Ball State University
Northern Illinois
Milian Shuts Out SDSU, Split On Day Two
March 26, 2007 | Softball
The Ball State Softball team played conference rival Northern Illinois to start day two of the Hawkeye Classic. The Cardinals lost a close game 6-4.
Immediately following the Northern Illinois game, the Cardinals beat South Dakota State 5-0 to earn a 1-3 record in the Hawkeye Classic putting them at fourth place overall.
In game one, the Cardinals got off to a rough start by giving up three runs as the Huskies batted through the order and recorded five hits.
Junior Amanda Pick got out of the inning by striking out Renee Dearborn.
Ball State bounced back in the second inning as Abby Gross and Elizabeth Milian each got a single to start the inning.
Freshman Amber Wolf came to the plate and delivered a one-out double that scored both runners.
The Huskies had a big fourth inning as Dearborn hit a solo home run. The next batter singled and would eventually score after a Michelle Nendza double to make the score 2-6.
Ball State tried to answer in the fifth as senior Kelli Jeziorski hit a two-run home run to pull the Cardinals within two runs. It would not be enough as Taryn Hagemann of Northern Illinois' sat down the next six batters in order.
In game two the Cardinals faced the Jackrabbits of South Dakota State. The game got off to a slow start as both teams were scoreless through three innings of play. Ball State scored the first run of the game in the fourth inning off of a double by Pick.
The first three batters got on base for the Cardinals in the fifth inning giving Gross an opportunity to increase Ball State's lead. Gross hit a deep fly ball to centerfield allowing Allie Pennock to tag up and score.
With Milian at the plate, both Jeziorski and Taylor Yancey advanced on a wild pitch by Kim Westendorf. Westendorf then walked the Milian to make the bases loaded yet again this time with Pick up to bat. Pick reached first on a fielder's choice as Jeziorski was able to score to make the game 3-0 in favor of the Cardinals.
Milian helped herself out in the seventh inning as she blasted a two-run home run over the left field wall to make the game 5-0.
Milian was also on the mound for all seven innings to shut out the Jackrabbits. Milian only gave up four hits and recorded three strikeouts to earn the win.
The Cardinals will host Indiana this Wednesday March 28th at 3 p.m.
