Softball Remains Perfect at Home with 8-0 Win Over EMU

Friday, April 14

Muncie, IN

3pm

Ball State University

26-19, 10-3

Eastern Michigan University

14-24, 2-11

Eastern Michigan

Ball State

Olivia Huffman rounding third on home run

Photo by: Ball State University Creative Services

Softball Remains Perfect at Home with 8-0 Win Over EMU

April 14, 2017 | Softball

Box Score

MUNCIE, Ind. – Junior pitcher Carolyn Wilmes (Evansville, Ind./Matre Dei) tied her career high with nine strikeouts, while sophomore catcher Olivia Huffman (Woodbury, Minn./South Dakota) drove in four runs to guide the Ball State softball team to an 8-0 (6 inn.) victory over Eastern Michigan Friday afternoon at the Softball Field at First Merchants Ballpark Complex.

With the win, the Cardinals improve to 7-0 in home games this season and maintain the top spot in the Mid-American Conference standings with a 10-3 league ledger. Ball State is currently 26-19 on the year.

It was another outstanding start in the circle for Wilmes, who improved to 12-9 on the year by limiting the Eagles (14-24, 2-11 MAC) to five hits and no runs over 6.0 innings of work. In earning her fourth shutout victory of the year, Wilmes set the tone early by striking out a pair of batters in each of the first three innings, on her way to finishing the day with a career-high tying nine Ks.

On offense, it was a was a third inning leadoff single by senior center fielder Rachel Houck (Greenfield, Ind./Louisville) which would get the Cardinals going. Houck followed by successfully stealing second and coming around to score after a pair of throwing errors by the Eastern Michigan defense. The stolen base was Houck's 13th of the year on 13 attempts.

Freshman third baseman Janae Hogg (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral) followed with a double to center field, while a walk to junior second baseman Maddy Labrador (Lexington, S.C. / Spartanburg Methodist) gave Ball State a pair of base runners. The Cardinals would go on to load the bases with one out on a fielder's choice by sophomore designated player Madison Lee (Cerritos, Calif./Cerritos) and a walk to junior first baseman Danae King (Glendale, Ariz./Phoenix College).

Labrador came around to score the second run of the inning when the throw home on a grounder to second by freshman right fielder Kennedy Wynn (New Albany, Ind./New Albany) was late, allowing the Cardinals to keep the bases loaded courtesy of the fielder's choice. Two batters later, Huffman provided her first two-run hit of the game with a double to right-center field.

After a scoreless fourth inning, Huffman extended Ball State's lead to 6-0 with a two-run blast over the fence in left field in the bottom of the fifth. Freshman pinch runner Tara Morey (New Palestine, Ind./New Palestine) also scored on the long ball after replacing junior shortstop Brittany Hopper (Scottsdale, Ariz./Phoenix College) who kept the inning alive with a two-out walk. The home run was Huffman's second at the Softball Field at First Merchants Ballpark Complex this season.

In all, the Cardinals out-hit the Eagles 11 to 5 on the day, with two hits apiece from Houck, Hogg, Hopper and Huffman.

Ball State would go on to end the game with one out in the bottom of the sixth on a walk-off, two-run double from Lee. Hogg started the rally with her second double of the game, while Labrador drew her second walk of the day to give the Cardinals a pair of base runners. Lee then battled through a nine-pitch at bat to drive a 2-2 pitch to the center field fence to end the game.

The Cardinals and Eagles return to action Saturday with a scheduled 1 p.m. doubleheader at the Softball Field at First Merchants Ballpark Complex. As always, admission to the games is free.

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 –