Friday’s Softball Results
Akron 9, Toledo 1 (5 inn.)
Ball State 7, Ohio 6
Ohio 6, Ball State 3
Kent State 7, Bowling Green 6
Kent State 1, Bowling Green 0
Miami 10, Buffalo 3
Buffalo 9, Miami 5
Northern Illinois 5, Central Michigan 1
Central Michigan 8, Northern Illinois 1
Western Michigan 3, UMass 0
Recaps courtesy of MAC Athletic Communications Departments
Akron 9, Toledo 1 (5 inn.)
Box Score
AKRON, Ohio - The Akron Zips received a strong pitching performance for Macy Walters coupled with an offensive onslaught of 13 hits en route to a 9-1 victory against the Toledo Rockets on Friday.
Walters (9-9) earned the win for Akron (15-19, 7-3) as the right-hander went five innings, giving up one run on five hits, allowing no walks while striking out two batters.
Offensively, the Zips scattered 13 hits around the yard as Andrea Day, Haley Glass, Kenzie Gatti and Katie Cantrell recorded multiple-hit performances. Day (3 for 3) and Glass (2 for 2) were perfect in the batter's box as Glass posted an RBI and Day scored. Gatti and Cantrell both went 2 for 3 from the plate as Gatti unleashed a three-run homer in the fourth inning and added a double. Cantrell added a double with two RBI and a run scored. Meagan Lee, Sophia Wygast, Lily Sullivan and Brooke Sivek all singled. Sullivan registered the Zips third double, while Lee, Cantrell and Delany Jenkinson recorded RBI with sacrifice fly-outs.
The Zips got on the scoreboard first, starting in the second inning. Andrea Day came across to score the lone run of the inning for Akron and get them on the board.
The Rockets then tied the ballgame at one before the Zips came back to reclaim their advantage in the third inning. Akron scored once on an RBI single off the bat of Haley Glass, which brought the score to 2-1 in favor of the Zips.
Akron kept Toledo scoreless before building its lead to 8-1 the following inning. The Zips bats heated up in the inning, scoring six runs, including a three-run home run off the bat of Kenzie Gatti.
Akron kept the Rockets without a run before their offense got things moving the next inning. Gatti crossed home plate with the lone run of the inning for the Zips, bringing the Akron advantage to 9-1. The score remained 9-1 for the rest of the game, as the Zips coasted to the win.
Akron and Toledo will resume the series with a double header on Saturday, April 3, with the first game set to start at 10:30 a.m.
Ball State 7, Ohio 6 | Box Score
Ohio 6, Ball State 3 | Box Score
Ball State and Ohio split a doubleheader Friday afternoon at the Ball State Softball Complex, with Ohio limiting Cardinal bats in the second game after teams combined for 13 runs on 14 hits in game one.
Ball State (15-16, 3-8 MAC) won the opening game 7-6 and the Bobcats (23-13, 6-5 MAC) earned a 6-3 win in a game delayed 64 minutes by lightning. Ohio led 6-1 at the time of the suspension, but Ball State staged a post-suspension rally that nearly brought the tying run to the plate.
Addison Zimpleman walked to open the Cardinals' final half-inning, then first-game hero Grace Spencer lifted a two-run homer to centerfield for her second round-tripper in two games. Paige Kelly's speed earned an infield single with no outs for Ball State, but the Bobcats retired three final Ball State hitters to quell the rally and secure the split.
Spencer was the Cardinals' hitting star for both games, totaling seven RBI out of Ball State's 10 total runs. Put in perspective, the senior outfielder who batted eighth for the Cardinals had two career RBI over 70 games played entering the day.
In the opener, Spencer's first career homer was a three-run shot to right field that gave Ball State a 7-5 advantage in the fifth inning, and erased an early deficit. Ashlee Lovett and Grace Gray scored in front of her.
Ohio had built a 4-1 lead, and led 5-3, before the Cardinals struck for four runs in the fourth and fifth innings. Paige Kelly scored on Ella Whitney's sacrifice fly to pull within 5-4 in the fourth and set the stage for Spencer's dramatic drive in the fifth.
Bridie Murphy (4-3) collected the win for Ball State while pitching six innings in the victory. Ohio put two runners on base to start the seventh inning, when Murphy gave way to Brinkley Kita. A sacrifice bunt by the Bobcats put runners at second and third, but consecutive fly balls ended the contest as Kita earned her first save.
Overall, Ohio scored six runs on nine hits and committed two errors, while Ball State scored three runs on five hits and did not commit error.
At the plate, junior Kylie Gorsuch (North Canton, Ohio) went 1-for-4, including one home run, two RBI and one run scored. McDaniel went 1-for-2, including a home run, two RBI and a run. Senior Colleen Bare (Pickerington, Ohio) hit one home run to finish with one hit, one RBI and one run. Senior Shelby Westler (Marion, Ohio) recorded her 100th career RBI, finishing the game with one run on one hit, one RBI and one run scored, while Farmer added a double.
In the circle, junior Mikie Lieving (New Haven, W. Va.) got the win, pitching six innings, allowing three runs, two earned, on four hits, walked two and struck out one. Moore allowed one hit and struck out two in one inning pitched.
After a scoreless first, Wycuff got on base in the top of the second with an infield single, followed by McDaniel sending the ball deep over the center field fence for a two-run home run.
Ball State cut its deficit in half in the bottom of the second, setting the score, 2-1.
After each team was held scoreless in the third through fifth innings, a double from Farmer got a runner on second base before Westler recorded an RBI double to left field for the run and her 100th career RBI. Moments later, Gorsuch recorded a two-run home run, extending Ohio's lead to 5-1.
Bare opened the seventh with a solo home run for a 6-1 lead entering the bottom of the seventh. After an hour weather delay, the Cardinals answered with a two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh, but consecutive strikeouts from Moore sealed the 6-3 win for Ohio.
The Bobcats wrap up the three-game series with Ball State on Saturday, April 4. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. ET and can be seen on ESPN+.
Kent State 7, Bowling Green 6 | Box Score
Kent State 1, Bowling Green 0 | Box Score
KENT – The Kent State University Softball team (16-16, 6-5 MAC) won their weekend series against Bowling Green State University on Friday afternoon taking both games of a doubleheader. The Golden Flashes rallied to take game won 7-6 before Meadow Ferri tossed a complete game shutout in game two to win it 1-0.
Kent State found themselves in an early hole heading into the bottom of the fourth inning trailing 5-0 after Bowling Green plated five runs in the top half on a combination of hits, a hit batter, and an error. The Kent State football team made their way over from the end of a spring practice to bring the energy in the bottom of the fourth inning as the Golden Flashes went to work turning the tide.
Ashlyn Porter led off with a single up the middle, and Gabby Quinn followed with a single to put runners on first and second. Ciara Camacho then singled to center to load the bases, and Porter scored on a wild pitch to get Kent State on the board. Alex Trevena followed with a ground out to score Quinn, and Brooke Aberle drove in Camacho with a sacrifice fly to make it 5-3.
Bowling Green extended their lead to 6-3 in the top of the fifth inning.
The Kent State comeback came to fruition in the bottom of the sixth. Quinn led off with a solo home run to left center to cut the deficit to 6-4. Camacho drew a walk, and after a pair of sacrifice bunts from Trevena and Aberle advanced the runners, Aaralyn Nogay drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 6-5. Caleigh Shaulis then delivered the go-ahead blow singling to left center to score two and give Kent State a 7-6 lead.
Meadow Ferri came on in the seventh to close it out, stranding two base runners and earning her first save of the season. Hillyard earned the win to improve to 3-2.
Meadow Ferri went the distance for the Flashes spinning a complete-game shutout on six hits and four walks while striking out one. Ferri worked out of trouble repeatedly, including a third-inning jam with runners on second and third to keep the Falcons off the board through all seven innings.
Kent State's offense did their damage in the bottom of the sixth. Brooke Aberle led off with a single to center, and Brynn Libler followed with a double to left center to put runners on second and third. Shaulis then delivered with a sacrifice fly to center to score Aberle and provide the only run either team would need.
Kent State will wrap up their series against BGSU on Saturday, April 4 at 1:00 p.m.
Miami 10, Buffalo 3 | Box Score
Buffalo 9, Miami 5 | Box Score
BUFFALO, N.Y. – The University at Buffalo softball team (17-19, 6-5 MAC) split their Friday doubleheader against the Miami (OH) RedHawks (25-10, 7-4 MAC) at Nan Harvey Field. Miami took the first game, 10-3, before the Bulls won 9-5. This marked their first win since 2018, snapping a 19-game losing streak to the RedHawks.
Miami kicked off scoring, 2-0, in the top of the first when Erin Pinter singled to right center, allowing Mckenna Campbell and Katy Olive to score.
Buffalo quickly responded in the bottom of the same inning, bringing the score to 2-1, scoring off of a double.
Miami extended its lead to 6-1 in the second inning. Bailey Manos doubled to right center, allowing Evey Dieudonne to score. Mia Estrello then singled and brought Manos in to score. Olive then hit a two-run home run, allowing Estrello to score with her.
Buffalo tried to tighten the gap to 6-3 in the third inning, scoring off a triple and off a fielder's choice.
Hitting her first home run of the season and bringing the score to 8-3 in the fourth, Estrello hit a home run with Manos on base, to bring in two more runs for the RedHawks.
Ending off the game in the seventh, Estrello singled to center field, Ella Carter and Leila Mathis scored, making the final score 10-3.
Presley Hosick pitched a complete game (7.0 IP), allowing only nine hits, three earned runs and three walks while striking out five. Bailey Manos went 2-for-3 at the plate, had two runs and was credited with one RBI.
Mia Estrello went 3-for-5 at the plate, had her first home run of the season, and was credited with five RBI. Katy Olive hit one home run and was credited with two RBI.
It was déjà vu for the RedHawks in the second game as they got out to a 2-0 lead with a sac fly and a solo home run. Buffalo cut Miami's lead in half as Bri Delaney hit an RBI single to score Reagan Terwilliger.
Miami's offense found their groove in the third inning as back-to-back singles with runners on base pushed their lead to 4-1.
The Bulls didn't trail for long as their offense exploded in the third. Terwilliger started the inning with a walk followed by a single by Allen. Bella Smithson hopped on the wagon with a single of her own to load the bases. Delaney capitalized on the moment with a 2-RBI single to left center. Now trailing 4-3, Abbey Nagel ripped a three-run homer to left center to give the Bulls a 6-4 lead.
Forcing a pitching change, Ava Thelen earned a walk as Delaney Ellis hit a single to put runners on first and second. Tabitha von Kolen loaded the bases with a single up the middle. Emily Gorman hit into a fielder's choice as the RedHawks got the out at the plate. Terwilliger didn't waste time with a 2-RBI double down the right field line to extend their lead to 8-4.
The game stayed at 8-4 until the bottom of the sixth when Nagel hit an RBI single to left center to score Allen. Now leading 9-4 headed to the top of the seventh, Miami didn't go down easy. A lead-off double gave them life. Soon they found themselves with runners on first and second after a walk. The third batter of the inning ripped a single down the left field line to score a run and make it 9-5. With runners back on first and second, a quick double play at third base to across the diamond put the Bulls within one out of victory. A single extended the inning as the RedHawks now had runners on the corners. An infield pop out ended the game as the Bulls got out of the late jam.
The Bulls outhit the RedHawks, 14-8, as Delaney went 4-for-4 with 3 RBIs. Allen and Nagel each had a pair of RBIs. Genevieve Longsdorf earned the win tossing 6.2 innings with one earned run.
The Bulls and RedHawks will wrap up their series tomorrow at noon for their annual Bark in the Park game.
Northern Illinois 5, Central Michigan 1 | Box Score
Central Michigan 8, Northern Illinois 1 | Box Score
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich.— Kayla Estrada (Riverside, Calif./Martin Luther King) had back-to-back games with RBIs as the Northern Illinois University softball team split action against the Central Michigan University Chippewas. The Huskies (12-11, 6-5 MAC) took the first game 5-1 before falling to Central Michigan (15-15, 6-5 MAC), 8-1, in the second game.
Izzi Hanna (Granger, Ind./Penn) and Alana Powell (Chicago, Ill./Kenwood Academy) recorded multi-hit games in the first game of the day for the Huskies. Hanna went 3-of-4 at the plate with a run scored while Powell went 2-of-2, including a fourth inning solo home run.
The Huskies opened the game with back-to-back hits as they put two runners on before the Chippewas defense collected three straight strikeouts.
Mia Morera (Simi Valley, Calif./Westlake) singled to center field to lead off the second inning as she began her journey around the bases. A sacrifice fly by Lia Nance (Oceanside, Calif./Oceanside) set Morera across for the first run of the game.
The Chippewas answered with a single run on a hit in the bottom of the second inning to tie the game.
Leading off the fourth inning, Powell hit her first home run of the season, sending the ball center field as NIU regained the lead.
Powell recorded the next hit for either team, a double in the top of the sixth inning as NIU maintained a 2-1 edge.
With two outs on the board in the seventh inning, Hanna and Stewart had back-to-back hits for the Huskies. Katy Ramage (Germantown Hills, Ill./Metamora Township) reached base after being hit by the pitch to load the bases for NIU. Estrada hit a 3 RBI double to right-center field for the final runs of the game for NIU.
Madison Carlson (South Beloit, Ill./South Beloit) pitched her fourth complete game of the season and struck out three batters.
Northern Illinois scored in the first inning of game two with an RBI double from the cleanup hitter.
Central Michigan answered in the bottom half of the inning when Emma Lotus reached via error to score Angela Petrovitch who tripled as the leadoff batter for CMU.
In the second inning, CMU scored via double from Cairo and a bunt from Petrovitch where Cairo scored on the throwing error from the catcher. Emma Lotus grabbed her second RBI of the game with a single up the middle to score Petrovitch.
In the third, Petrovitch stayed hot, singled bunt and scored Cairo who reached on another double and advanced to third on an error by the left fielder.
In the fifth inning, Alexa Carter grabbed a sacrifice fly with a foul out to the right fielder, that scored Jenna Kuzara on the tag up. Cairo was responsible for the final run of the scoring for CMU with an RBI single that scored Cierra Laska.
Rachel Cairo and Angela Petrovitch both ended the second game with three hits, Cairo with three RBI tied her career high, reaching the mark for the fourth time across her three seasons as a Chippewa.
Petrovitch, who had two RBI notched her third of the season in that category, and the three for Cairo is her seventh game with multiple RBI this season, her third 3-RBI game.
Brooklyn Compau went the distance for CMU with only one run allowed, four strikeouts, and throwing her second complete game of the season. The Chippewas chased the starter for the Huskies out of the game in the second inning and forced NIU to throw four different pitchers in the outing.
The two teams will face off on Sunday for the series finale; the game is slated to start at 1 p.m.
Western Michigan 3, UMass 0
Box Score
AMHERST, Mass. -- The Western Michigan softball team won the lone game on Friday with a 3-0 shutout behind freshman pitcher Ava Geyer. After a travel delay to Sortino Field, Western Michigan's offense came out swinging, scoring all of its runs in the first inning of the series. The Broncos saw seven batters come to the plate in the first on Friday, with shortstop Caitlin Tighe, Jordan Smith, and Merrill all collecting a hit.
Smith's single scored WMU's first two runs while Merrill had her first double of the year score the third and final run of the game. Following the first inning, the Brown and Gold defense allowed only three hits and took the Minutewomen down in order in three separate innings for the 3-0 victory. Western Michigan recorded its fifth shutout of the season with the series opening win.
The Broncos and Minutewomen will meet again on Saturday morning for a doubleheader starting at 9AM.
