 5, Toledo 0
Northern Illinois 2, Central MIchigan 1
Central Michigan 10, Northern Illinois 7
Miami 10, Ohio 1
Western Michigan 3, Eastern Michigan 2
Ball State 5, Akron 3
Box Score
AKRON, Ohio - - Sophomore catcher Shelbie Scamihorn (Terre Haute, Ind./South Vigo) celebrated her birthday with a seventh-inning RBI single to drive in what proved to be the game-winning run as the Ball State softball team topped Akron by a score of 5-3 Sunday afternoon at Lee R. Jackson Field.
With the win, the Cardinals improve to 28-22 (13-4 MAC) and maintain a hold on the top spot in the Mid-American Conference standings. The Zips fall to 20-24 (7-10 MAC) with the loss.
Much like yesterday’s game at Akron, the Cardinals jumped out to an early 3-0 advantage Sunday, this time courtesy of a three-run first inning. Junior shortstop Selena Reyna (Houston, Texas/South Houston) opened the game with a single and advanced to second on a Zips error. Senior left fielder Loren Cihlar (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North) would give the Cardinals runners at the corners after reaching base on a fielder’s choice before advancing to second.
Following back-to-back Ball State outs, senior designated player Jessica Craft (LaPorte, Ind./LaPorte) drove in the game’s first two runs with a double down the left field line. Scamihorn then recorded her first birthday hit with a RBI single to center field, giving the Cardinals a 3-0 edge.
Much like Saturday’s game, however, Akron was able to battle their way back with a lone run in the bottom of the second and a two-spot in the bottom of the fourth to even the score at 3-3.
After a pair of scoreless innings, Ball State would strike for a two of runs in the top of the seventh to break the stalemate. Craft opened the inning with her second double of the day, while Scamihorn followed with a clutch RBI single to drive in what proved to be the game-winning run. With junior pinch runner Kirsten O’Conner (Muncie, Ind./Cowan/Evansville) at second for Scamihorn, junior first baseman Sammi Cowger (Fenton, Mich./Fenton) singled to drive in an insurance run for the Cardinals.
Junior relief pitcher Nicole Steinbach (Merrillville, Ind./Andrean) would retire the Zips in order in the bottom of the seventh to secure the win. Over 2.2 innings of relief work, Steinbach limited Akron to just one hit to improve to 13-12 on the year.
Junior pitcher Kelsey Schifferdecker (Belton, Mo./Belton) opened the game in the circle for Ball State, limiting Akron to five hits and three earned runs over 4.1 innings of work.
The Ball State softball team concludes the regular season next weekend, with a two-game series at Miami. The Cardinals and RedHawks are set to play single games Saturday (2 p.m.) and Sunday (1 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.
Bowling Green 1, Buffalo 0
Buffalo 3, Bowling Green 1
Box Score
Box Score
BOWLING GREEN, OH - The University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, softball team split its final road games of the 2015 season on Sunday afternoon as the Bulls lost 1-0 in the doubleheader opener at Bowling Green before coming back to win the second game, 3-1. The two games today snapped a stretch where UB played 44 of its first 46 games away from home.
The Falcons were able to hold on in the first game after scoring a single run in the second inning. UB got a solid performance in the circle from redshirt sophomore Bobbi Langlois, as she pitched the complete game, but the UB offense couldn't get anything going, despite a late effort.
Freshman Makayla Kowaliuk opened the seventh with single up the right side and she was replaced on the bases by fellow freshman Kelsey Johnson, who moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. A single from sophomore Ashton Earnhardt put runners on the corners, but Earnhardt was thrown out at second trying to steal a base for the second out. Following a walk to senior Karly Nevez, Langlois came to plate and grounded out to end the game. UB had two of its four hits in the seventh inning.
Langlois struck out four in the loss as the Bulls also got hits from freshman Leandra Jew and sophomore Savanna Norcio.
In the second game, the Bulls got on the board first, scoring two in the top of the second. UB put two runners on with two away when Jew reached base on a Bowling Green throwing error, scoring the first UB run. An infield single from senior Alexis Curtiss then scored freshman Madison Vaught to give the Bulls a 2-0 lead. The Falcons scored one in the bottom of the second, but that would be it against freshman Charlotte Miller.
The Bulls tacked on an insurance run in the top of the fifth as Curtiss again reached on an infield single and she came in to score on a double to center field by fellow senior Hayley Barrow. Miller retired the final 12 Bowling Green batters in the game to preserve the win for the Bulls.
The freshman picked up her fourth win of the season as she scattered six hits, allowing just the one run and walking nobody. After a rare hitless performance in the opener, Curtiss reached base four times going 3-for-3 from the plate with a walk. She finished with three of the four hits for the Bulls with the other one going Barrow on the run-scoring double.
"I love the fight that we had today," said head coach Trena Peel. "We had two great performances in the circle and I'm happy to see Charlotte pick up the win. She controlled the tempo of the game and hit her spots. Danielle sprained her ankle in warmups and Hayley stepped up and played shortstop like Dereck Jeter today. Her and Alexis were clutch with double plays to get us out of some innings."
UB will close out the regular season this upcoming weekend with its first conference games of the year at Nan Harvey Field. The Bulls will host Northern Illinois in a doubleheader on Friday afternoon beginning at 1:00 pm.
Kent State 5, Toledo 0
Box Score
TOLEDO, Ohio – Sophomore Maddy Grimm hit a three-run home run in the top of the third inning and Kent State added two more in the seventh to beat Toledo, 5-0, on Sunday afternoon.
Kent State (35-11, 13-4 MAC) received another phenomenal pitching performance from senior Emma Johnson, who allowed just one hit while tossing her third consecutive shutout. The Flashes did not allow a run in any of their four games this weekend.
"I am really proud of the team this weekend," said head coach Karen Linder. "I am really happy with how we battled in close games. Having four shutouts in a row on the road is extremely difficult to do. The pitching and catching staffs did a great job, the defense made plays and we continued to get timely hitting. Our bench also deserves credit for staying focused and intense and being ready to do their jobs throughout the weekend."
Kent State took advantage of an error that would have ended the inning to get on the board in the third. After a single by senior Dani Ramos put two runners aboard, Grimm crushed her 16th homer of the season, tying the single-season RBIs record of 48 in the process.
The Flashes added insurance runs in the seventh, which started with a pinch hit single by senior Ariele Patterson. Kim Kirkpatrick brought her home on a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. The Rockets then elected to intentionally walk Grimm to bring freshman Holly Speers to the plate, who had popped up with the bases loaded in her previous at-bat. Speers was able to redeem herself with a single through the left side that allowed Kirkpatrick to score.
Batting in the first two spots in the Flashes' lineup, Kirkpatrick and Ramos provided a spark for the offense. Kirkpatrick collected two hits, two runs, an RBI and a stolen base, while Ramos had two hits, two stolen bases and a run.
In the circle, Johnson (18-5) recorded five strikeouts and extended her scoreless innings streak to 30. A leadoff single by Chandler Rice in the bottom of the fourth inning prevented Johnson from throwing her second no-hitter of the weekend.
"Emma was outstanding this weekend and it was great to see her shutout Toledo in back-to-back games," Linder added.
Kent State returns to the Diamond at Dix to conclude the regular season next weekend. The Flashes will host Western Michigan for a twinbill beginning at 1 p.m. on Friday and then play single games against Northern Illinois on Saturday and Sunday.
Northern Illinois 2, Central MIchigan 1
Central Michigan 10, Northern Illinois 7
Box Score
Box Score
DeKALB, Ill. -- Trista Cox hit a three-run homer and Rachael Knapp came out of the bullpen to earn the win Sunday as the Central Michigan softball team defeated Northern Illinois, 10-7, in the second game of a Mid-American Conference doubleheader at the Huskies' Mary M. Bell Field.
Northern Illinois won a 2-1 pitchers duel in the opener. The game-two win completed a crucial 3-1 weekend for the Chippewas as they improved to 22-19 overall, 10-6 league.
The Chippewas stand tied for fourth place in the MAC with NIU and Western Michigan with four games to play. The top eight teams advance to the league tournament. CMU swept the Broncos in Kalamazoo on Friday.
CMU, which plays host to Michigan State in a non-conference game on Wednesday, closes regular-season MAC play next weekend with four home games, two each against Toledo and Bowling Green.
Cox's home run, her fifth of the season, broke a 4-4 tie. Karly Hansen added a two-run pinch-hit double later in the inning, and when the dust settled, CMU led, 9-4.
Knapp (14-8) went the final 4 2/3 innings in relief of starter Hanna Warren. Knapp allowed three runs on five hits while striking out six. Warren, who walked two and struck out one, surrendered four runs on five hits.
Cox, Kristen Kuhlman, Katelyn Rentschler and Chelsea DeLamielleure had two hits apiece for the Chippes. One of Rentschler's hits was a double.
NIU starter Keegan Hayes (13-8) took the loss. She allowed seven runs on six hits over 3 1/3 innings. Tara Thacker went the final 3 2/3 in relief. They combined to strike out seven and walk eight.
Knapp allowed three hits, struck out three and walked three in going the distance in the opener. Jessica Sturm (11-10) struck out six in tossing a two-hitter for the win.
Rentschler had both of CMU's hits, one a fourth-inning solo homer, her team-leading 10th of the season.
Both of NIU's runs came in the second inning. Allyson Hecht drove in the first run with a two-out double and she later scored, unearned, on an error. It was the only error of the day for the Chippewas
Miami 10, Ohio 1
Box Score
ATHENS, Ohio – The Miami University softball team completed a perfect weekend with an offensive explosion against Ohio on Sunday. The RedHawks scored eight runs in the final two innings to take a 10-1 victory. Miami improves to 29-20 overall and 12-6 in the MAC. The Bobcats fall to 15-28 overall and 7-9 in the MAC.
The RedHawks struck first with two runs in the top of the second inning. Junior right fielder Taylor Shuey led off with a single through the right side. Freshman designated player Kaitlyn Gliha followed with her second home run of the season, a two-run shot over the centerfield wall that put Miami in front, 2-0.
Ohio used two hits in the bottom of the third to score a run off of the RedHawks starting pitcher, sophomore Kelsey Fredericks. Those would be the only hits the Bobcats would record in the contest. Senior Remy Edwards came in to pitch a perfect fourth inning, while junior Amber Logemann also did not allow a hit during the final three innings to finish off the victory. Edwards earned her fourth victory of the season, while Logemann picked up her second save.
Miami broke the game open with five runs in the top of the sixth. With one out, Edwards doubled to right center. Senior shortstop Kylie McChesney reached on an error, allowing Edwards to score. McChesney was retired after senior outfielder Tiyona Marshall grounded into a fielder’s choice. Junior leftfielder Tanya Busby reached on an error by the shortstop, putting runners on first and second with two outs. A single from sophomore Eryn McCarver scored Marshall and put the ‘Hawks up 4-1. Senior first baseman Shanyn McIntyre walked to load the bases. Shuey drove in two runs with a single, scoring Busby and McCarver. Gliha followed with an infield single, allowing McIntyre to score and making it 7-1.
The RedHawks finished the contest off with three more runs in the top of the seventh. With runners on first and second and two outs, a single by McCarver brought home Marshall. McIntyre followed with a double to bring home Busby and McCarver and complete Miami’s 10-1 win.
McCarver finished the game 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Gliha was 2-for-4 with three RBI and one run scored. Shuey and McIntyre each also had two RBI, while Marshall and Busby each scored twice.
The RedHawks play their final midweek doubleheader of the season on Tuesday when they travel to Northern Kentucky. First pitch is at 2 p.m. Miami then hosts Ball State for single games on Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. At the conclusion of Saturday’s game, the RedHawks will host a free clinic for kids ages 8-12. Please call Megan Henderson at 513-529-1743 for more information and to register. Prior to Sunday’s game, Miami’s six seniors will be honored in a pregame ceremony.
Western Michigan 3, Eastern Michigan 2
Box Score
KALAMAZOO, Mich.- The Western Michigan softball team defeated Eastern Michigan 3-2 Sunday to complete a two-game sweep of the Eagles this weekend. WMU also downed the Eagles 3-2 on Saturday.
With the win, WMU improves to 20-21 on the season and 10-6 in the Mid-American Conference. Sunday was the final home game of 2015 for the Broncos, who head to Kent State and Buffalo next weekend to conclude the regular season. The 2015 MAC Tournament will be held May 6-9 in Akron, Ohio.
Western Michigan’s bats were hot early against the Eagles, plating two runs in the first inning and another in the second. Sophomore left fielder Ivy Schaaf drew a leadoff walk in the first and scored on a two-out double to left center by junior second baseman Melissa Palmer. Palmer came home on a single to center field by junior shortstop Sabrina Gamboa.
Freshman right fielder Geordin Craun slapped a single to left field to start the Bronco at bat of the second. Schaaf pushed the run across with her 12th double of the season, rocketing a ball to the fence in right center.
Eastern Michigan scored a run off of three hits in the third. Elaine Whitbeck doubled to leadoff the fifth and scored EMU’s second run after a pair of sac bunts.
Western Michigan freshman pitcher Anissa Snachez (4-4) threw 4.1 innings to earn the win. Junior Allyson Kus held the Eagles scoreless the remainder of the game, tossing 2.2 innings of hitless relief. Kus struck out the final two batters in the seventh.
Eastern Michigan had six hits, while seven different Broncos each has one hit apiece. Schaaf had a pair of stolen bases.
Freshman Trisha Trujillo was handed the loss for Eastern Michigan, allowing three runs, six hits and two walks over just an inning and two thirds.
