Ball State University
12-14
Western Kentucky (GM 1)
12-5
Softball Loses Both Ends of Saturday Doubleheader
March 21, 2015 | Softball
MUNCIE, Ind. - - The Ball State softball team opened a three-game home series versus Western Kentucky with a pair of losses at the Softball Field at the First Merchant Ballpark Complex Saturday afternoon.
The Cardinals (12-15) tried to mount a late rally in the opening game with a pair of seventh-inning runs, only to fall 4-2. Ball State jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the nightcap, only to see the Hilltoppers (13-5) score six unanswered runs to win the contest 6-2.
Overall, the Ball State offense connected for just 10 hits over the two games, with eight coming in the second contest. Junior first baseman Sammi Cowger (Fenton, Mich./Fenton) was the lone Ball State player to collect a hit in each game, finishing the day 2-for-5 including a RBI double in the opener.
Senior left fielder Loren Cihlar (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North) was also able to reach base safely in both games, with a walk in the opener and a pair of singles in the nightcap. With the effort, Cihlar has now reached base safely in 16 consecutive games for the Cardinals.
The Cardinals and Hilltoppers conclude their three-game series Sunday, with a scheduled 1 p.m. first pitch at the Softball Field at the First Merchant Ballpark Complex.
GAME ONE RECAP: Western Kentucky 4 – Ball State 2
The opening game was all about Western Kentucky pitcher Miranda Kramer who followed up a 14-strikeout effort in Tuesday's 2-0 win over No. 14 Tennessee with 16 more strikeouts against the Cardinals.
Spotted a 2-0 lead thanks in part to a pair of first-inning errors from the Ball State defense, Kramer keep the Cardinals' offense in check early by striking out nine of the first 10 batters she faced. WKU would also add single runs in the third and sixth innings to push its lead to 4-0.
Ball State's first baserunner of the game was Cihlar who walked with one out in the bottom of the fourth, while a fifth inning pinch hit single from sophomore Shelbie Scamihorn (Terre Haute, Ind./South Vigo) gave the Cardinals their first hit of the day.
Despite the dominating pitching performance, the Ball State offense did not back down, eventually breaking through with a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh. The frame started with seniors Hanne Stuedemann (Mattawan, Mich./Mattawan) and Jessica Craft (LaPorte, Ind./LaPorte) being hit by back-to-back pitches. With pinch runner Taylor Cooley (Chelsea, Mich./Chelsea) in for Stuedemann, a one-out double from Cowger gave BSU its first run of the contest.
Unfortunately, Ball State's rally was cut short in the next at bat, as a sacrifice fly from freshman third baseman Julia Bailey (Lafayette, La./Teurlings Catholic) and a play on the runner trying to move from second to third ended the game.
In the circle for the Cardinals, junior Nicole Steinbach (Merrillville, Ind./Andrean) suffered the loss despite limiting WKU to eight hits and four runs, only three of which were earned, over 7.0 innings of work. She also struck out three batters.
GAME 2 RECAP: Western Kentucky 6 – Ball State 2
After its comeback bid fell short in the opener, the Cardinals looked poised for a big offensive showing in the second game, striking for two runs in the bottom of the first inning. With two outs, junior second baseman Emily Dabkowski (Plainfield, Ind./South Putnam) doubled to the left field wall, while Stuedemann followed with her third home run of the season to give Ball State a 2-0 lead.
Unfortunately, that was all the run support the Ball State offense was able to provide as they were held scoreless over the final six innings of the game, including stranding 10 total base runners.
Western Kentucky scored its first run in the top of the second inning, while a four-run fifth gave the guests the final push they needed to overcome the Cardinals. WKU added one more run in the top of the seventh to win the game 6-2.
Freshman Carolyn Wilmes (Evansville, Ind./Mater Dei) was the pitcher of record for Ball State in the nightcap, allowing seven hits and four runs over 4.2 innings of work in suffering the loss.
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: Miranda Kramer (9-4)
L: Steinbach, Nicole (6-8)
Batting:
RBI: Brooke Holloway 1 ; Preslie Cruce 1 ; Kayti Hanson 1
SH: Shawna Sadler 1 ; Lexie Norfleet 1 ; Hannah Parker 1
SF: Brooke Holloway 1 ; Preslie Cruce 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Larissa Franklin 1 ; Shawna Sadler 1 ; Preslie Cruce 1 ; Jacqueline McGill 1
SB: Shawna Sadler 1
Batting:
2B: Cowger, Sammi 1
RBI: Cowger, Sammi 1 ; Bailey, Julia 1
SF: Bailey, Julia 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Cooley, Taylor 1 ; Craft, Jessica 1
HBP: Stuedemann, Hanne 1 ; Craft, Jessica 1
