Ball State University
Jacksonville
Softball Suffers Pair Of Saturday Setbacks At USA Invite
February 21, 2015 | Softball
MOBILE, Ala. - - The Ball State softball team suffered losses to Jacksonville (6-5) and No. 22 South Alabama (14-6 in 6 inn.) on the second day of play in the South Alabama Invitational Saturday afternoon at Jaguar Field.
The Cardinals, who fall to 6-7 with the losses, concluded play in the three-day tournament Sunday with a scheduled 10 a.m. ET / 9 a.m. CT first pitch versus Chattanooga. On the first day of the tournament, the Cardinals suffered a 6-2 setback to the Mocs.
In Saturday's opener versus Jacksonville (6-7), the Cardinals held a 5-0 lead after four innings. Unfortunately, the Dolphins rallied for six unanswered runs over the final three frames to pull out the win.
Ball State fell behind 4-0 early versus South Alabama (9-3), but managed to tie the score at 4-4 by the top of the third. The 22nd-ranked team in the nation then managed to out-score the Cardinals 10-2 over the next three-and-a-half innings to claim a 14-6 victory.
Senior right fielder/designated player Hanne Stuedemann (Mattawan, Mich./Mattawan) led Ball State at the plate on the second day of the South Alabama Invitational, going 3-for-6 with two RBI and two runs scored. She was also hit by a pitch and stole a pair of bases over the two games.
GAME ONE RECAP: Jacksonville 6, Ball State 5
An early Jacksonville error helped the Cardinals score the first run of the game, as leadoff batter and junior shortstop Selena Reyna (Houston, Texas/South Houston) reached first on a miscue by her defensive counterpart. Senior left fielder Loren Cihlar (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North) and junior second baseman Emily Dabkowski (Plainfield, Ind./South Putnam) each followed with bunt singles to load the bases.
Ball State then tallied its first run of the contest on a Stuedemann fielder's choice. With runners at the corners, Stuedemann proceeded to steal second base to give the Cardinals a pair of runners in scoring position. Two more fielder's choices and another defensive miscue by the Dolphins eventually allowed Stuedemann to cross home plate to give Ball State a 2-0 lead.
The Cardinals extended their lead to 5-0 with three more runs in the top of the third inning. Jacksonville's third error of the game allowed leadoff hitter Dabkowski to reach base, while a Stuedemann single gave BSU two runners. Following a double steal, senior catcher Jessica Craft (LaPorte, Ind./LaPorte) sliced a two-run double to left-center field. Sophomore designated player Amanda Arnett (Monroe, Mich./Monroe) followed with a RBI single to center to push the Cardinals' final run of the game across the plate.
Ball State held onto the five-run lead for one more inning, only to see Jacksonville score one run in the fifth, three in the sixth and two in the seventh to win the contest.
For the game, the Cardinals scored five runs on seven hits with one error. Jacksonville tallied six runs on 11 hits with three errors.
GAME TWO RECAP: No. 22 South Alabama 14, Ball State 6
The 22nd-ranked Jaguars jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the opening inning, only to see the Cardinals battle back and even the score by the top of the third.
Ball State's first run of the game came in the top of the second, when Arnett drew a leadoff walk and eventually came around to score on a RBI fielder's choice from sophomore catcher Shelbie Scamihorn (Terre Haute, Ind./South Vigo).
The Cardinals rallied for three more runs in the top of the third to even the score at 4-4. Cihlar opened the inning with an infield single, and advanced to second on a Dabkowski sacrifice bunt. Stuedemann followed with a RBI single up the middle to make the score 4-2. After Arnett reached base on another fielder's choice, sophomore first baseman Hayley Cruthers (Swartz Creek, Mich./Swartz Creek) smashed an RBI double into left field. Scamihorn followed with a RBI double of her own to tie the game.
The Jaguars countered with one run in the bottom of the inning, and three more in the bottom of the fourth to reclaim the lead at 8-4.
Ball State cut the gap to two runs, at 8-6, in the top of the fifth as Arnett sparked a one-out rally with a single to left field. Cruthers followed with her second double of the game and advanced to third on an USA error which also brought home Arnett. Scamihorn then collected her third RBI of the contest with a sacrifice fly to center field.
Unfortunately, that was as close as the Cardinals were able to get, as South Alabama tallied six more runs in the bottom of the sixth to end the game.
Overall, Ball State scored six runs on eight hits with two errors. South Alabama tallied 14 runs on 13 hits with two errors.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State softball, follow the team on Twitter: @BallStateSB and @TyraPerry13 / Instagram: ballstatesb / Facebook: BallStateSoftball
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