Ball State University
Valparaiso (DH)
Softball Wins Home Opener Against Valparaiso 4-3
March 18, 2009 | Softball
MUNCIE, Ind. ? The Ball State softball team earned its first home win against Valparaiso Wednesday 4-3 at the BSU Softball Complex. The second game in the double header was cancelled due to severe weather.
GAME ONE
Valparaiso scored early as the third batter singled just over Alicia Barkley's head, to drive in the runner on third.
Lisa Rozanski earned her fourth triple of the season into right center field to begin the bottom of the first. Batting second, Allie Pennock singled to the same spot, advancing Rozanski for a tie score. The RBI is her sixth this season. Alicia Barkley stepped to the plate for a double and advanced to third on the throw as Pennock was caught going home. Alyssa Collins then reached on an error by the first baseman and scored Barkley to put Ball State up by one. Elizabeth Milian then drove in an RBI single to put the game a 3-1.
Two strikeouts by Milian began the second inning and ended with a fly out to Pennock in left field.
Rozanski ignited the hitting again in the Cardinals' next at bat with a double into left field after two outs. She would be unable to make it around to home.
Milian prevented seven batters from connecting on the ball in the first two innings.
A sacrifice fly moved the third base runner home as the Crusaders crept to a 3-2 score. A throw from Natalie Bejarano to Barkley caught a runner stealing second. Milian struck out the last batter for her ninth of the day.
Ball State earned its fourth run in the fifth inning as Barkley doubled and reached third on a throwing error. She scored by tagging up as Collins grounded out to the pitcher.
An RBI single put Valparaiso closer on the board with the team's third run. However, Ball State's 10 hits to the Crusaders' nine proved effective as the Cardinals' defense prevented anymore scoring in the top of the seventh for a final score of 4-3. Rozanski, Barkley and Milian all logged two hits for the home team.
Milian, Mid-American Conference Pitcher of the Week, led Ball State against Valparaiso in the win. Her 11 strikeouts were just three short of her season-high when she fanned 14 against UNC-Greensboro in the team's first season game. The win puts her at .500 with a 7-7 record.
The Crusader's pitcher Alex Lagesse took her first loss for a 3-1 record. Lagesse also recently won Horizon League pitcher of the week with a no-hitter against Bryant University.
GAME TWO
After twenty minutes of play, the game was cancelled due to weather.
The Cardinals (9-12) are off this weekend but return to action 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 24 at Notre Dame. The game will be broadcast on WCRD 93.1 FM. Live stats will also be available at ballstatesports.com.
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