Softball Records Split Versus Pittsburgh, Radford

Saturday, March 19

Troutville, Va.

11:00 a.m.

Ball State University

16-10

Pittsburgh

17-6

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Pittsburgh	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	5	1
Ball State	0	1	0	0	0	1	X	2	4	0

March 19, 2011 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Ball State Athletics

BOTETOURT, Va. - Ball State Softball tallied a split on the second day of the Radford Invitational, defeating Pittsburg, 2-1, and falling to host Radford, 4-3, at the Botetourt Sports Complex. The Cardinals now own a 14-11 overall record on the season and a 3-1 mark in tournament play.

Against Pittsburgh, Ball State tallied three hits versus the Panthers' five and committed no errors. Junior catcher Amanda Montalto (Las Vegas, Nev./Palo Verde) got Ball State off to a hot start with a home run in the bottom of the second inning.

The Cardinals came back in the bottom of the sixth inning as Kate Wilczynski's (Tucson, Ariz./Canyon Del Oro) sac fly out to center field scored freshman Jennifer Gilbert (McKinney, Texas/McKinney) to seal the win even with Pittsburgh's final attempt, an RBI-single through the left side to score junior Jessica Rhodunda, in the top of the seventh inning.

Montalto, Gilbert and junior second baseman Alison Mercado (Perris, Calif./Arizona Western) each went 1-for-2 at the plate, while sophomore pitcher Audra Sanders (Lynnville, Ind./Tecumseh) allowed for five hits and one walk, in addition to striking out seven Panthers batters.

Ball State out-hit Radford, 11-7, however the Highlanders committed no errors compared to the Cardinals' two. The host team scored all four of its runs in the top of the fourth inning and it was not until the bottom of the fifth inning when Ball State responded.

Mercado doubled to left center field and scored on Lisa Rozanski's (Tampa, Fla./Daytona Beach CC) single through the right side. Then senior shortstop Alicia Barkley (Oklahoma City, Okla./Putnam City) smacked a base hit down the left field line to bring home Rozanski.

The Cardinals returned in the bottom of the sixth inning as freshman first baseman Taylor Rager's (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) single through the right side scored Gilbert for Ball State's final run of the contest.

Rager went a perfect 3-for-3 during the contest, while Rozanski and Gilbert each tallied two hits in four appearances. Junior pitcher Audrey Workman (Wickenburg, Ariz./Wickenburg) allowed for seven hits and walked four, while striking out three.

Ball State will complete play in the tournament Sunday against Robert Morris at 9 a.m. Head coach Craig Nicholson and the team open the home portion of the 2011 schedule in a doubleheader versus Dayton at the BSU Softball Complex, beginning at 3 p.m. Thursday, March 24.