Ball State University Athletics
Softball Scores Split at Northern Illinois
April 07, 2006 | Softball
Softball vs. NIU-2
Ball State scored a split in softball at Northern Illinois Friday. The Cardinals fell 4-2 in game one, but recovered for a 6-3 verdict in the nightcap. BSU exploded for a season-high 12 hits to earn the win.
The Cardinals, 9-14 overall and 3-3 in league play, are on the road to Western Michigan for single games Saturday (2 p.m.) and Sunday (1 p.m.)
Ball State struck first with a run in the top of the second in the nightcap and, after NIU matched the run in the bottom portion of the inning, the Cardinals answered for three runs on three hits in the very next inning. BSU withstood two more runs by NIU in the fourth with another two of its own in the fifth on the way to the win. Sarah McGregor, Amanda Pick, Katelyn Gunderson and Abby Gross each had two hits in the contest. McGregor had a two-run double in the third on the way to a game-high three RBI.
Abby Zollman, who came into relieve starter Quincy Duran in the fourth earned the victory and improved to 2-2 on the season. She had one strikeout, scattered just two hits and allowed one run on the mound.
In game one, Northern Illinois jumped out to a 4-0, before the Cardinals scored one in the fifth and then another in the seventh. BSU was unable to capitalize on three NIU miscues and stranded a total of nine runners. Six different players had hits as the Cardinals posted a 6-5 advantage.
Amanda Pick suffered the loss, yielding four runs – only one of which was earned – over the first three innings.
