Houck & Hogg Power Softball to Saturday Split

CLEARWATER, Fla. - - Senior center fielder Rachel Houck (Greenfield, Ind./Louisville) celebrated her 22nd birthday with three home runs, a double and a single to help the Ball State softball team score a Saturday split in the USF Under Armour Invitational at the Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex.

The Cardinals (6-12) started the day with another dominating all-around performance, scoring a 10-0 (5) victory over Towson (8-8) to run its winning streak to three games. Houck and freshman third baseman Janae Hogg (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral) provided the bulk of Ball State's runs in the victory, combining for four home runs and seven RBIs.

In the circle, freshman Darcie Huber (Greenfield, Ind./Greenfield Central) recorded her second career one-hitter, limiting the Tigers to just a second inning single up the middle, which was just beyond Huber's reach. In earning her first career complete game shutout, Huber also struck out five batters and retired the final 11 batters she faced.

Unfortunately, Ball State suffered a 6-2 loss to tournament host USF (11-7) in the nightcap to drop its first game in the tournament. The Cardinals did manage to out-hit the Bulls, 9-to-6, and had several close calls which could have flipped the script in the contest.

Overall, Houck finished the day with five hits over seven at bats, scored a team-leading five runs and drove in four RBIs. She also drew a walk and logged a 2.143 slugging percentage for the day.

Hogg led the Ball State offense with a .875 average, going 7-for-8 at the plate with a pair of home runs and a double. She also drove in four RBI and scored a pair of runs while earning a 1.750 slugging percentage.

Ball State closes play in the USF Under Armour Invitational Sunday morning with a scheduled 9 a.m. first pitch versus St. Bonaventure.

GAME 1 RECAP: Ball State 10 – Towson 0 (5)
While a pair of one-out Ball State errors gave Towson life in the bottom of the first inning, Huber would close the door quickly with back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning.

The Ball State offense took control from there, posting five runs in the top of the second inning. Junior first baseman Danae King (Glendale, Ariz./Phoenix College) started the rally with a walk, while junior shortstop Brittany Hopper (Scottsdale, Ariz./Phoenix College) followed with a hard-hit single which bounced past the Towson third baseman. After freshman Tara Morey (New Palestine, Ind./New Palestine) entered the game to pinch run at second, sophomore second baseman Aeshia Miles (Lawrenceville, Ga./Collins Hill) drew a walk to load the bases.

Sophomore Madison Lee (Cerritos, Calif./Cerritos) followed with a pinch hit single to left field, driving in the game's first two runs. After a wild pitch moved Miles to third, junior designated player Maddy Labrador (Lexington, S.C./Spartanburg Methodist) drove in the third run of the game with a sacrifice fly to right field. Houck then made it a five-run game with a two-run blast deep over the fence in center field.

After a scoreless third inning, Houck and Hogg would produce back-to-back one-out home runs to extend the Cardinals advantage to 7-0 in the top of the fourth inning.

Hogg then capped the scoring in the top of the fifth with a two-out, three-run blast to left field. Miles doubled to open the inning, while Houck drew a two-out walk to set up the three-run blast.

Meanwhile, Huber was doing damage in the circle, limiting the Tigers to just a second inning single and retiring the final 11 batters she faced to secure her first career complete game shutout.

GAME 2 RECAP: USF 6 – Ball State 2
Like the day's first game, it was the Cardinals who would jump out to an early lead in the nightcap versus USF with a run in the top of the first inning. Houck, who reached base on a one-out double, would score the run courtesy of a RBI single up the middle from King.

Unfortunately, the Bulls answered with a three-run home run in the bottom of the inning to take the lead.

Ball State looked to answer in the top of the second, getting a pair of base runners in scoring position with one out, but a pop fly and groundout ended the threat. USF would then tally three more runs in the bottom of the inning to pull ahead 6-1.

Houck looked to get the offense rolling in the top of the third by blasting her third home run of the day over the center field wall, a solo shot to cut the USF lead to 6-2.

Ball State would go on to load the bases with two outs in the inning, courtesy of a Hogg single, a two-out walk to sophomore catcher Olivia Huffman (Woodbury Minn./South Dakota) and two-out bunt single from freshman left fielder Kennedy Wynn (New Albany, Ind./New Albany). It looked like the game was going to be tied when Miles launched a rocket into left-center field, but the ball was caught just shy of going over the fence for what could have been a game-tying grand slam.

From there, freshman pitcher Alyssa Rothwell (Ashville, Ohio/Teays Valley) would take control in the circle, retiring 12 of the 15 USF batters she faced while allowing just one hit and striking out three over 4.0 innings of work. However, Ball State's offense was unable to break through and the Cardinals dropped the game 6-2.

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 –

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Team Stats

Janae Hogg

Rachel Houck

Danae King

Brittany Hopper

Players Mentioned

Janae Hogg

Brittany Hopper

Rachel Houck

Darcie Huber

Olivia Huffman

Danae King

Maddy Labrador

Madison Lee

Aeshia Miles

Tara Morey

Alyssa Rothwell

Kennedy Wynn

Players Mentioned

Janae Hogg

Brittany Hopper

Rachel Houck

Darcie Huber

Olivia Huffman

Danae King

Maddy Labrador

Madison Lee

Aeshia Miles

Tara Morey

Alyssa Rothwell

Kennedy Wynn