Softball Secures No. 4 Seed After Sunday Loss

Sunday, May 8

Muncie, Ind.

1:00 p.m.

Ball State University

33-22, 12-8

Northern Illinois

26-25, 13-7

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Northern Illinois	2	0	1	0	0	0	3	6	8	1
Ball State	0	2	1	0	0	1	0	4	8	1

Softball Ends Season With 4-1 Loss to Miami at MAC's

May 09, 2011 | Softball

Box Score

By: Ball State Athletics

MUNCIE, Ind. - Ball State Softball dropped to 33-22 overall and 13-8 in Mid-American Conference play after Northern Illinois swept the weekend series with a 6-4 victory Sunday afternoon during Senior Day at the BSU Softball Complex.

With the loss, the Cardinals earned the No. 4 seed in the 2011 MAC Softball Tournament, behind the Western Michigan Broncos, Ohio Bobcats and Huskies.

Northern Illinois put two runs on the board early in the top of the first after Adriana Sanchez's sac fly out to right field drove in Stephanie Tofft, who got on base with a single to shortstop. Then, Amanda Sheppard grounded out to second base to bring home Andrea Colosimo.

Ball State answered back in the bottom of the second as freshman left fielder Jennifer Gilbert (McKinney, Texas/McKinney) knocked a home run to center field to drive in freshman designated hitter Taylor Rager (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern), who drew a walk off pitcher Morgan Bittner. The homer marked Gilbert's 14th of the season.

In the top of the third with two outs on the board, Northern Illinois' Gianna Cipollone doubled to right field to bring home Oswald and put the Huskies up 3-2.

The Cardinals came back in the bottom of the inning to tie the game as Gilbert singled to right field. Then a Huskies error in right field advanced Gilbert and Rager, who drew a walk, to scoring position and allowed senior right fielder Alyssa Collins (Fortville, Ind./Mt. Vernon) to score.

Senior center fielder Lisa Rozanski (Tampa, Fla., Daytona Beach CC) led Ball State in the bottom of the sixth as she singled through the right side and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Then Rozanski stole third and scored on the throw, tallying the Cardinals' fourth and final run of the day.

The Huskies added runs in the top of the seventh inning to go up 6-4 over the Cardinals.

Sophomore pitcher Audra Sanders (Lynnville, Ind./Tecumseh) recorded the loss in the circle for Ball State after one inning of work, giving up two runs off two hits, while fanning one Northern Illinois batter.

Ball State enters the MAC Tournament Wednesday versus No. 5 Eastern Michigan at 11 a.m. in Akron, Ohio at Firestone Stadium. The double-elimination style tournament runs from May 11-14 and live stats will be provided at www.mac-sports.com.