Ball State University
18-8
UNLV
15-14
Softball Splits Doubleheader at Mustang Classic
March 24, 2012 | Softball
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - The Ball State softball team improved to 19-8 on the season after capturing a 9-4 win over host Cal Poly Saturday afternoon at Bob Janssen Field.
The Cardinals are now 3-1 at the Mustang Classi with a win over UNLV and two wins against Cal Poly.
Defensively for the Cardinals first baseman Taylor Rager led Ball State with 11 putouts while teammate Audrey Workman picked up the victory on the mound after 6.0 innings of work to improve to 10-6 on the year. On the offensive side of the ball, Jennifer Gilbert went 2-for-4 with two RBI while crossing the plate twice, teammate Amanda Montalto went 2-for-2 at the plate with two RBI, two runs while hitting a double and a triple.
Gilbert opened the game against the Mustangs with a solo shot over the right field fence to give the Cardinals the early 1-0 advantage over Cal Poly. The homerun marked Gilbert's fourth of the season and 19th of her career as a Cardinal. Ball State would tack on two more runs in the inning after third baseman Audrey Bickel had a two-run double up the middle increasing the Cardinals lead to 3-0.
Cal Poly managed to get a run back at the bottom of the first to make the score 3-1 heading into the second inning.
The Cardinals bats were on fire in the top of the second after back-to-back-to-back doubles from short stop Alison Mercado, Gilbert and Montalto helping Ball State cross the plate four times to end the inning up 7-1 over the Mustangs.
Ball State added a run in the top of third after centerfielder Amanda Carpenter stole second and third base to put herself into scoring position which allowed second baseman Taylor Cox to hit an RBI single to give Ball State the 8-1 lead over Cal Poly heading into the bottom of the third.
The Cardinals put another run on the board in the fourth inning with Montalto's second RBI of the game increasing Ball State's lead to 9-1. After Mercado's double play to end the fourth, she added a triple to her stats in the top of the fifth.
Cal Poly put an end to the possible Ball State eight-run rule in the bottom of the fifth with a solo homerun from Whitney Gerhart making it a 9-2 ball game after five innings. Ball State went scoreless in the sixth and seventh innings. The Mustangs added to in the sixth but it wasn't enough as the Cardinals held onto the win after a double play from Cox to secure the victory.
Game ONE Recap: Ball State 0, UNLV 3
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - The Ball State softball team suffered a 3-0 setback in its first game of the Cardinals double header to UNLV Saturday at Bob Janssen field. After the loss the Cardinals fall to 18-8 on the season while UNLV improves to 15-14.
On the mound for Ball State senior pitcher Audrey Workman suffered the loss after 3.0 innings of work despite earning a victory and a save in both the Cardinals wins Friday. Workman gave up three runs after 3.0 innings of work while striking out only one batter.
Both catcher Amanda Montalto and centerfielder Amanda Carpenter led Ball State offensively after going 3-for-2 at the plate.
UNLV scored two quick runs in the top of the first and then added another one in the third inning. Kim Mazzapica came in for Workman on the mound and threw for 4.0 innings, allowing no runs and striking out three batters.
The Ball State softball team continues play at the Mustang Classic at 3:30 p.m. (EST) when it takes on host Cal Poly.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: OLIVETO, Amanda (10-8)
L: Workman, Audrey (9-6)
Batting:
2B: ALEMAN, Tayler 1
3B: BALILEA, Jaexie 1
HR: ALEMAN, Tayler 1
RBI: ALEMAN, Tayler 2 ; MONREAL, Pauline 1
SH: BALILEA, Jaexie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: EMERSON, Paige 1 ; ALEMAN, Tayler 2
SB: EMERSON, Paige 1
HBP: BALILEA, Jaexie 1 ; VAN ACKER, Tayler 1
