Ball State University
Miami
Softball Suffers Close Loss To Miami, Plays Akron Friday
May 08, 2009 | Softball
AKRON, Ohio ? In the second round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament, the Ball State softball team fell to Miami Thursday 2-1. The Cardinals led eight hits to three, but fell short on the scoreboard. The team gets a second chance playing Akron 3 p.m. Friday in the two-and-out tournament.
After a scoreless first inning for both teams, Miami took control in the second. The RedHawks' leadoff batter singled down the left field line and then found another, singling to the same side. The hits kept coming as a RedHawk doubled into left center field, scoring a run and leaving another on third with one out. A suicide squeeze play drove in Miami's second run before the end of the inning. It would also be the last.
Elizabeth Milian was the first player on base in the bottom of the third inning. Kamilah Holle followed, beating out her bunt. Despite matching Miami's three hits and with two on, the Cardinals' could not earn any runs in the inning.
Ball State came within one in the bottom of the fourth. Collins managed to earn an infield single just over the third baseman's head and advanced to second on a ground out. She scored as Amanda Montalto hit a hard single up the middle. But the Cardinals could not plate the tying run.
After limiting Miami's threats in the fifth inning, Ball State had chances by loading the bases with a double, a walk and a single. However, the Cardinals' three runners remained stranded on base. Neither team scored over the next two innings, giving Miami its first win over Ball State this season after being swept last week.
Despite giving up just three hits Milian (21-14) took the loss. She finished with six strikeouts which ties the single-season record at 200.
The Cardinals have a second chance to advance in the tournament, facing the winner of Akron and Ohio. Game time is scheduled for 3 p.m. Friday. The winner plays at 7:30 that day against the winner of Kent State and Western Michigan.
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