Friday, March 3
Clearwater, FL
11:30am
Ball State University
4-11
5
vs
0
University of Hartford
2-3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Hartford
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
Ball State
0
0
1
0
4
0
X
5
8
1
Photo by: Buddy Delahoussaye
Softball Opens Spring Break with Pair of Friday Wins
March 03, 2017 | Softball
CLEARWATER, Fla. - - The Ball State softball team started spring break with a bang, scoring 16 total runs to open play in the USF Under Armour Invitational with wins over Hartford (5-0) and Penn (11-1 in 6 inn.) Friday afternoon at the Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex.
In addition to another pair of dominating pitching performances, the Cardinals' (5-11) offense came to life with 19 hits over the two games, led by a four-hit day from junior Maddy Labrador (Lexington, S.C./Spartanburg Methodist). Labrador notched a pair of doubles to go along with her first home run as a member of the Ball State softball program. She also led the Cardinals' offense with three RBI and a 1.286 slugging percentage on the day.
Sophomore catcher Olivia Huffman (Woodbury Minn./South Dakota) also had a strong day at the plate, reaching base in five of her seven plate appearances by logging a pair of hits, a walk and being hit by a pitch twice. She also laid down a sacrifice bunt in the opening-game victory over Hartford (2-3) and finished the day with two RBI and a run scored.
Junior first baseman Danae King (Glendale, Ariz./Phoenix College) reached base four times on the day with a pair of hits and two walks. She had one RBI and one run scored.
Ball State's pitchers carried over their momentum from last weekend, with freshman Darcie Huber (Greenfield, Ind./Greenfield Central) surrendering just three hits while striking out five over 6.0 innings of work in the shutout win over the Hawks.
Junior pitcher Carolyn Wilmes (Evansville, Ind./Mater Dei) held Penn (1-1) to five hits and one earned run over 5.0 innings of work in the day's second game. She also struck out five batters, including all three outs in the first inning.
The Ball State softball team continues play in the USF Under Armour Invitational Saturday with games versus Towson (12:30 p.m.) and tournament host USF (3 p.m.)
GAME 1 RECAP: Ball State 5 – Hartford 0
After three scoreless innings from Huber in the circle, the Cardinals would give her all the run support she needed in the top of the third as a one-out double from Labrador helped setup the game's first run. With freshman pinch runner Tara Morey (New Palestine, Ind./New Palestine) standing on second, freshman third baseman Janae Hogg (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral) drove in what proved to be the game-winning run courtesy of a RBI single to shallow center field. Morey showed her speed by scoring on the play after taking off on contact.
After being held to just two hits over the first four innings, the Ball State offense exploded for four two-out runs in the fifth inning. Junior right fielder Cadie O'Donnell (Salina, Kan./ Barton CC) started the rally with a one-out single, however she was forced out at second on a fielder's choice by Labrador. With sophomore pinch runner Madison Lee (Cerritos, Calif./Cerritos) now at first, senior center fielder Rachel Houck (Greenfield, Ind./Louisville) smashed a double to left-center field to put a pair of Cardinals in scoring position.
Hogg followed with her second RBI single of the game, while freshman Kennedy Wynn (New Albany, Ind./New Albany) slashed a two-run single through the left side, making the score 4-1. Huffman provided the game's final run with a RBI blooper which fell between three Hartford fielders.
Huber earned the win in the circle for Ball State, holding the Hawks to three hits and a walk over 6.0 innings of work. She also struck out five batters to improve to 4-3 on the year. Freshman Alyssa Rothwell (Ashville, Ohio/Teays Valley) threw the final inning for the Cardinals, striking out two of the six batters she faced.
GAME 2 RECAP: Ball State 11 – Penn 1 (6)
Game two had an ominous start, as Penn's leadoff batter deposited a 2-0 pitch over the fence in right field. However, Wilmes buckled down and struck out three of the next four batters she faced to end the inning.
Ball State's offense had Wilmes' back, however, scoring 11 unanswered runs, starting with a two-run top of the second. Huffman drew a one-out walk to start the rally, and after advancing to second on a wild pitch, scored on a RBI single to center field from junior Brittany Hopper (Scottsdale, Ariz./Phoenix College). Hopper, who advanced all the way to third on the throw home, scored on the next play when King singled through the left side.
Labrador made it a 3-0 game with a leadoff home run in the top of the third, which was her first home run at Ball State and the 11th of her collegiate career.
After a scoreless fourth, the Cardinals essentially put the game out of reach with a three-run fifth inning. Labrador started the rally with a leadoff double to left-center field and pinch runner Morey would then advance to second on a wild pitch. Houck followed with a two-run blast deep over the fence in right field to push the score to 5-1. It was Houck's team-leading fourth home run of the season and the 11th of her career.
Back-to-back singles from Hogg and Wynn gave Ball state a pair of base runners, while a Huffman fly out to right field was good enough to move Hogg to third. The Cardinals capitalized on the play, as Hogg scored on an errant throw by the Penn catcher trying to check Wynn at first.
Ball State capped the scoring in the top of the sixth, adding five more runs to give the game its final margin of 11-1. King opened the frame with a double, and made a heads up running play by stealing third after the pitch on the throwback with no one paying attention. After sophomore second baseman Aeshia Miles (Lawrenceville, Ga./Collins Hill) was hit by a pitch, O'Donnell laid down a perfect squeeze bunt to bring home King for the first run of the inning.
With runners at second and third, Labrador drove in two more runs with a single to left field, making the score 9-1. Lee would then enter to pinch run and advance to second on a walk to Houck. After a pop up for the inning's first out, a wild pitch advanced both runners a base.
Freshman Caitlyn Robinson (Clarksville, Ohio/Clinton-Massie) pushed the Cardinals' 10th run across the plate with a RBI groundout, while Huffman drove in the game's final run with a single through the left side.
Miles entered the game to pitch in the bottom of the sixth and retired three of the five batters she faced, including a strikeout. Wilmes picked up the win in the circle, limiting Penn to five hits and one earned run over 5.0 innings of work. She also struck out five batters in the game.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State softball, follow the team on Twitter: @BallStateSB, @CoachCBartlett & @BallStateSports / Instagram: ballstatesb / Facebook: BallStateSoftball.
- BallStateSports.com –
In addition to another pair of dominating pitching performances, the Cardinals' (5-11) offense came to life with 19 hits over the two games, led by a four-hit day from junior Maddy Labrador (Lexington, S.C./Spartanburg Methodist). Labrador notched a pair of doubles to go along with her first home run as a member of the Ball State softball program. She also led the Cardinals' offense with three RBI and a 1.286 slugging percentage on the day.
Sophomore catcher Olivia Huffman (Woodbury Minn./South Dakota) also had a strong day at the plate, reaching base in five of her seven plate appearances by logging a pair of hits, a walk and being hit by a pitch twice. She also laid down a sacrifice bunt in the opening-game victory over Hartford (2-3) and finished the day with two RBI and a run scored.
Junior first baseman Danae King (Glendale, Ariz./Phoenix College) reached base four times on the day with a pair of hits and two walks. She had one RBI and one run scored.
Ball State's pitchers carried over their momentum from last weekend, with freshman Darcie Huber (Greenfield, Ind./Greenfield Central) surrendering just three hits while striking out five over 6.0 innings of work in the shutout win over the Hawks.
Junior pitcher Carolyn Wilmes (Evansville, Ind./Mater Dei) held Penn (1-1) to five hits and one earned run over 5.0 innings of work in the day's second game. She also struck out five batters, including all three outs in the first inning.
The Ball State softball team continues play in the USF Under Armour Invitational Saturday with games versus Towson (12:30 p.m.) and tournament host USF (3 p.m.)
GAME 1 RECAP: Ball State 5 – Hartford 0
After three scoreless innings from Huber in the circle, the Cardinals would give her all the run support she needed in the top of the third as a one-out double from Labrador helped setup the game's first run. With freshman pinch runner Tara Morey (New Palestine, Ind./New Palestine) standing on second, freshman third baseman Janae Hogg (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral) drove in what proved to be the game-winning run courtesy of a RBI single to shallow center field. Morey showed her speed by scoring on the play after taking off on contact.
After being held to just two hits over the first four innings, the Ball State offense exploded for four two-out runs in the fifth inning. Junior right fielder Cadie O'Donnell (Salina, Kan./ Barton CC) started the rally with a one-out single, however she was forced out at second on a fielder's choice by Labrador. With sophomore pinch runner Madison Lee (Cerritos, Calif./Cerritos) now at first, senior center fielder Rachel Houck (Greenfield, Ind./Louisville) smashed a double to left-center field to put a pair of Cardinals in scoring position.
Hogg followed with her second RBI single of the game, while freshman Kennedy Wynn (New Albany, Ind./New Albany) slashed a two-run single through the left side, making the score 4-1. Huffman provided the game's final run with a RBI blooper which fell between three Hartford fielders.
Huber earned the win in the circle for Ball State, holding the Hawks to three hits and a walk over 6.0 innings of work. She also struck out five batters to improve to 4-3 on the year. Freshman Alyssa Rothwell (Ashville, Ohio/Teays Valley) threw the final inning for the Cardinals, striking out two of the six batters she faced.
GAME 2 RECAP: Ball State 11 – Penn 1 (6)
Game two had an ominous start, as Penn's leadoff batter deposited a 2-0 pitch over the fence in right field. However, Wilmes buckled down and struck out three of the next four batters she faced to end the inning.
Ball State's offense had Wilmes' back, however, scoring 11 unanswered runs, starting with a two-run top of the second. Huffman drew a one-out walk to start the rally, and after advancing to second on a wild pitch, scored on a RBI single to center field from junior Brittany Hopper (Scottsdale, Ariz./Phoenix College). Hopper, who advanced all the way to third on the throw home, scored on the next play when King singled through the left side.
Labrador made it a 3-0 game with a leadoff home run in the top of the third, which was her first home run at Ball State and the 11th of her collegiate career.
After a scoreless fourth, the Cardinals essentially put the game out of reach with a three-run fifth inning. Labrador started the rally with a leadoff double to left-center field and pinch runner Morey would then advance to second on a wild pitch. Houck followed with a two-run blast deep over the fence in right field to push the score to 5-1. It was Houck's team-leading fourth home run of the season and the 11th of her career.
Back-to-back singles from Hogg and Wynn gave Ball state a pair of base runners, while a Huffman fly out to right field was good enough to move Hogg to third. The Cardinals capitalized on the play, as Hogg scored on an errant throw by the Penn catcher trying to check Wynn at first.
Ball State capped the scoring in the top of the sixth, adding five more runs to give the game its final margin of 11-1. King opened the frame with a double, and made a heads up running play by stealing third after the pitch on the throwback with no one paying attention. After sophomore second baseman Aeshia Miles (Lawrenceville, Ga./Collins Hill) was hit by a pitch, O'Donnell laid down a perfect squeeze bunt to bring home King for the first run of the inning.
With runners at second and third, Labrador drove in two more runs with a single to left field, making the score 9-1. Lee would then enter to pinch run and advance to second on a walk to Houck. After a pop up for the inning's first out, a wild pitch advanced both runners a base.
Freshman Caitlyn Robinson (Clarksville, Ohio/Clinton-Massie) pushed the Cardinals' 10th run across the plate with a RBI groundout, while Huffman drove in the game's final run with a single through the left side.
Miles entered the game to pitch in the bottom of the sixth and retired three of the five batters she faced, including a strikeout. Wilmes picked up the win in the circle, limiting Penn to five hits and one earned run over 5.0 innings of work. She also struck out five batters in the game.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State softball, follow the team on Twitter: @BallStateSB, @CoachCBartlett & @BallStateSports / Instagram: ballstatesb / Facebook: BallStateSoftball.
- BallStateSports.com –
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Huber, Darcie (4-3)
L: Pereira, Melissa (1-2)
Batting:
2B: Ferguson, Marisa 1
SH: Saharek, Alex 1
Batting:
2B: Labrador, Maddy 1 ; Houck, Rachel 1 ; Dominique, Haley 1
RBI: Hogg, Janae 2 ; Wynn, Kennedy 2 ; Huffman, Olivia 1
SH: Huffman, Olivia 1 ; Hopper, Brittany 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Morey, Tara 1 ; Lee, Madison 1 ; Houck, Rachel 1 ; Hogg, Janae 1 ; Wynn, Kennedy 1
SB: Hogg, Janae 1
HBP: Huffman, Olivia 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
INF/C
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
UTIL
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF/OF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
RHP
/ SoftballINF/OF
/ SoftballSoftball // Workouts
Wednesday, September 17
Ball State Director of Athletics Jeff Mitchell discusses the NCAA vs. House Settlement
Tuesday, July 01
Director of Athletics Jeff Mitchell discusses NCAA vs. House Settlement & Bill Richards Thank You
Friday, June 27
Sports Link: Katie Van Der Mark (Softball)
Wednesday, May 21