Ball State University
Indiana
Cards Shut Out Hoosiers In Home Opener
March 28, 2007 | Softball
MUNCIE, Ind. -- The Ball State Softball team defeated the Indiana Hoosiers 8-0 in just six innings on Wednesday afternoon at the BSU Softball Complex.
Ball State scored in the first inning of the game as senior Kelli Jeziorski stole second, reached third by tagging up on a high fly ball to left field and then scored on a wild pitch.
In the second inning, junior Amanda Pick led the charge with a hard-hit single that got by the shortstop. Pick then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Freshman Alisha Etzler drove Pick home with a single up the middle.
Etzler made another impact in the fifth-inning as she stole two bases to advance to third after being walked to lead off the inning. Taylor Yancey then hit a two-out triple to centerfield to score Etzler. The triple was Yancey's first of the season and ninth of her career.
Junior Abby Gross added to the lead as her single to left field scored Yancey giving the Cardinals a 4-0 lead.
The Cardinals ended the game after a four-run inning in the sixth. Pick started the inning with a double to left field. Pick then advanced to third as Amber Wolf hit a ball that went off the pitcher to the shortstop for an out.
Coach Craig Nicholson then put in pinch-runner Katelyn Gunderson to run for Pick. The call turned out to be a great one as Kam Holle laid down a bunt that scored Gunderson, and allowed her to reach first.
Etzler came up next and walked for the second straight time putting runners on first and second base. Allie Pennock knocked a single into right field to load the bases. Jeziorski then hit a single to left field that scored both Holle and Etzler to make the game 7-0.
Yancey would put the Hoosiers away with a single to left field to score Pennock and end the game.
“We were aggressive at the plate today,” says BSU head coach Craig Nicholson. “We saw a lot of good pitches and attacked.”
Elizabeth Milian was on the mound for the Cardinals. Milian held Indiana to a single hit, marking the second time this season she has held a Big Ten school to one hit. Milian is now 6-6 overall on the year.
“Whenever you have a pitcher throw a one-hitter you have a great chance to win the game,” Nicholson says. “Milian pitched a great game. She continues to improve each week.”
The Cardinals will return to action March 30 at Athens, Ohio to play the Bobcats in a doubleheader.
