Ball State University Athletics
Softball Defeats Dutch National Team in Exhibition
March 08, 2011 | Softball
CLEARWATER, Fla. - Ball State defeated the Dutch National Team Monday evening, 2-0, in an exhibition contest at the Eddie C. Moore Complex in Clearwater, Fla. The Cardinals outhit their foes, 5-3.
Senior first baseman Kristy Stratton (Paw Paw, Mich./Paw Paw) put the Cardinals on the board first after she doubled to left center and advanced to third on a ground out and junior second baseman Alison Mercado (Perris, Calif./Arizona Western) singled through the left side and drove her in.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, freshman Jennifer Gilbert (McKinney, Texas/McKinney) smacked a home run into right center field, her second of the week to help secure the victory for the Cardinals.
Gilbert went 2-for-3 at the plate, in addition to recording her home run, while Stratton tallied one hit in two appearances. Pitchers Kim Mazzapica (Palm Harbor, Fla./East Lake), Audrey Workman (Wickenburg, Ariz./Wickenburg) and Lauren Williamson (Anderson, Ind./Highland) split seven innings, allowing for three hits and recording eight strikeouts. The contest also marks Williamson's first appearance in the circle in the 2011 season.
Ball State has midweek contests Tuesday versus Monmouth and UCF in Orlando, Fla. and will return to action this weekend in the Under Armour Showcase.
Head coach Craig Nicholson and the team open the home portion of the 2011 season in a doubleheader versus Dayton at the BSU Softball Complex, beginning at 3 p.m. on March 24.
