Long Ball Helps Softball Earn Friday Split with Kent State

MUNCIE, Ind.- - Powered by home runs from Haley Dominique, Maddy Labrador and Annie Robinson, the Ball State softball team rebounded from a 5-2 loss to Kent State in its home opener for a 15-7 (6) victory Friday afternoon in the second game of a doubleheader at the Softball Field at First Merchants Ballpark Complex.

The Cardinals (24-11; 6-2 Mid-American Conference) and the Golden Flashes (18-14; 4-4 MAC) will play the rubber game in the three-game series Saturday at 2 p.m.

In all, Ball State's offense finished the day with four home runs, as junior designated player Annie Robinson went yard once in each contest.

The second game also saw all nine Ball State starters reach base at least twice, as the Cardinals pounded out 13 hits and drew 14 walks in the win.

FROM COACH BARTLETT:
"We swung tight in the first game. We were just feeling a little bit of pressure and didn't swing the bats the way we are capable.

"Madi Huck threw a great opener for Kent State. She did not give into our hitters and got us to chase the curve. While Huck did a great job, we perform well when we have a bit of a lightness to us and are free swinging. We just didn't have that mentality in the first game.

"In the second game, we set a much more dominant offensive tone early. Any time Haley and Maddy can come up with big bombs like that in the first inning, it just sets the right tone.

"Tomorrow, we need to find a way to relax and breathe through the pressure a little bit."

BREAKING DOWN GAME 1: Kent State 5 - Ball State 2
• After a scoreless first inning, the Cardinals broke onto the board in the bottom of the first as freshman shortstop Hailey Demnianiuk was hit by a pitch with two outs and bases loaded.

• Unfortunately, the Golden Flashes answered with two runs in both the third and fourth innings to take control of the game at 4-1.

• Ball State was able to cut the Kent State lead to two runs in the bottom of the sixth courtesy of a one-out solo home run by junior designated player Annie Robinson.

• Unfortunately, the Golden Flashes were able to add another run in the seventh to pull ahead 5-2.

• Things could have been worse in the top of the seventh, as KSU loaded the bases with two outs, but sophomore reliever Alyssa Rothwell was able to get a fly to left-center field to end the inning and keep it a three-run game.

• Ball State had one more opportunity to get back into the game, as the Cardinals loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh with the help of three walks. Unfortunately, a force play at third would strand the bases loaded and give the Golden Flashes the 5-2 win.

• Junior pitcher Aeshia Miles suffered the loss for the Cardinals, falling to 13-5 on the year after allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits over 6.2 innings of work. She was also limited to two strikeouts on the cold and blustery day while issuing four walks.

• Madi Huck picked up the win for Kent State, improving to 10-4 while holding the Ball State offense to two runs and seven hits. She also struck out three.

BREAKING DOWN GAME 2: Ball State 15 - Akron 7 (6)
• The Ball State offense came out with a vengeance in the second game, pounding out 13 hits and drawing 14 walks on their way to a 15-7 (6) victory.

• It looked rough early, however, as Kent State managed to push across two early runs and load the bases with no outs in the top of the first. However, senior pitcher Carolyn Wilmes was able to settle in and get three straight force plays to end the inning and limit the damage to a pair of runs.

• Ball State countered with solo home runs from sophomore left fielder Haley Dominique and senior second baseman Maddy Labrador to even the score at 2-2 in the bottom of the frame.

• The Cardinals added four more runs in the bottom of the second, starting with a two-run home run from junior designated player Annie Robinson. Freshman third baseman Stacy Payton also scored on the play after walking to open the inning.

• Ball State's final two runs of the frame came on RBI singles from sophomore first baseman Janae Hogg and Labrador.

• Kent State used a one-out bases loaded single to cut the lead to 6-3 in the top of the third, but once again enter sophomore reliever Alyssa Rothwell who left the bases loaded with a fly out to left and a pop up to short.

• The Cardinals then took control of the game with seven runs off of five hits and five walks in the bottom of the third. All nine Ball State starters reached base at least once in the inning, including a two-run double from junior catcher Olivia Huffman and a two-run single from Labrador.

• After a scoreless fourth, the Golden Flashes were able to extend the game momentarily, however, with a four-run fifth inning.

• Leading 13-7 entering the bottom of the sixth, the Cardinals were able to load the bases with one out on walks to Hogg, sophomore right fielder Kennedy Wynn and Payton.

• The Cardinals pulled ahead by seven runs on a sac fly from Robinson, for her fourth RBI of the game.

• Freshman center fielder Katie Janiga followed with a single down the left field line, giving Ball State the walk-off, 15-7 (6) victory.

• Rothwell picked up the win in the circle for Ball State, climbing to 3-2 on the year after allowing just four hits and four runs (three earned) in her 3.2 innings of work. She also struck out four batters in the contest to lead all pitchers on the day.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
• Haley Dominique extended her current hitting streak to a career-long 12 games with one hit in the opener and a 2-for-4 effort in the second game. She has also reached base safely in each of the last 14 games to tie her longest career streak.

• Janae Hogg also recorded a hit in each game, extending her streak of reaching base safely to a career-high 18 games.

• Nine different Cardinals recorded at least one hit on the day, while seven different players logged at least one RBI.

• Ball State drew a combine 19 walks over the two games. The Cardinals entered the doubleheader ranked first in the conference and 20th nationally with 126 walks on the year.

NEXT UP
Ball State and Kent State conclude their three-game series with a scheduled 2 p.m. first pitch Saturday at the Softball Field at First Merchants Ballpark Complex.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State softball, follow the team on Twitter: @BallStateSB, @CoachCBartlett & @BallStateSports / Instagram: ballstatesb / Facebook: BallStateSB.

Long Ball Helps Softball Earn Friday Split with Kent State

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Team Stats

Janae Hogg

Haley Dominique

Stacy Payton

Annie Robinson

Players Mentioned

Hailey Demnianiuk

Haley Dominique

Janae Hogg

Olivia Huffman

Katie Janiga

Maddy Labrador

Aeshia Miles

Stacy Payton

Annie Robinson

Alyssa Rothwell

Carolyn Wilmes

Kennedy Wynn

Players Mentioned

Hailey Demnianiuk

Haley Dominique

Janae Hogg

Olivia Huffman

Katie Janiga

Maddy Labrador

Aeshia Miles

Stacy Payton

Annie Robinson

Alyssa Rothwell

Carolyn Wilmes

Kennedy Wynn