Ball State University
3-1
Lipscomb
3-1
Softball Ends First Weekend w/14-2 Win At Lipscomb
February 08, 2015 | Softball
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - After playing from behind in most of their first three games, the Ball State softball team exploded for five first-inning runs in a dominating 14-2 (6 inn.) victory at Lipscomb Sunday afternoon to close play in the Music City Classic.
Junior first baseman Sammi Cowger (Fenton, Mich./Fenton) had the Cardinals (3-1) offense rolling early, blasting a two-out grand slam in the top of the first inning, while Ball State as a team connected for a season-high 13 total hits to hand the Lady Bison (3-1) their first loss of the young season.
Junior pitcher Nicole Steinbach (Merrillville, Ind./Andrean) shined in her second outing of the year, holding last season's NCAA Regional runner-ups to seven hits and two runs over 6.0 innings of work. She also struck out six batters while yielding just one walk.
Senior catcher Jessica Craft (LaPorte, Ind./LaPorte) led the Cardinals at the plate with three hits, including a two-run infield single in the top of the sixth inning. She also scored three runs while leading the squad defensively with seven putouts.
With one out in the top of the first inning, senior right fielder Loren Cihlar (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North) reached base on an error, and advanced to third on a single from junior second baseman Emily Dabkowski (Plainfield, Ind./South Putman). After Dabkowski stole second, senior left fielder Hanne Stuedemann (Mattawan, Mich./Mattawan) sliced a single through the right side to bring home the game's first run.
With runners on the corners, Craft loaded the bases with a single of her own. After an infield fly put the second out on the scoreboard, Cowger smashed her second home run of the season, and first career grand slam, to give Ball State a 5-0 edge.
Host Lipscomb managed to get one run back in the bottom of the first, after Brittany Elmore opened with a triple and scored on a grounder to second two batters later.
Ball State's offense continued to roll in the top of the second, as junior shortstop Selena Reyna (Houston, Texas/South Houston) led off the inning with a double to right center. Sophomore center fielder India Steward (Matteson, Ill./Rich South) followed with a walk, while a Cihlar ground out allowed both runners to advance. Reyna then came home on a passed ball, while Dabkowski's second sacrifice fly of the season plated Steward and pushed the score to 7-1.
The Cardinals extended their lead to 8-1 in the top of the third inning, thanks to a leadoff single by Craft and a two-out RBI single from Reyna.
After Lipscomb tallied their second run of the game in the bottom of the fifth, the Ball State offense exploded for six runs in the top of the sixth to put the game out of reach. Steward and Cihlar started the rally with back-to-back one out singles. Following the inning's second out, Stuedemann was hit by a pitch to load the bases. A wild pitch would bring the first run home, while Craft followed with a two-run single off the Lipscomb third baseman.
Leading 11-2, the Cardinals saw sophomore designated player Amanda Arnett (Monroe, Mich./Monroe) single and sophomore pinch hitter Hayley Cruthers (Swartz Creek, Mich./Swartz Creek) draw a walk to load the bases. Freshman third baseman Julia Bailey (Lafayette, La./Teurlings Catholic) followed with a bases-clearing double to cap the scoring in the game.
Lipscomb's first runner in the bottom of the inning was able to reach base via a single, but Steinbach responded with a strikeout and then forced back-to-back fly outs to end the game.
The Ball State softball team returns to action Friday, when it opens play in the Tiger Invitational hosted by Auburn with games versus Georgia State (5:45 p.m. ET / 4:45 p.m. CT) and the host Tigers (8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT).
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State softball, follow the team on Twitter: @BallStateSB and @TyraPerry13/ Instagram: ballstatesb / Facebook: BallStateSoftball
- BallStateSports.com -
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Steinbach, Nicole (1-0)
L: YOUNG, Kelly (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Bailey, Julia 1 ; Reyna, Selena 2
HR: Cowger, Sammi 1
RBI: Dabkowski, Emily 1 ; Stuedemann, Hanne 1 ; Craft, Jessica 2 ; Cowger, Sammi 4 ; Bailey, Julia 3 ; Reyna, Selena 1
SH: Arnett, Amanda 1
SF: Dabkowski, Emily 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Steward, India 2 ; Cihlar, Loren 2 ; Dabkowski, Emily 1 ; Stuedemann, Hanne 2 ; Craft, Jessica 3 ; Arnett, Amanda 1 ; Cowger, Sammi 1 ; Cruthers, Hayley 1 ; Reyna, Selena 1
SB: Dabkowski, Emily 1
HBP: Stuedemann, Hanne 2
Batting:
3B: ELMORE, Brittany 1
RBI: NEELY, Paige 1 ; CARTWRIGHT, Mimi 1
Base Running:
RUNS: ELMORE, Brittany 2
SB: ELMORE, Brittany 1 ; WELCH, Brianne 1
