Ball State University
.png&width=60&height=60&type=webp)
Western Michigan (DH)
Softball?s Clinches MAC Tournament Spot With Doubleheader Split
April 18, 2009 | Softball
Muncie, Ind. ? The Ball State softball team (23-18) suffered its first loss at home, second in conference play to Western Michigan Saturday. However, the Cardinals fired back with ten runs in five innings in game two to clinch a position in the conference tournament with a 13-2 MAC record. Freshman Amanda Montalto belted a home run in each of the games.
GAME ONE
Ball State battled back and forth with the Broncos (15-17, 9-5) in game one, but came up short in the ninth inning. For the first time in conference play, the Cardinals allowed the opposing team to score first. Western Michigan's Meredith Whitney hit a long ball over the center field wall for a two-run home run in the first inning.
Montalto (2-2) answered for the Cardinals with a solo home run, her first of her career, to give Ball State its first run of the game. Whitney then drove in a two-RBI double to increase the Broncos lead 4-1 in the top of the third.
Back in the top of the order, Lisa Rozanski (3-4) hit an off the wall triple in the bottom of the third. Alicia Barkley then singled, driving in Rozanski for a second run. Rozanski's seventh triple of the season is tied for third on the single-season charts. She is four shy of earning the career record... as a sophomore. She also logged a season-high for her, 40 hits.
Elizabeth Milian (16-11) struck out all three batters in the top of the fourth as she accumulated eight on the day.
Jen Reifschneider almost earned her second home run in two days with an off the wall double. Katelyn Gunderson pinch ran for her. She plated a third run for Ball State as Kate Wilczynski distracted the Broncos' defense and stole second. The Cardinals trailed by one in the bottom of the fourth.
Rozanski's single in bottom of the fifth gave Ball State five hits to Western Michigan's four. She also stole her 23rd base of the season as she moved to second. She advanced to third for the possible tying run as Alyssa Collins beat out her hit to the third baseman. With two outs and bases loaded, Montalto entered the box. Her single into shallow center field tied the score at four a piece.
Wilczynski caught a low line drive and turned back to first base for the team's 11th double play of the season in the sixth inning. The Cardinals also prevented the Broncos form scoring in the top of the seventh, despite loading the bases. Three quick outs against Ball State; however, sent the game into extra innings. It is the fifth time the Cardinals have extended regulation, losing four of those five games.
Brittany Reist hit a lead-off home run in the top of the eighth as the Broncos' took control of the lead for the third time in the game.
Montalto walked and Wilczynski singled through the middle and Rozanski walked, loading the bases on a last attempt for victory in the bottom of the eighth. However, the Cardinals could not catch back up as Western Michigan forced the third out, snapping a seven-game winning streak at home for Ball State.
Prior to the game, Ball State had earned 11 consecutive MAC wins this season.
GAME TWO
Ball State came out rallying in game two, scoring ten runs in five innings. Laura Masch (7-4) earned her seventh win with three strikeouts, while giving up just three hits.
In the first inning alone, the team earned three runs off four hits while going through eight batters. However, Megan Thomas logged the team's third home run of the day as the Broncos' trailed, for the first time, 3-2.
Two walks put two on in the bottom of the second for the Cardinals. Two singles followed pushing in two more runs. Montalto cranked her second home run of the day over the same spot in center field to give Ball State an 8-2 advantage. The Cardinals did not look back, scoring two more runs over the next two innings, closing the game due to the eight-run rule 10-2 in the fifth.
Now leading the team with a .375 batting average, Montalto finished 4-for-5 with six RBI on the day. Reifschneider hit her ninth double of the season, while Barkley earned her sixth. Barkley also went 2-for-3 with three RBI. Rozanski who also went 2-for-3 logged three runs, as did Collins who finished 1-for-2.
The Cardinals have a two and a half game lead over MAC opponents before heading into a non-conference double header at Morehead State 5 p.m. Tuesday. Live stats will be available.
####
