Ball State University Athletics
Softball Soars Past Rockets
April 15, 2006 | Softball
Toledo jumped out to a 2-0 lead after a three-hit second inning, but BSU immediately responded with one in the bottom portion of the inning. Katie Pilger crossed the plate after a single to left field, a move to second on Sarah McGregor's sacrifice bunt and eventually home on an error by the UT right fielder off a hit by Shannon Sharpe.
The Rockets threatened again with back-to-back singles to open the third, but Masch struck out three straight batters to get out of the inning. The momemtum carried to the bottom of the inning, where the Cardinals surged ahead with three runs on three hits.
Kelli Jeziorski led off with a walk, stole second and then moved to third on a passed ball. With one out, Amanda Pick found the green in left field to plate Jeziorski for BSU's second run. With two outs, Taylor Yancey followed with a single to center field -- scoring Pick -- and then moved to second on a throwing error by the center fielder on the same play. Two pitches later, Yancey stole third and then scored when McGregor singled to left field, giving Ball State a 4-2 edge after three innings.
After Masch's fourth-straight strikeout and a flyout to center field to start the fourth, UT's Denise Van Vossen tripled to the right field warning track and then scored on a throwing error three batters later. Ball State followed with a rally attempt in the bottom of the inning after Jeziorski doubled off the left field wall and then moved to third on a ground out. However, UT pitcher Stephanie Moore got out of the inning after forcing a flyout to center.
Toledo had one base runner in each of the final three innings, but never in scoring position as Masch struck out three of the final nine batters, including one looking to end the game.
"I was very happy with the way we battled back today," BSU head coach Terri Laux said. "Laura did a tremendous job on the mound and I thought our defense was very sound. For the first time in several games, I felt like our offense was on track. It was a great game all the way around."
Ball State matched its guests with seven hits. Jeziorski led the way with two plus a run. Van Vossen had a team-high two for the Rockets. Masch, who struck out four-straight batters at one juncture during the game, earned her first MAC win and improved to 2-3 overall. Moore took the loss for UT and fell to 6-15 on the year.
BSU, 10-19 overall and 4-7 in the MAC, entertains Toledo (12-27; 3-7 MAC) Sunday in a single game beginning at 1 p.m.
