Saturday’s Softball Results
Akron 8, Eastern Illinois 3
Ball State 14, Bellarmine 4
Murray State 1, Ball State 0
Evansville 2, Bowling Green 0
Bowling Green 7, Saint Thomas 6
Central Michigan 5, Illinois State 4
Western Kentucky 6, Central Michigan 4
Miami 9, Bellarmine 1
Miami 7, Loyola Chicago 3
Northern Illinois 7, Elon 4
Elon 8, Northern Illinois 7
Western Michigan 11, Memphis 2
Southeast Missouri 4, Western Michigan 1
Hampton 2, Buffalo 1
Colgate 3, Buffalo 0
Georgia Tech 9, Kent State 8
Charlotte 10, Kent State 0
Duke 7, Ohio 0
Campbell 5, Ohio 4
Stories courtesy of MAC Sports Information Departments
Akron 8, Eastern Illinois 3
Boxscore
CHATTANOOGA, TENN. - The University of Akron softball team extended its winning streak to four straight on the strength of an 8-3 triumph past Eastern Illinois on Saturday, Feb. 25.
The Zips were leading their second game of the day versus Southeast Missouri State, 5-4, when rain suspended the contest in the second inning. The game is scheduled to be restarted at 12:30 p.m. before Akron battles host Chattanooga following the games conclusion to close out tournament play.
A bases-loaded single in the top of the first inning by sophomore Alexis Campbell (Indianapolis, Ind.) plated a pair of runs and gave the Zips a lead they didn't relinquish. Junior Kalli Macintosh-Houlder (Mississauga, Ontario) followed with a two-out single to extend Akron's advantage to 3-0.
Redshirt junior Jaiden Bryant (Hilliard, Ohio) opened the fourth inning with a lead-off triple and scored on a throwing error to push the Zips' margin to 5-0. Macintosh-Houlder capped the scoring in the frame blasting Akron's first home run of the season over the wall in center field to extend the lead to 6-0.
The Zips got an RBI single by Campbell in the top of the seventh inning before freshman Meagan Lee (Leander, Texas) scored on a wild pitch after reaching base on a hit by a pitch to give Akron an 8-1 edge.
Macintosh-Houlder finished the contest 3-for-3 with 3 RBI and a run scored to lead the Zips' offensive efforts. Adding a 2-for-4 day with 2 RBI and a pair of runs scored was Bryant.
Freshman P Haley Croyle (Hubbard, Ohio) pitched a complete game en route to striking out eight Eastern Illinois batters.
Ball State 14, Bellarmine 4 | Boxscore Game 1
Murray State 1, Ball State 0 | Boxscore Game 2
MURRAY, Ky. - - Ball State softball opened the second day of the Velvet Milkman Invitational with another dominating victory, topping Bellarmine 14-4 (6) Saturday afternoon at Racers Field.
Unfortunately, just like Friday, the Cardinals (4-5) ended the day with a one-run loss to host Murray State, this time dropping a pitchers' duel by a score of 1-0.
Ball State jumped out to a commanding 9-0 lead over the Knights (1-12) sparked by a two-run triple from redshirt freshman McKenna Mulholland in the opening inning. Mulholland would finish the game 2-for-4 with a career-high five RBI.
In the nightcap, the Racers (6-6) managed to push the game's lone run across in the bottom of the fourth inning. That was despite solid pitching performances from junior transfer Francys King (3.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 K) and freshman Bridie Murphy (3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 4K).
Two Cardinals recorded their first collegiate hits in the opener, starting with a third-inning single from redshirt freshman transfer Katie Van Der Mark … Redshirt freshman Aislinn Morris added a sixth-inning RBI single to right field.
Ball State smashed a season-high 15 hits in Saturday's opener with 10 different players getting at least one.
Mulholland drove in a career-high five RBI, thanks in part to a two-run double in the first and a two-run double in the third … She added a sac fly in the fifth.
Redshirt sophomore transfer Alyssa Stramaglia picked up her first win for the Cardinals, limiting Bellarmine to four hits and four runs over 6.0 innings of work … She also struck out four batters … Stramaglia went 21-1 in the circle with a 1.18 ERA for Triton College last season.
Van Der Mark added two of BSU's five hits in the nightcap, finishing her day 4-for-6
The Ball State softball team closes play in the Velvet Milkman Invitational hosted by Murray State on Sunday, with an 11 a.m. ET (10 a.m. CT) first pitch versus Loyola.
Evansville 2, Bowling Green 0 | Boxscore Game 1
Bowling Green 7, Saint Thomas 6 | Boxscore Game 2
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The Bowling Green State University softball team, down to their final out, rallied for two runs in the seventh inning Saturday (Feb. 25), and the Falcons went on to post a walk-off win in eight innings. BGSU downed St. Thomas, 7-6, in second-day action at the Aces Home Tournament #2.
The first game of the day saw BGSU fall to host Evansville by a 2-0 score at Tri-State Orthopaedics Field at James & Dorothy Cooper Stadium.
The Falcons trailed St. Thomas for the entire game, and after the first two batters were retired in the bottom of the seventh, the Tommies were one out away from a 6-4 victory. But, six of seven batters would reach base over the next two innings, as BGSU snatched victory from the jaws of something other than victory.
Katie Hutter began the comeback with a double to left field on a 3-2 pitch. Peyton Dolejs followed with a single to right-center, scoring Hutter to cut BG's deficit to a single run.
Marti Henkel was hit by a pitch, with Dolejs trotting to second, and Dolejs would come around to score when Sophie Weber sent a Kiera Murphy pitch back up the middle. Murphy retired the next hitter, but the game was tied.
With tiebreaker rules in effect as the teams went to extra innings, a runner was placed on second to begin each half inning. UST's Katie Goelz immediately advanced to third on a passed ball in the top of the eighth, but was forced to hold at third as a ground ball produced the first out. Then, Keira Murphy hit a fly ball to Marlie McNulty in right, and Goelz was ruled out for leaving third base early as she attempted to tag and score.
In the bottom of the eighth, Hannah Hunt's bunt single moved Delaney Davis to third, before Reagan Williamson stepped to the plate in a pinch-hitting role. Williamson took a strike, then hit a ball to right for a game-winning single.
Scarlet Anderson picked up the win in the circle, throwing four innings of scoreless, one-hit relief.
In the opener, BG pitchers Hannah Davies and Ellie Price combined to allow just two hits, but one was a homer. Davies allowed two hits in four innings, while Price faced just one batter over the minimum in two hitless innings of relief.
After the win in the nightcap, the Falcons are now 5-8 on the year.
EVANSVILLE
The Falcons' first game of the day saw a quartet of hurlers all record stellar performances. The Purple Aces scored what would prove to be the game's only runs in the bottom of the second inning.
With one out in that second frame, Lacy Smith drew a walk, and Jenna Nink followed with a homer, staking the hosts to a 2-0 lead.
And, that would prove to be enough. Davies allowed just one more hit – a two-out double by Alexa Davis in the third inning, Ellie Price came on for the Falcons in the fifth inning, and allowed only one baserunner in her two innings of relief work. Price issued a one-out walk in the fifth, but then set down the next two hitters before working a perfect sixth inning.
But, UE pitchers Erin Kleffman and Sydney Weatherford combined to allow only three hits and four walks. BGSU had traffic on the basepaths during several of Kleffman's four innings in the circle, but could not get a runner across the plate.
Kleffman retired the first six batters she faced, before Ally Bejzak led off the third inning with a single. After a fielder's choice produced the first out, Ashley Chevalier drew a walk, and Delaney Davis bunted the runners to second and third, respectively. Wynnie Reid followed with a line drive, but it was caught by the shortstop for out number three.
In the fourth, Reagan Williamson led off with a single, and Sophie Weber walked on four pitches to move pinch-runner Marlie McNulty to second. But, a Maycee Godbolt line drive was caught by the centerfielder, and a double-play ball ended the inning.
Then, in the fifth, Bezjak walked, Katie Hutter doubled to move pinch-runner Hannah Hunt to third base, and a a walk to Chevalier loaded the bases with no outs. But, Weatherford entered the circle and slammed the door. A ground ball produced a force play at the plate, a foul pop was grabbed near first base for the second out, and a grounder to short ended the inning.
Weatherford retired the side in order in the sixth, and after Bezjak reached on an error to begin the seventh, three-straight ground balls produced the final three outs.
ST. THOMAS
The Tommies jumped on top with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. Avery Wukawitz led off the game with a single against BG starter Mackenzie Krafcik, then stole second. Kaitlyn Raymond's bunt single put runners at the corners, and after a one-out walk, Katie Goelz singled and Coryn Jacobson walked, with each play driving in a run.
BGSU got a run back against Kiera Murphy in the second. Maycee Godbolt led off with a double, stole third and trotted home on a Katie Hutter single to right. Peyton Dolejs reached base via an error, but Murphy aided her own cause by grabbing a line drive to begin a double play.
St. Thomas responded with a three-run third, with a BG error contributing to the scoring. But, the Falcons benefited from a trio of errors in the bottom of the inning, before a Godbolt bases-loaded walk plated Marlie McNulty and a Hutter sac fly allowed Wynnie Reid to tag and score. The Tommies' lead was cut to 5-3.
A Wukawitz one-out walk and a Brooke Ellestad triple, however, gave UST a three-run lead in the fourth.
But, Sophie Weber's one-out homer in the bottom of the inning cut the BG deficit to 6-4. Weber's dinger was the Falcons' first homer of the season.
Scarlet Anderson entered the circle for the Falcons in the fifth, and proceeded to strike out the side. BG threatened in the bottom of the inning, with singles by Ally Bezjak and Dolejs along with a walk to Hutter (not necessarily in that order). But, the Falcons left the bases loaded.
Each team had baserunners in the sixth, but the score remained the same. Anderson worked a 1-2-3 seventh inning, and Murphy retired the first two hitters in the bottom of the frame before the Falcons worked their two-out magic.
Anderson picked up the win after throwing four innings of one-hit shutout relief. Hutter was 2-for-2 with a walk and two RBI at the plate, while Dolejs, Hunt and Weber all had two hits as well.
The Falcons wrap up weekend play in Evansville on Sunday (Feb. 26), meeting the host Purple Aces in a game beginning at 1:30 p.m. ET.
Western Kentucky 6, Central Michigan 4 | Boxscore Game 1
Central Michigan 5, Illinois State 4 | Boxscore Game 2
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Central Michigan Softball Team split its two Saturday games at the Hilltopper Classic in Bowling Green, Ky, dropping a 6-4 decision to host Western Kentucky and defeating Illinois State 5-4 in a thrilling night game.
The results move the Chippewas to 3-5 on the season. Central Michigan will close out the five-game tournament against Jacksonville State on Sunday morning at 11 a.m. (ET)
In game one against Western Kentucky, the Chippewas scored four runs on 11 hits. Abbey Tolmie and Skylar Coberley each recorded three hits in the contest, while Kelsey Alexander, Allyssa Hollo, Caitlyn Britton, Lucy Cronin and Samantha Mills each notched one apiece. Tolmie scored three of CMU's four runs and had two doubles on the day.
Madelyn Wallace took the loss for Central Michigan in the circle.
The Chippewas had a 2-0 lead early and held a 4-3 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth inning. Western Kentucky scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to secure the win.
In the nightcap, the Chippewas came out on top in a gritty, hard-fought 5-4 win. Kelsey Alexander's two-run home run to left center in the top of the seventh inning a 3-3 tie and gave the Chippewas a 5-3 lead.
Central Michigan held off Illinois State in the bottom of the seventh to secure the victory. Grace Lehto came on to register the final two outs for her first save of the season.
Graduate student Kaitlyn Bean collected her first win of the season in the outing after striking out three batters and allowing four runs and five hits in 6 1/3 innings pitched.
Illinois State scored in the top of the first inning. The Chippewas answered with a run in the second on a Lucy Cronin RBI single up the middle which scored Coberley.
In the fifth inning, Tolmie collected an RBI as she drove in Emily Bracamonte to tie the game at 2-2. In the same inning, CMU took a 3-2 lead when Maddie Springer scored on a wild pitch.
Illinois State answered in its half inning, tying the game at 3-3.
Alexander delivered in the top of the seventh with a two-run blast after Mills reached on a base hit.
Miami 9, Bellarmine 1 | Boxscore Game 1
Miami 7, Loyola Chicago 3 | Boxscore Game 2
MURRAY, Ky – On Saturday, the Miami University softball team downed Bellarmine University 9-1 and Loyola University Chicago 7-3. In the first game it was Laurelai DePew in the circle, who got the win for the RedHawks. In the second game Brianna Pratt won the game, striking out eight batters. Karli Spaid combined to go 4-for-8 with three home runs and six RBI on the day. After dropping the first two games of the season, The RedHawks have now won seven straight.
GAME 1
Maggie Murphy got the scoring started in the top of the second inning on an RBI single by Maddi Banks, grabbing the 1-0 lead. In the top of the third Karli Spaid homered, doubling the score, 2-0.
In the top of the fourth Holly Blaska added to the lead by homering, increasing the score to 3-0. Logan Mueller then scored on an RBI single by Chloe Parks, to take the lead to 4-0.
Kate Kobayashi scored in the top of the fifth on a sac fly by Murphy. Blaska then scored on an RBI single by Adrianna Barlow. Then, Barlow scored on an RBI triple from Banks, making the score 7-0.
In the top of the sixth inning Spaid hit her second home run of the game, scoring Parks and herself, getting the score to 9-0.
The Knights put their first run on the board in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring on a wild pitch, though the gap proved to be too great for the Knights to overcome. The RedHawks won 9-1.
Seven different RedHawks had extra base hits, contributing to eight total. DePew only allowed three hits in the entire six-inning game. Banks and Blaska went 2-for-3 at the plate.
GAME 2
The Ramblers struck first, grabbing the 1-0 lead on an RBI in the bottom of the first. The RedHawks tied it up 1-1 in the top of the second on an RBI single from Spaid where Barlow scored.
In the top of the third inning, the RedHawks took the 2-1 lead when Blaska scored on an RBI double by Banks. Barlow and Banks then scored on an error. Then Riley Coyne scored on an RBI double from Parks, grabbing a 5-1 lead.
Spaid and Parks scored in that same inning on a home run by Spaid, bringing the score to 7-1.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Ramblers scored on a home run; 7-2. The Ramblers then scored one in the bottom of the sixth to make the score 7-3, which was the final, winning score for the RedHawks.
Spaid and Barlow went 2-for-4 at the plate. Pratt allowed only four hits through the seven innings she pitched. Banks, Blaska, Parks and Kobayashi each hit a double.
The RedHawks take on Loyola University Chicago at 1:15 p.m. on Feb. 26 in Murray, Ky.
Northern Illinois 7, Elon 4 | Boxscore Game 1
Elon 8, Northern Illinois 7 | Boxscore Game 2
LYNCHBURG, Va. – It was a rainy day at the Liberty softball stadium Saturday, but that didn't stop the Northern Illinois University softball team from splitting its doubleheader against Elon on day two of the Liberty Classic. After a pair of rain delays in game one, the Huskies came-from-behind to win 7-4 before losing in extra innings 8-7 in the closer.
Game One
After falling behind 4-0, the Huskies (2-7) sparked a comeback in the second inning when Kacie Quick (Bloomington, Ill./Normal West) helped Fiona Crane (Evergreen Park, Ill./Mother McAuley) reach home plate after her RBI single to left field.
The weather came in just before the third frame could start, forcing the action to cease for over an hour. Coming out of the break, NIU cut its deficit to two runs after Caitlyn Shumaker (Bellefontaine, Ohio/Bellefontaine) knocked an RBI single to left field, scoring Ally Rodriguez (Romeoville, Ill./Plainfield East).
After a scoreless fourth inning, the Huskies lit up the scoreboard in the fifth, exploding for five runs on four hits. It all began when Rylie Hartman (Kankakee, Ill./Herscher) rocketed a solo blast over the left field fence with no outs, NIU's first home run of the season.
Three at-bats later, Sam Mallinder (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North) scored Shumaker with an RBI single. Courtney James (Fishers, Ind./Fishers) was the encore as she scored Mallinder and Cara Cruthers (Bartlett, Ill./South Elgin) with a two RBI single.
Finally, as the rain made its resurgence over Kamphuis Field, Danielle Stewart (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) gave NIU a 7-4 advantage when she tripled to center field and James raced across home plate.
The umpires were forced to call the game complete early, giving NIU its first win of the tournament.
NIU's win snapped a six-game skid. Eight Huskies logged a hit in the game. Emily Dato (Munster, Ind./Munster) is now 2-1 in the circle after earning the win. Herself and Lily Cassell (LaGrange, Ohio/Keystone) combined for three strikeouts and just one earned run
Game Two
The Huskies picked up right where they left off in game one, scoring a trio of runs right away in the first inning after Mallinder's RBI single and Stewart's two RBI bomb over the left center fence.
Kelly Walinski's (Worth, Ill./Marist) and Cruthers each posted RBI singles in the second inning before, in the fourth inning, NIU went up 7-0 thanks to two more runs. Elon (5-8) however ignited its comeback in their half of the fourth with a solo homer.
The Phoenix inched closer in the sixth inning after an RBI double and single, making the score 7-3 in favor of NIU.
After the Huskies couldn't score any security runs in the top half of the seventh inning, Elon knotted the game 7-7, scoring four-straight runs on three separate NIU pitchers.
In extra innings, Cruthers was planted on second and advanced to third after a sac bunt, but was unable to reach home plate.
Elon won the game with its bases-loaded RBI single, ending the eight-hour long doubleheader in walk-off fashion.
The Huskies' 13 hits and seven RBI were season-highs. Rodriguez was 3-4 in the batter's box while Shumaker was 3-5 to lead the Huskies' attack. Cruthers, Mallinder and Stewart logged two RBI apiece. Stewart (0-4) rang up a season-high seven batters
NIU will look to end the Liberty Classic on a high note tomorrow when it takes on Princeton at 8 a.m. CT.
Southeast Missouri 4, Western Michigan 1 | Boxscore Game 1
Western Michigan 11, Memphis 2 | Boxscore Game 2
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Western Michigan softball team earned a split at the Frost Classic on Saturday, bouncing back from a 4-1 loss to SEMO to defeat Memphis 11-2 in the afternoon.
SEMO broke the 0-0 deadlock with a run in the fifth inning of game one. The Redhawks then added three more in the sixth to take a 4-0 lead over Western Michigan.
WMU scored its lone run in the seventh inning when Bella Gerlach took first base on a fielding error by SEMO's first baseman. Taylor Wolfe entered to pinch run and was able to steal second and third base. Taylor Garey walked and Wolfe scored on a wild pitch which also enabled Garey to advance to second. However, the Redhawks retired the next two batters to end the game with a final score of 4-1 in favor of SEMO.
Western Michigan dominated Memphis, 11-2, in its second game of the day. The Broncos scored early and often, putting up runs in the game's first four innings. Their offensive barrage included nine hits and one error, while Memphis struggled to keep up with only four hits and two errors.
The team got off to a strong start, capitalizing on their opportunities as a result of Memphis errors. Alyssa Kramer set the stage for the Broncos with a leadoff walk and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. With one out, Courtney Farrish repeated the series on a walk and then advanced to second on a wild pitch to push Kramer to third. Garey then walked to load the bases for the Broncos. Riley Chumbley grounded out, scoring Garey and pushing Farrish to third. After another wild pitch, both Farrish and Garey were able to score. The Broncos ended the first inning with three runs scored, despite not having any hits.
Western Michigan scored three more runs in the second inning thanks to a single by Payton Kelly and a single by Madison Duell. A wild pitch advanced both players and Kramer walked to load the bases. Addison Hudson then hit a single to left field, scoring two runs. Farrish walked to load the bases again, and Garey hit into a fielder's choice that led to a run being scored. The inning ended with three runs scored and three more hits for WMU.
In the third inning, Kelly's double and an error by the first baseman allowed her to score an unearned run. Duell also scored an unearned run after Hudson's single to left field which stretched the Western Michigan advantage to 8-1.
Rissa Bajusz singled, and pinch runner Carsyn Segorski scored after Brendtke singled and advanced on the throw in the fourth. Kelly then hit a single which brought Brendtke and Bajusz home, increasing the lead to 11-1.
Autumn Godwin earned the win for the Broncos in the circle. She pitched for 4.2 innings and allowed four hits and two runs.
