Ball State University
8-6
LIU Brooklyn
2-18
Softball Scores 8-1 Win Over LIU Sunday
March 04, 2012 | Softball
KISSIMMEE, Fla. - The Ball State softball team ended play in the Citrus Classic with an 8-1, five-inning victory over LIU Brooklyn Sunday afternoon at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort in Kissimmee, Fla.
With the win, the Cardinals improve to 8-6 on the season and finish the Citrus Classic with a 3-2 tournament mark. The Blackbirds, who had to end the game two innings early to catch a flight, fell to 2-18 with the loss after going 0-5 at the ESPN WWOS Complex.
Freshman designated player Hanne Stuedemann (Mattawan, Mich./Mattawan) had arguably the best tournament for the Cardinals, finishing the three-day event with a .667 (4-of-6) batting average and team-highs of five RBI and five runs scored. In addition to blasting a double, triple and home run, Stuedemann drew six walks and was hit by a pitch for a .846 on base percentage over the three days.
In the tournament finale versus LIU, Stuedemann went 1-for-2 with a walk, two RBI and two runs scored.
Sophomore first baseman Taylor Rager (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) also had a strong tournament finale, going 2-for-2 at the plate including a three-run blast in the third inning. She finished the game with four RBI and one run scored.
Freshman shortstop Jessica Craft (LaPorte, Ind./LaPorte) went 2-for-2 with a walk against LIU, while also driving in a pair of runs.
The Cardinals took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second after loading the bases with no outs. Senior catcher Amanda Montalto (Las Vegas, Nev./Palo Verde) doubled to lead off the frame, while Rager walked and sophomore third baseman Audrey Bickel (Munster, Ind./Andrean) singled.
After a fielder's choice forced Montalto out at home, freshman Haley Smith (Baytown, Texas/Lee), who entered the game as a pinch runner for Bickel, would score on an RBI single from Craft. Unfortunately, it would be BSU's only run of the frame as a pair of strikeouts stranded three runners.
The Cardinals tacked on three runs in the top of the third, thanks to the bat of Rager. With one out, Stuedemann continued her stellar tournament by drawing a walk. She would advance to third on error by the right fielder which allowed Montalto to reach base. Rager would follow with her third homer of the season to make the score 4-0.
Ball State extended its lead to 7-0 with three more runs in the top of the fourth. Craft singled to open the frame and advanced to second on a single from sophomore left fielder Jennifer Gilbert (McKinney, Texas/McKinney). After a fielder's choice allowed freshman right fielder Loren Cihlar (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North) to reach base and put out the lead runner, a double steal from Gilbert and Cihlar gave Ball State runners at second and third.
Steudemann followed with a two-run single, and would later come around to score on an RBI single from Rager, following a walk to Montatlo.
LIU Brooklyn tallied its first run of the game in the bottom of the fourth, thanks to a two-out bases loaded walk by Madison Green. Lindsey Walker scored on the play after entering the game as a pinch runner for Emily Kakuska who reached on a fielder's choice.
The Cardinals answered with a run in the top of the fifth, pushing the score to 8-1. Junior center fielder Amanda Carpenter (Santee, Calif./Santana) opened the inning with a double, and would come around to score on a pair of wild pitches.
Senior Audrey Workman (Wickenburg, Ariz./Wickenburg) earned the win on the mound for Ball State, improving to 4-5 this season. In five innings of work, she limited the Blackbirds to six hits and one earned run, while striking out three batters.
Sarah Reynolds (1-10) suffered the loss for LIU, giving up five hits and four runs (three earned) over the first 2.1 innings. Cassie Vondrak closed the game, surrendering five hits and four runs, all earned, in 2.2 innings.
The Ball State softball team continues its spring break trip in Florida Wednesday, when it travels to Jacksonville for a 3 p.m. doubleheader at North Florida.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Workman, Audrey (4-5)
L: REYNOLDS, Sarah (1-10)
Batting:
2B: Stuedemann, Hanne 1 ; Montalto, Amanda 1 ; Carpenter, Amanda 1
HR: Rager, Taylor 1
RBI: Stuedemann, Hanne 2 ; Rager, Taylor 4 ; Craft, Jessica 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Gilbert, Jenny 1 ; Cihlar, Loren 1 ; Stuedemann, Hanne 2 ; Montalto, Amanda 1 ; Rager, Taylor 1 ; Smith, Haley 1 ; Carpenter, Amanda 1
SB: Gilbert, Jenny 1 ; Cihlar, Loren 1
CS: Carpenter, Amanda 1
Batting:
RBI: GREEN, Madison 1
Base Running:
RUNS: WALKER, Lindsey 1
HBP: TOVEN, Nichole 1 ; RODRIGUEZ, Jazmin 1
