Ball State University
13-16, 1-0
Central Michigan (GM 1)
8-14, 0-1
Softball Sweeps Central Michigan To Open MAC Play
March 29, 2015 | Softball
MT. PLEASANT, Mich. - - The Ball State softball team opened Mid-American Conference play with an offensive explosion Saturday afternoon, posting 23 total runs in a doubleheader sweep of Central Michigan at Margo Jonker Field.
After falling behind 6-0 in the opener, the Cardinals (14-16 / 2-0 MAC) rallied for 14 straight runs, including an 11-run seventh inning, to win the game 14-7. Ball State then knocked off the Chippewas (8-15 / 0-2 MAC) 9-5 in the nightcap to complete the doubleheader sweep.
“I was really excited to see the fight we had in both games today,” said Ball State head coach Tyra Perry. “When you are in conference play, it's just about having heart and believing you can win even through adversity. We showed a lot of mental toughness and played two great games today.”
Junior second baseman Emily Dabkowski (Plainfield, Ind./South Putnam) led the Ball State offense with five hits over the two games, including a three-run home run in the 11-run seventh inning of the first game. She also scored a team-high six runs over the two games while driving in four total runs.
Senior right fielder Hanne Stuedemann (Mattawan, Mich./Mattawan) ended the day with three hits, including a home run in each game. She also drew three walks and was hit by a pitch to finish the day with a .778 on-base percentage.
Senior catcher Jessica Craft (LaPorte, Mich./LaPorte) also had a strong day at the plate, posting a pair of triples and a double while driving in four total runs. Senior left fielder Loren Cihlar (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North) also recorded a hit in each game, extending her career-long streak of reaching base safely to 19 games.
In the circle, junior Nicole Steinbach (Merrillville, Ind./Andrean) limited the Chippewas to just a pair of earned runs in the opener, while striking out five batters to improve to 7-8 on the year. Freshman Carolyn Wilmes (Evansville, Ind./Mater Dei) evened her record on the year, at 4-4, by striking out three and holding the CMU offense to five runs in the nightcap.
The Ball State softball team returns to action Wednesday, when it travels to West Lafayette for a 5 p.m. non-conference first pitch versus in-state rival Purdue.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State softball, follow the team on Twitter: @BallStateSB and @TyraPerry13 / Instagram: ballstatesb / Facebook: BallStateSoftball
GAME 1 RECAP: Ball State 14 – Central Michigan 7
After a scoreless inning and a half, it was Central Michigan who would get the first runs of the 2015 MAC season, as they capitalized on a pair of Ball State errors in a six-run second inning. The biggest hit of the frame was a three-run triple from Kristen Kuhlmann.
The Cardinals scored their first runs of the game in the top of the fourth inning, thanks to Craft's first triple of the game. With one out, Dabkowski walked and Stuedemann was hit by a pitch to give Ball State a pair of base runners. Craft followed with her first of two triples to cut the CMU advantage to 6-2.
Ball State added a third run in the top of the fifth inning, starting with a double down the left field line from junior Sammi Cowger (Fenton, Mich./Fenton). Following a sacrifice bunt from sophomore center fielder Taylor Cooley (Chelsea, Mich./Chelsea) to move Cowger to third, junior shortstop Selena Reyna (Houston, Texas/South Houston) smashed an RBI double off the wall in center field.
Following a scoreless sixth inning, the Cardinals made the most of their final three outs by scoring 11 runs on seven hits and two CMU errors in the top of the seventh. Stuedemann drove in what proved to be the game-winning runs with a three-run blast over the right-center field wall to make the score 8-6. Dabkowski also recorded a three-run homer later in the inning to cap Ball State's scoring at 11 runs for the inning and 14 for the game.
CMU did manage to get a two-out home run in the bottom of the frame, making the score 14-7, but the Ball State lead proved to be insurmountable.
GAME TWO RECAP: Ball State 9 – Central Michigan 5
Ball State opened the second game with three straight two-out hits by Dabkowski, Stuedemann and sophomore catcher Shelbie Scamihorn (Terre Haute, Ind./South Vigo) to pull ahead 1-0.
After the Chippewas countered with a two-run second inning, Ball State capitalized on three hits and a pair of CMU errors to score four runs in the third inning and pull ahead 5-2. With one out, Cihlar and Dabkowski logged back-to-back singles, while a Central Michigan error loaded the bases. A second Chippewas' miscue brought home Ball State's first two runs of the inning.
Sophomore designated player Amanda Arnett (Monroe, Mich./Monroe) followed with a RBI single, while two batters later Cowger was hit by a pitch with bases loaded to push the fourth run across.
The bottom half of the third saw Central Michigan post another two-spot, cutting the Ball State lead to 5-4. The Cardinals countered, however, with two more runs in the top of the fourth thanks to Stuedemann's second homer of the day and the 23rd of her career.
Craft would get her final two RBI's of the day in the top of the sixth, extending the Ball State advantage to 9-4. Reyna opened the inning with a double and three batters later Stuedemann drew a two-out walk to put runners at first and second. Craft followed with a two-run pinch hit double down the right field line to drive in Ball State's final runs of the game.
Once again, Central Michigan was able to rally for one run in the bottom of the seventh, but could get no closer, losing the contest 9-5.
- BallStateSports.com –
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Steinbach, Nicole (7-8)
L: Weaver, Taylor (2-3)
Batting:
2B: Reyna, Selena 2 ; Cowger, Sammi 1
3B: Craft, Jessica 2
HR: Dabkowski, Emily 1 ; Stuedemann, Hanne 1
RBI: Reyna, Selena 2 ; Cihlar, Loren 1 ; Dabkowski, Emily 4 ; Stuedemann, Hanne 3 ; Craft, Jessica 2 ; Bailey, Julia 1
SH: Cooley, Taylor 1
SF: Bailey, Julia 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Reyna, Selena 2 ; Cihlar, Loren 2 ; Dabkowski, Emily 3 ; Stuedemann, Hanne 2 ; Craft, Jessica 1 ; Cowger, Sammi 2 ; Cooley, Taylor 2
HBP: Reyna, Selena 1 ; Stuedemann, Hanne 1 ; Cowger, Sammi 1
Batting:
2B: Rentschler, Katelyn 1 ; Kalina, Maison 1
3B: Kuhlman, Kristen 1
RBI: Kuhlman, Kristen 3 ; Rentschler, Katelyn 2 ; Hansen, Sara 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Tolfree, Lacy 1 ; Kuhlman, Kristen 1 ; Cox, Trista 2 ; Kalina, Maison 1 ; Hansen, Sara 1 ; Goodall, Kristen 1
SB: Hansen, Sara 1
CS: Hansen, Sara 1
