Ball State University
IPFW (GM 1)
Softball Opens Home Play With DH Sweep Of IPFW
March 19, 2015 | Softball
MUNCIE, Ind. - - The Ball State softball team opened the home portion of its 2015 schedule with a dominating doubleheader sweep of in-state rival IPFW Wednesday afternoon, winning the opener 8-2 and the nightcap 19-4 (5), at the Softball Field at the First Merchants Ballpark Complex.
The Cardinals (12-13) offense pounded out 27 total hits against the Mastodons (0-20), including a pair of home runs from junior second baseman Emily Dabkowski (Plainfield, Ind./South Putnam) who went yard once in each game. Dabkowski finished the day with a team-high five hits, going 5-for-8 with four RBI and six runs scored.
Senior left fielder Loren Cihlar (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North) finished the day with four hits, while sophomore transfers Rachel Houck (Greenfield, Ind./Mt. Vernon/Louisville) and India Steward (Matteson, Ill./Rich South/Western Kentucky) each tallied three hits on the day.
In the circle, junior Nicole Steinbach (Merrillville, Ind./Andrean) picked up the victory in the opener to improve to 6-7 on the year, limiting the Mastodons to just one run and four hits over 5.0 innings of work. The nightcap saw freshman Carolyn Wilmes (Evansville, Ind./Mater Dei) earn the win and improve to 3-3 by holding IPFW to four runs (two earned) and five hits over 4.0 innings.
Sophomore Jocelyn Rivera (Brooklyn, Ohio/Brooklyn) also turned in a pair of solid relief outings, holding the Mastodons to just three hits and one unearned run over 3.0 innings of work. She threw 2.0 innings in the opener and 1.0 in the nightcap.
In addition to the strong efforts on offense and in the circle, the Cardinals base runners stole a combined 12 bases over the course of the two games, with both Houck and Dabkowski recording three swiped bags each.
The Ball State softball team returns to action Saturday, when it opens a three-game series versus Western Kentucky. The two clubs will play a 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday and a 1 p.m. single game Sunday.
GAME ONE RECAP: Ball State 8 – IPFW 2
After a scoreless inning-and-a-half, the Cardinals posted the first two runs of the season on the scoreboard of the Softball Field at the First Merchants Ballpark Complex, as a two-run single to center by Steward gave the hosts a 2-0 edge. Senior catcher Jessica Craft (LaPorte, Ind./LaPorte) opened the inning with a walk and proceeded to steal second. Sophomore designated player Amanda Arnett (Monroe, Mich./Monroe) then reached base on an error, while a sacrifice bunt from freshman third baseman Julia Bailey (Lafayette, La./Teurlings Catholic) moved both runners up a base and set up Stewards two-run single.
After IPFW cut the lead in half in the top of the third, Ball State retaliated with three more runs in the bottom of the frame to pull ahead 5-1. Dabkowski opened the inning with a single, and after stealing second and third, scored on a wild pitch. Two batters later Craft singled, and after the second out of the inning, stole second. Bailey followed with a RBI single to left center, while junior first baseman Sammi Cowger (Fenton, Mich./Fenton) added a RBI double.
The score remained 5-1 until the bottom of the fifth, when Craft blasted a one-out solo shot to left field.
After IPFW responded with a run of its own in the top of the sixth, junior shortstop Kirsten O'Conner (Muncie, Ind./Cowan/Evansville) recorded her first hit as a Cardinal with a triple to right-center field. O'Conner then came around to score on an infield single from Cihlar. After Cihlar was caught stealing, Dabkowski blasted her first home run of the day to give the game its final score of 8-2.
GAME 2 RECAP: Ball State 19 – IPFW 4 (5 innings)
IPFW pushed across the first run of the second game in the top of the first, only to have Ball State answer with one of its own in the bottom of the frame thanks to Dabkowski's second home run of the day.
The bottom of the second inning saw Houck lead off the frame with a single and proceed to steal second and third, setting up a sacrifice fly from Bailey. After the second out, Steward singled up the middle, stole second and scored on a triple from junior shortstop Selena Reyna (Houston, Texas/South Houston).
Already leading 3-1, the Cardinals went on to post five runs in the third inning to pull ahead 8-1.Dabkowski opened the inning with a single and stole second, setting up a RBI double from senior right fielder Hanne Stuedemann (Mattawan, Mich./Mattawan). After a sacrifice bunt from sophomore catcher Shelbie Scamihorn (Terre Haute, Ind./South Vigo) moved Stuedemann to third, a wild pitch brought home BSU's second run of the inning.
Ball State's third run in the bottom of the third was another well-manufactured effort, as Houck singled through the left side, stole second, advanced to third on a fielder's choice from Bailey and scored on a RBI single from Cowger. Ball State's final two runs came off the bat of Steward who doubled to right-center field.
The Mastodons looked poised to get back into the game, blasting a pair of home runs to cut the Ball State lead to 8-4 in the top of the fourth. However, the Cardinals looked unstoppable in the bottom of the inning, scoring 11 runs on seven hits and three IPFW errors to take complete control of the game.
In the fifth, Cowger helped account for all three outs by snagging a hard liner after a walk to turn two at first, before catching a shallow pop fly to end the game.
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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