Ball State University
Miami
Softball Clinches MAC Title And No. 1 Tournament Seed
May 02, 2009 | Softball
MUNCIE, Ind. ? For the first time ever in program history, the Ball State softball team earned the Mid-American Conference regular season title after defeating Miami Saturday 6-5. The Cardinals also warrant the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament in Akron, Ohio next week. The 1998 team won the MAC Tournament Championship more than a decade ago with a 19-7 conference record.
Without giving Miami (13-8 in MAC) a hit in its first at bats, Ball State attacked first, scoring three runs off three hits in the bottom of the first inning. Allie Pennock reached on an error and Alicia Barkley singled to put two on for the Cardinals. Alyssa Collins also singled and advanced to second on a throwing error, while allowing Pennock to score. Jen Reifschneider's RBI single drove in both Barkley and Collins as Ball State left the RedHawks trailing by three.
Neither team scored in the second inning; however the Cardinals were able to find two more runs in the bottom of the third inning as Barkley led off with a double off the center field wall. Collins singled after her, putting Barkley in scoring position on third. Following that, Collins stole second. On the next play, Reifschneider reached on an error, Collins advanced to third and Barkley scored her second of three runs of the day to give Ball State a 4-0 lead. Amanda Montalto's sacrifice fly gave the team one more run before the end of the inning.
The Cardinals maintained the lead throughout the next inning; however, bases loaded off three walks in the top of the fifth inning for the RedHawks. Another walk gave Miami its first run of the game, trailing by four with bases still loaded. A hit to Barkley drew the runner out at third, but allowed a second runner to score. The RedHawks earned a third run on an RBI single, but the Cardinals were able to log the third out on a run down between second and third to close the inning.
Without either team placing a hit in the sixth inning, Miami came back in the top of the seventh as two runners scored off an RBI double to center field tying the game at five a piece. A runner on third tried to advance home on a wild pitch; however, Natalie Bejarano threw it back to Elizabeth Milian to tag the runner out at home plate. Milian also struck out the next batter, preventing any more runs.
Barkley singled through the middle in the bottom of the seventh as the possible winning run as she finished 3-for-4 in the game. She advanced to second as Collins reached on a fielder's choice. With two outs, Montalto was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Wilczynski worked her way to a full count with two outs. A fourth ball allowed Ball State to take the 6-5 win with a walk-off walk, pushing in Barkley as the winning run.
Milian earned her 20th win in the victory, while striking out four batters. She is third all-time with 52 career wins.
TOURNAMENT UPDATE:
In Right Now:
1. Ball State 17-3
2. Kent State 15-5
3. Western Michigan 15-6
4. Miami 13-8
5. Akron 11-9
6. Northern Illinois 11-10
7. Ohio 11-10
8. Eastern Michigan 8-13
Outside Looking in:
9. Bowling Green 7-14
10. Buffalo 7-14
11. Toledo 6-15
12. Central Michigan 3-17
The Cardinals complete regular season play 1 p.m. Sunday against Miami. It is also Senior Day for Ball State's six seniors: Natalie Bejarano, Tiffany Garofano, Katelyn Gunderson, Kamilah Holle, Laura Masch and Allie Pennock. Games will be aired on local broadcast channel WCRD 91.3 FM.
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