Ball State University
Buffalo
Softball Shutout Buffalo In Milian No-Hitter Wednesday
May 13, 2010 | Softball
The win marks the 40th of the year for the Cardinals and is the best-ever at Ball State. The previous record for wins was 39, set in 1998 by the only team in school history that has won the MAC Tournament.
Click HERE to watch a post-game interview with Ball State head coach Craig Nicholson.
Ball State notched its first run in the second inning when Second Team All-MAC selection Amanda Montalto (Las Vegas, Nev./Palo Verde) slugged her 17th double of the season to drive in Second Team All-MAC member Kate Wilczynski who was walked by Terese Diaz. Montalto broke Ball State's single season record for doubles, previously 14, May 2 against Western Michigan.
Wilczynski notched an RBI of her own in the next inning on a single with two runners on base. Her hit drove in MAC All-Freshman Team member Amanda Carpenter (Santee, Calif./Santana) who reached on a Buffalo error. Two Cardinals were left stranded at the end of the inning.
In the fourth inning, Sadie Robertson (Fenton, Mo./Rockwood Summit) and MAC Player of the Year Jessie Ware (Phoenix, Ariz./Hamilton) strung together singles to advance Meredith Nash (Peculiar, Mo./Raymore-Peculiar), who was walked, to third base. Rozanski followed by grounding out to the second baseman, but all runners advanced on the play. Carpenter followed with a single of her own that drove in both Hannah Zimmerman (Indianapolis, Ind./Scecina Memorial), pinch running for Robertson, and Ware. The Cardinals led 5-0 going into the fifth.
The Cardinals scored their final runs in the sixth inning which began when Ware reached on a throwing error by relief pitcher Sharon Barr. Rozanski followed and was hit by Barr's pitch to get to first and advance Ware to second. With Ball State's two fastest base runners on first and second they both stole the next base and were then driven in by Carpenter who singled to left field for two RBI. The freshman was two for four at bat and tallied a team-leading four RBI.
Only one Buffalo batter got on base throughout the seven-inning game and that occurred in the second inning when Nash was charged with the Cardinals' sole fielding error, Buffalo tallied five.
At 5 p.m. Thursday, Ball State will face Northern Illinois who upset Miami 6-5 Wednesday following Ball State's game. Live stats will be available on www.ballstatesports.com and inning-by-inning Twitter updates courtesy of @BallStSoftball.
Wednesday's winning teams include Ball State, Central Michigan, Kent State and Northern Illinois. The Huskies represent the only upset on day one of the MAC Tournament. For other MAC softball news and to get the latest scoop of what's happening to other teams in the tournament, visit www.mac-sports.com.
