Ball State University
Central Michigan (DH)
Softball Splits Doubleheader With Central Michigan Friday
April 09, 2010 | Softball
Ball State is now 22-9 this season and 2-2 in the Mid-American Conference, while Central Michigan is 16-11 and 3-3 in the MAC.
Game 1 - Ball State 12, Central Michigan 8
With Elizabeth Milian (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc) on the mound for Ball State, the Chippewas, who entered the game as the conference leaders in batting, were held to zero's across the board and only attempted to swing at one ball in the first inning. Milian caught the first two batters looking, while the third batter, and only player to swing at one of Milian's pitches in this inning, fouled off into catcher, Amanda Montalto's (Las Vegas, Nev./Palo Verde), glove.
When it was the Cardinals turn to step up to the plate, however, it was a swinging frenzy that all began with the lead-off batter, Jessie Ware (Phoenix, Ariz./Hamilton), who reached first on an error by the second baseman, Brittini Merchant. Then, with Lisa Rozanski (Tampa, Fla./Alonso) at bat, Ware stole second and advanced to third on an error by the catcher. Alicia Barkley (Oklahoma City, Okla./Putnam City) continued the hitting with a single that drove Ware home. Before the next play could begin, the Chippewas committed a third error that advanced Barkley to second base. Central Michigan tallied six errors throughout the game.
The next two batters, Amanda Carpenter (Santee, Calif./Santana) and Alyssa Collins (Fortville, Ind./Mt. Vernon), each singled and Carpenter's hit drove Barkley home. With a 2-0 lead and two runners on base, Montalto hit an RBI double to centerfield. The next batter, Kate Wilczynski (Tucson, Ariz./Canyon Del Oro) also notched an RBI, but on a fielder's choice bunt that drove Collins home.
Then, seeing her second at bat in the inning, Ware knocked a three RBI triple to left centerfield that gave the Cardinals a 7-0 lead on the Chippewas. With 10 triples this season, Ware is now the single season leader in the Ball State record books. After Ware's hit, the Chippewas sent Sarah Patterson to the circle for Kari Seddon. Patterson ended the inning by striking out Rozanski. The Cardinals tallied five runs in the inning.
Central Michigan's offense was held off again by Milian in the second inning and the Cardinals returned to bat after just four Chippewa's saw the ace.
At bat in the second inning, the Cardinals notched two hits and put up one run to strengthen their already commanding lead to 8-0.
The Chippewas found their swing in the third inning when Macy Merchant singled to the shortstop and was followed by Christina Novak who doubled down the left field line. The next batter, Summer Knoop grounded out to Barkley, but the runners each advanced home on an error by Wilczynski. At the end of the inning, the score was 8-2, as the Cardinals were unable to score in the bottom of the third.
Central Michigan would tally at least one run in each of its next three innings at bat and amass six more runs to make their final run count eight. Three of these runs were made possible by Ball State fielding errors. The Cardinals tallied four errors throughout the game.
Ball State's next big inning at bat came in the bottom of the sixth after the Chippewas had tightened the gap on the Cardinals' lead and were only trailing by two. This time it was Rozanski who catalyzed the Cardinals scoring drive as she started the inning with a single to center field which was followed by Barkley who also singled. Rozanski would eventually score as Collins reached on an error by the pitcher which left the plate open for her to cross. Barkley and Collins also notched runs in the inning.
Headed into the seventh inning, the Chippewas trailed by five, but their hopes for a comeback were kept alive by Molly Coldren who hit her seventh home run of the season with only one out in the inning. Milian stayed true on the mound, however, and the Cardinals finished the game on top 12-8. The ace is now 16-2 this season.
Game 2 - Central Michigan 3, Ball State 11
In the second game of Friday's doubleheader, Central Michigan's lead batter, Novak, notched a home run against Audra Sanders that foretold the Cardinals fate. The Chippewas scored three runs in this first at bat - all three driven in by extra base hits.
By scoring two runs in the bottom of the first, the Cardinals' offense kept the game within reach. Scoring runs for Ball State was Barkley, who was driven in by Carpenter's double, and then Carpenter, who crossed the plate after Montalto singled to right field for her 25th RBI of the season. The Cardinals left two runners on base after the end of the inning, however, and would only score one more run - which was in the fourth inning on a single by Alyssa Freiling (Bixby, Okla./Sequoyah) to drive in Collins - in the game.
Central Michigan, on the other hand, scored eight more runs to post a final score of 11-3. Five of these runs were tallied in the sixth inning with Kim Mazzapica (Palm Harbor, Fla./East Lake) taking the mound for her second inning of the game. After walking Coldren, Jill Schulz and Katie Greenman each singled and Coldren was called safe at home after Greenman's hit. Then, after Mazzapica pitched her second strike out of the inning, Amanda Klosterman singled to drive in Schulz. With two runners on base, Brogan Darwin, pinch hitting for Macy Merchant, bombed her second home run of the day and third of the season.
The game ended when the Cardinals were unable to post a response in the top of the sixth.
Ball State will play in its sixth consecutive home game at the BSU Softball Complex, Saturday against Eastern Michigan with the first pitch thrown at 2 p.m. The teams will face-off in game two of the weekend series at 1 p.m. Sunday. Live stats will be available on www.ballstatesports.com for both games and inning-by-inning updates will be provided by @BallStSoftball on Twitter.
