Ball State University
Toledo
Softball Defeats Toledo 13-12 in Think Pink Game At Home
April 25, 2010 | Softball
This marks just the second time this season that the Cardinals have been able to defeat their opponent when trailing after the fifth inning.
Scheduled to start at 1 p.m., the first pitch of the game wasn't thrown until 3 p.m. as Muncie was covered by a springtime rain cloud that would continue to mist the field throughout the game.
When the game did start, it was the Cardinals who would score the first run as Lisa Rozanski (Tampa, Fla./Alonso) crossed home on a single by Barkley.
Toledo answered quickly in the top of the second with a home run by Mica Sanchez. The Rockets would be unable to hit off Elizabeth Milian (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc) for the remainder of the inning.
Amanda Montalto (Las Vegas, Nev./Palo Verde) responded for Ball State with a home run of her own in the top of the third. Jen Moore (Canton, Ohio/Jackson) would score a second run in the inning for the Cardinals on an error by the catcher who overthrew the ball in an attempt to cut off Rozanski from stealing second. Rozanski tallied two stolen bases and now has 28 this season.
The Rockets scored a solo run again in the third on a home run by Toledo's designated player Erinn Wright who was four for five at bat against the Cardinals.
Leading off for the Cardinals in the third inning was Carpenter who doubled to center field. Collins followed by reaching on an overthrown ball by Toledo's third baseman Lacey LaVier which advanced Carpenter to third. Then, Kate Wilczynski was walked and the bases were loaded for the Cardinals lead home run hitter, Montalto. While the sophomore sent the ball sailing over the fence for what looked to be a back-to-back home run effort and grand slam, she would not get credit for a second home run because she ran past Jackie Durment (Glenville, Ill./Glenbrook South) who was pinch running for Wilczynski on first base. Instead, Montalto was credited with three RBI and called out on the play.
Following the near grand slam, Meredith Nash (Peculiar, Mo./Raymore-Peculiar) and Jessie Ware (Phoenix, Ariz./Hamilton) would reach on errors by the shortstop, Brooke Gates, and first baseman, Jillian Spink, respectively. With Ware on first, Nash on third and Rozanski at bat, Ware took off to steal second which left home base open for Nash. The outcome of the draw was positive for both Ball State runners and Nash notched the fourth run of the inning for the Cardinals.
Toledo narrowed the gap in the fifth when Spink doubled to right field to drive in Wright and Herr to make it a three run ball game. Then, pitcher Hannah Rockhold held the Cardinals' offense to zero runs in the bottom of the inning.
The Rockets made their real move in the sixth, however, and it all started with a double by LeVier. Lindsey Tobias followed with Toledo's third home run of the game to make the score 7-6 with the Cardinals leading by one. Continuing the hitting action, Herr singled and then stole second with Kate Ricchio at bat. Ricchio would be walked on the next pitch and then Toy reached on a fielder's choice that advanced all runners and did not draw an out. Wright, who had hit a home run earlier in the game, singled to centerfield to score two runners and give Toledo the lead for the first time in the two-game series.
With just one out and runners on first and second, Audra Sanders (Lynnville, Ind./Tecumseh) replaced Milian in the circle. Four runs would score on Sanders before the end of the inning and the Rockets led 12-7 in the top of the sixth. This was the most runs, 8, the Ball State offense gave up in a single inning all season.
Returning to bat at the top of their line-up, Ware began Ball State's rally with a single to left field and was followed by Rozanski who also singled. Both runners advanced on Rozanski's hit as the centerfielder was charged with a throwing error. Ware was then driven in by a sacrifice fly courtesy of Alicia Barkley. The next batters, Carpenter and Collins, each reached first base - Carpenter on a single to the pitcher and Collins on an error charged to Rockhold which also scored Rozanski, unearned. With the bases loaded and Whitney Young stepping into the circle to replace Rockhold, Kate Wilczynski (Tucson, Ariz./Canyon Del Oro) and Moore were both walked to score runs for the Cardinals and make it a two run game going into the seventh.
With the Toledo offense stopped by Ball State's infield, the Cardinals entered the bottom of the seventh needing two runs to secure its 32nd win of the season. Rozanski, who was two for three at bat, stepped up to the plate, but was called out at first on a throw from the pitcher to first base. Then, Barkley notched her third hit of the game by singling to right center field. Clinching the win for the Cardinals in the next at bat was Carpenter who tallied her fifth home run of the season on the clutch play for Ball State.
The win marks the fourth consecutive game that Ball State's offense has posted double digit runs and the ninth time this season.
Sanders (7-7) was credited with the win for the Cardinals and Young was given the loss.
Ball State returns to play in a doubleheader Friday against Northern Illinois in DeKalb, Ill. which begins at 1 p.m. They then travel to Kalamazoo, Mich. to take on Western Michigan at 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. Live stats will be provided for all games on www.ballstatesports.com and inning-by-inning updates can be found by following @BallStSoftball on Twitter.
