Ball State University
Northern Illinois (DH)
Softball Sweeps Northern Illinois In Extra Innings Friday
May 01, 2010 | Softball
Jessie Ware (Phoenix, Ariz./Hamilton) led the batting line-up and tallied eight hits in 10 at bats. In the first game, Ware hit for the cycle with a double in the third, home run in the fourth, triple in the sixth and single in the 10th inning. The redshirt senior needs just six hits to surpass Ball State's current single season leader in hits, Alicia Barkley (Oklahoma City, Okla./Putnam City) who tallied 71 in the 2008 season.
Both Ware and Amanda Montalto (Las Vegas, Nev./Palo Verde) tallied their 14th double of the year and are tied with Rachael Siebenaier (1995)and Shelly Streb (1994) for the Ball State single season record in the category.
Ware has broken three single season records this season and is tied for first in doubles.
GAME 1: Ball State 10, Northern Illinois 7
While the Cardinals got off to a slow start, leaving three runners stranded in the first inning and giving up a home run to Zoe Sinner, they tied things up in the third inning and then took a three run lead in the fourth. The scoring began when Meredith Nash (Peculiar, Mo./Raymore-Peculiar) tripled to drive in Hannah Zimmerman (Indianapolis, Ind./Scecina Memorial) who represented Jen Reifschneider's (Wichita, Kan./Maize) walk. Then, Ware slugged a home run to score herself and Nash.
Ware's triple in the sixth drove in Jackie Durment (Glenville, Ill./Glenbrook South) who represented Reifschneider's single, to extend Ball State's lead to 4-1.
Northern Illinois began to make their comeback in the bottom of the sixth when Andrea Colosimo hit a home run to drive in two runs and narrow the Cardinals lead to one.
With Ball State unable to produce a run in the top of the seventh, the Huskies offense rallied and hit three consecutive doubles which scored two batters and tied the game at five runs apiece. This was the first time all season Ball State has played extra innings.
Amanda Carpenter (Santee, Calif./Santana), who caught three foul balls in left field and reached over the fence for two, scored the first run in extra innings on a home run in the ninth inning for Ball State. The Huskies answered in the bottom of the inning, however, when Dani Parrish and Jennifer Barnett strung together doubles for the game tying run.
With Alyssa Collins (Fortville, Ind./Mt. Vernon) automatically placed on second in the 10th inning, Kate Wilczynski (Tucson, Ariz./Canyon Del Oro) flied out to right field, and Collins advanced home on an overthrown ball by Northern Illinois' right fielder, Sinner. Collins run was followed by consecutive home runs hit by Montalto and Jen Moore (Canton, Ohio/Jackson). Moore was pinch hitting for Reifschneider. Nash, Ware and Lisa Rozanski (Tampa, Fla./Alonso) continued the momentum for the Cardinals, each tallying base hits. Rozanski's hit drove in Nash.
While the Huskies would score one run in the bottom of the tenth, they were unable to catch the Cardinals and the game ended with Ball State winning 10-7. Each team tallied 13 hits throughout the game and the Huskies were charged with three errors, while Ball State remained perfect in the field.
Elizabeth Milian (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc) pitched the 10-inning win for the Cardinals and is now tied with Bernie Coffman (1986-89) as Ball State's career leader in wins at 77.
GAME 2: Ball State 7, Northern Illinois 6
Scoring two runs in the second inning, Northern Illinois was the first to the scoreboard in the nightcap. Both runs were credited to a home run by Adriana Sanchez. Ball State's Audra Sanders (Lynnville, Ind./Tecumseh) escaped the inning with the bases loaded when Parrish, who hit five for nine on the day, struck out swinging.
Ware began the scoring drive for the Cardinals in the next inning when she hit her second triple of the day. The redshirt-senior currently leads the country with 12 triples this season and was driven in on the next play by Rozanski who grounded out to the second baseman to score Ware. Next, Barkley singled up the middle and then stole second with Carpenter at bat. Carpenter took her first of four strikeouts in the game and was followed by Wilczynski who singled and then all runners advanced on the throw.
The Cardinals scored three more runs in the next two innings and held the Huskies to maintain a 5-2 lead in the top of the fifth. In the bottom of the inning, Northern Illinois chipped away at the Cardinals' lead by scoring single runs in the fifth and sixth and then tied the game with two runs in the seventh. The first run was scored by Ashley Cann, pinch running for Colosimo, who advanced home when Carly Norton hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield with the bases loaded from a series of base hits. The Huskies second run was caused by Sanders hitting Krista Matsui with the bases loaded.
Ball State scored quickly in the eighth inning when Ware belted her second double of the day. Then, Rozanski was walked and Barkley grounded out to the first baseman to advance the runners. Collins made the game winning hit to the pitcher who made an error in handling the ball and gave Ware just enough time to cross home.
While Northern held Ball State to a single run in the eighth, they were unable to produce a run of their own in the bottom of the inning and the game ended with the Cardinals up 7-6. Kim Mazzapica (Palm Harbor, Fla./East Lake) pitched the final inning for Ball State and is credited with the save - her first of the season. Sanders gets the win and is now 8-7 overall.
Ball State continues Mid-American Conference play Saturday at 2 p.m. and Friday at 1 p.m. when they take on the Western Michigan Broncos in Kalamazoo, Mich. Live stats will be available on www.ballstatesports.com and inning-by-inning updates provided by @BallStateSoftball on Twitter.
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