Ball State University
14-17
Purdue
24-11
Softball Falls One Run Short At Purdue
April 01, 2015 | Softball
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - - The Ball State softball team dropped a hard-fought 10-9 contest to Purdue Wednesday afternoon at the Boilermaker Softball Stadium.
The Cardinals (14-17) held a 9-8 lead entering the bottom of the seventh inning, but the Boilermakers (24-11) managed to plate a pair of runs to escape with the victory.
Senior designated player Jessica Craft (LaPorte, Mich./LaPorte) led the Ball State offense, reaching base in all four of her plate appearances thanks to a solo home run, a single and pair of walks. Overall, seven of Ball State's nine offensive starters recorded at least one hit in the contest.
Ball State came out of the gate strong, scoring four runs in the top of the first inning. With one out, junior left fielder Loren Cihlar (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North) tallied a bunt single and advanced to third when junior second baseman Emily Dabkowski (Plainfield, Ind./South Putnam) reached on a Purdue error. After junior right fielder Hanne Stuedemann (Mattawan, Mich./Mattawan) was hit by a pitch to load the bases, the Cardinals scored the game's first run on a RBI walk to Craft.
Sophomore catcher Shelbie Scamihorn (Terre Haute, Ind./South Vigo) extended the Ball State rally with a two-run double down the right field line, giving the guests a 3-0 lead. Freshman third baseman Julia Bailey (Lafayette, La./Teurlings Catholic) followed with a sacrifice fly to right field, driving in Craft and giving the Cardinals a 4-0 advantage.
The Boilermakers answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning, cutting the Ball State edge to 4-2. Following a scoreless second inning, Craft gave Ball State a 5-2 lead in the top of the third with her fifth home run of the season and 11th of her career.
While the Boilermakers followed with a four-run third, to take a brief 6-5 lead, the Cardinals responded with four runs of their own in the top of the fourth to reclaim the three-run advantage at 9-6. Sophomore center fielder Taylor Cooley (Chelsea, Mich./Chelsea) started the four-run rally with a single to center field and advanced to third on a single to right center from junior shortstop Selena Reyna (Houston, Texas/South Houston).
After Reyna stole second, an RBI fielder's choice from Cihlar plated a runner without yielding an out. Dabkowski followed with her league-leading ninth home run of the season, and 15th of her career, to drive in three more runs and give Ball State a 9-6 lead.
Purdue answered with single runs in the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings, to cut the Ball State lead to 9-8, before capitalizing on Ball State's defensive miscue in the seventh to bring in a pair of runs to claim the 10-9 victory.
Junior Nicole Steinbach (Merrillville, Ind./Andrean) went the distance for the Cardinals in the circle, striking out seven batters over six innings of work.
The Ball State softball team returns to action at 1 p.m. Friday, when it hosts Mid-American Conference East Division co-leader Kent State in a pivotal doubleheader and early battle for league supremacy.
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: Snyder, Gina (6-0)
L: Steinbach, Nicole (7-9)
Batting:
2B: Scamihorn, Shelbie 1
HR: Dabkowski, Emily 1 ; Craft, Jessica 1
RBI: Cihlar, Loren 1 ; Dabkowski, Emily 3 ; Craft, Jessica 2 ; Scamihorn, Shelbie 2 ; Bailey, Julia 1
SF: Bailey, Julia 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Reyna, Selena 1 ; Cihlar, Loren 2 ; Dabkowski, Emily 2 ; Stuedemann, Hanne 1 ; Craft, Jessica 2 ; Cooley, Taylor 1
SB: Reyna, Selena 1
CS: Steward, India 1
HBP: Stuedemann, Hanne 1 ; Cowger, Sammi 1 ; Cooley, Taylor 1
Batting:
2B: Hoppman, Kristen 2 ; Hampton, Kaylah 1 ; Andrew, Paris 1
3B: Valone, Lexi 1
RBI: Hoppman, Kristen 1 ; Burkhardt, Ashley 1 ; Hampton, Kaylah 3 ; Gooding, Mary 1 ; Parsons, CJ 3
SH: Valone, Lexi 1
SF: Parsons, CJ 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Koorsen, Alyssa 1 ; Hoppman, Kristen 2 ; Burkhardt, Ashley 2 ; Cavinder, Morgan 1 ; Andrew, Paris 2 ; Valone, Lexi 2
SB: Valone, Lexi 1
HBP: Andrew, Paris 1
