Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
3-3
Belmont
0-9
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ball State | 2 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 14 | 12 | 0 |
| Belmont | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 1 |
Long Ball Helps Softball Smash Bruins; 14-3
February 25, 2012 | Softball
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - - Sophomore left fielder Jennifer Gilbert (McKinney, Texas/McKinney) blasted her second career grand slam, her second homer of the game, to help the Ball State softball team turn in a dominating 14-3 victory over Belmont Friday afternoon in its second game of the 2012 Frost Classic Inspired by Memorial and hosted by UT-Chattanooga.
Gilbert, who also delivered a two-run blast in the second inning, finished the day going 4-for-4 by adding a single and a double. She also drove in six runs, while scoring all four times she reached base. With the two home runs, Gilbert moved her career total to 17 which is two shy of second in BSU annals.
Sophomore third baseman Audrey Bickel (Munster, Ind./Andrean) added her second career long ball in the game, giving BSU its final three runs in the top of the fifth. Both of Bickel's career homers have been three-run shots. Bickel finished the game 2-for-3 with four RBI, a run scored and a walk.
Senior hurler Kim Mazzapica (Palm Harbor, Fla./East Lake) picked up her second win of the season on the mound, allowing just five hits and three earned runs over four innings. She also logged a strikeout.
Redshirt sophomore Lauren Williamson (Anderson, Ind./Highland) threw the final frame for Ball State (3-3), giving up no hits, no runs and collecting a game-winning strikeout.
Gilbert led off the game win a single, and advanced to second on a walk by senior catcher Amanda Montalto (Las Vegas, Nev./Palo Verde). After sophomore first baseman Taylor Rager (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) reached on a fielder's choice, a pass ball brought home Gilbert from third. Bickel followed with an RBI double to right field, giving BSU a 2-0 edge.
Belmont (0-9) tallied a pair of runs in the bottom of the first off a two-run double down the left field line by the pitcher Becca Gift. However, Gift would end up being the final out of the inning, when she was caught stealing.
Gilbert's two-run blast in the top of the second made the score 4-2, as it also plated freshman second baseman Taylor Cox (Garden Grove, Calif./Pacifica) who reached base on an infield single.
Rager started the third with a single and was replaced by pinch runner freshman Haley Smith (Baytown, Texas/Lee) who proceeded to steal second. Smith came around to score on an error by the Belmont shortstop which allowed junior catcher Sadie Robertson (Fenton, Mo./Rockwood Summit) to reach base. Freshman shortstop Jessica Craft (LaPorte, Ind./LaPorte) drew a walk, while junior right fielder Hannah Zimmerman (Indianapolis, Ind./Scecina Memorial) collected an infield single to load the bases for Gilbert's second career grand slam.
Belmont pushed its final run across the plate in the bottom of the third on a RBI single through the left side from Ashley Byers.
The Cardinals put the game out of reach in the top of the fifth on a two-run double from junior center fielder Amanda Carpenter (Santee, Calif./Santana) and Bickel's three-run blast to left-center field. Cox singled through the right side and Gilbert doubled to right center to set up Carpenter's two-run double. After a Rager popup, Montalto would double to put runners at second and third for Bickel's three-run blast.
Gift (0-6) suffered the loss on the mound for the Bruins, giving up nine runs (four earned) over 2.2 innings. She allowed seven hits and walked three batters.
The Ball State softball team returns to action Saturday, when it plays Cleveland State (11 a.m.) and Dayton (3:30 p.m.) on the second day of the Frost Classic.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Mazzapica, Kim (2-0)
L: GIFT,Becca (0-6)
Batting:
2B: Gilbert, Jenny 1 ; Carpenter, Amanda 1 ; Montalto, Amanda 1 ; Bickel, Audrey 1
HR: Gilbert, Jenny 2 ; Bickel, Audrey 1
RBI: Gilbert, Jenny 6 ; Carpenter, Amanda 2 ; Bickel, Audrey 4
Base Running:
RUNS: Gilbert, Jenny 4 ; Carpenter, Amanda 1 ; Montalto, Amanda 1 ; Rager, Taylor 1 ; Smith, Haley 1 ; Bickel, Audrey 1 ; Cihlar, Loren 1 ; Craft, Jessica 1 ; Zimmerman, Hannah 1 ; Cox, Taylor 2
SB: Smith, Haley 1
Batting:
2B: GIFT,Becca 1
RBI: BYERS, Ashley 1 ; GIFT,Becca 2
Base Running:
RUNS: BROWN, Kayla 1 ; TURNER, Heather 1 ; CRISCIONE, Amanda 1
CS: SCHMIDT, Devon 1 ; GIFT,Becca 1
HBP: TURNER, Heather 1
