Ball State University
Central Michigan (DH)
Softball Splits In MAC Opener At Central Michigan
March 27, 2009 | Softball
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. ? The Ball State softball team (11-14) opened Mid-American Conference play splitting with Central Michigan (7-12) Friday.
GAME ONE
Extra base hits gave Ball State its first MAC win as the team earned two doubles and a triple. The Cardinals took advantage of scoring opportunities by leaving only four on base compared to the Chippewas' seven. Ball State also controlled the hitting with six as Central Michigan earned three, all singles.
Allie Pennock got things started for the Cardinals by laying a bunt and using speed to reach base for the first hit of the game. She took second base on a wild pitch. Alicia Barkley grounded out but advanced Pennock to third. A hit by Alyssa Collins moved Pennock home and gave Ball State a 1-0 lead. Jen Reifschneider's double slammed off the right center field wall to score Collins for a two-run advantage. The hit marks her fifth double and seventeenth RBI this season.
After two outs, Central Michigan got its first hit of the game in the bottom of the second inning with a single up the middle. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases for Central Michigan, but a popup to Holle at second base prevented any scoring. After two innings, Central Michigan stranded five while Ball State left just one on base.
Leading off in the third, Lisa Rozanski slapped one over the left fielder's head for her fifth triple this season. Pennock then grounded out to the pitcher. Barkley grounded out to second base, but earned an RBI by Rozanski scoring to give the Cardinals their third run.
Both teams were held scoreless in the fourth and fifth innings. Meanwhile, Milian (8-8) retired ten straight since the last out in the second inning, including two strikeouts.
For the sixth inning, Pennock earned her second hit of the day. Barkley and Collins both grounded out but moved Pennock to third. The Chippewas walked Reifschneider and Katelyn Gunderson pinch ran for her. She then stole second as Milian came to bat; however, a ground out ended the inning with one hit, one walk and no runs.
The score remained 3-0 to begin the seventh, despite Central Michigan earning two more hits.
Amanda Montalto reached first on an error by the shortstop. Jackie Durment pinch ran for her, and advanced to second on a sacrifice made by Kate Wilczynski. However, she remained on second as the next two batters grounded out.
Central Michigan could not hold on in its home-opener as Ball State did not allow a hit in the seventh inning for a 3-0 victory.
GAME TWO
After ten innings, Ball State battled with Central Michigan but fell 6-5 while tying the score four times.
The Cardinals started hitting early once again in the first, beginning with Rozanski who earned her fourth season double. She advanced to third as Pennock grounded out to pitcher. Barkley singled to third, holding Rozanski on base. Collins grounded out to the shortstop but pushed in Rozanski as Ball State produced its first run.
The Cardinals held Central Michigan scoreless in the bottom of the first with three quick outs. The Chippewas provided the same defense during the next inning.
Central Michigan logged back to back singles to start the bottom of the second. Runners advanced to second and third on the throw. Another single into right center field drove in one run to tie the score. Ball State gave up a stolen base at second but later caught the runner at third trying to advance home. The Chippewas then took its first lead of the day as Brittini Merchant notched a double into left field for a 2-1 score.
In the top of the third, Natalie Bejarano placed a hit into left field for her second hit of the season. It would be the only hit of the inning for Ball State.
The Chippewas earned their second double of the game in the bottom of the third with a deep hit into center field. After a strikeout, delivered Laura Masch, another deep shot into center field was caught by Rozanski, but allowed the runner to advance to third. Central Michigan did not score as a ground out to Holle ended the inning.
With two outs, Montalto reached first on an error by the second baseman. Wilczynski logged her first hit of the day down the right field line and advanced Montalto. Durment pinch ran for Montalto as Holle stepped to the plate. Holle logged her second double of the day, and earned an RBI as Durment tied the score 2-2.
An error put the first runner on base to begin the bottom of the fourth for Central Michigan. She advanced to second on a sacrifice. Masch struck out the next batter, her third of the game. Central Michigan took the lead again as the Chippewas found a gap in right center field for a single. Milian then took over for Masch in the circle. Masch (2-2) finished three and two-thirds innings with two earned runs, no walks. Milian closed the inning with a strikeout.
In the top of the fifth, Rozanski earned her second hit of the game, third of the day with a single up the middle for her fifth multi-hit game. She stole second with Pennock at bat. She stole three bags in the game. Pennock then lined out to the third baseman, holding Rozanski on second. She did advance to third when Barkley grounded out. Collins brought in the tying run with a single hit hard down the right field line. The Chippewas ended the inning on a ground out, but not before the Cardinals earned two hits for a score of 3-3.
A walk and a sacrifice bunt left one runner on second in the bottom of the fifth. But a double play shut things down for Central Michigan, preventing them from scoring the tiebreaker.
The Cardinals took the lead for the first time since the first inning in the sixth. After two walks and two outs, Rozanski sent her second double and third hit of the game over the left fielder's head while earning two RBI to put the score at 5-3.
After a groundout and a walk, a double gave Central Michigan its fourth run as the Chippewas trailed by one in the bottom of the sixth. The game then tied back up with a single to drive in another Central Michigan run. Ball State avoided giving up any more runs by outing the next two batters.
Despite scoring at least one run in the three previous innings, the Cardinals could not find a hit in the top of the seventh. A double play by Wilczynski and Reifschneider eliminated scoring opportunities for the Chippewas as well, sending the game into extra innings.
Both teams were held scoreless in the eighth inning with no hits.
Central Michigan logged a single but the runner advanced to third on two fielding errors the same play. A fly out to Collins in right field held the runner at third with one out. Bases loaded after a Chippewa runner was hit by a pitch and another walked. Milian struck out back to back batters to save the inning.
Pennock was placed on second in the tenth inning for international tiebreaker ruling. She advanced to third as Barkley grounded out to first base. A popup closed the side.
The Chippewa runner placed on second, advanced to third on a single. Central Michigan then scored the winning run in the bottom of the tenth with a single just over Barkley's head at shortstop. The hit resulted in a 5-6 loss for Ball State.
Milian picked up a 9-9 record after pitching an additional five and two-thirds innings. She finished with three strikeouts while giving up five hits and two earned runs in the game.
Ball State logged eight hits and three errors, while Central Michigan earned 11 hits and one error.
The Cardinals (11-14) travel to Eastern Michigan Saturday. A double header has been scheduled instead of a two-day event due to inclement weather. The first game is now set for 1 p.m.
####
