Ball State University
34-24
Kentucky
31-24
Errors Costly As Softball Falls To Kentucky
May 16, 2015 | Softball
NOTRE DAME, Ind. - - The Ball State softball team could not overcome four errors and a strong effort by opposing pitcher Kelsey Nunley in a 5-0 loss to Kentucky in NCAA South Bend Regional action Saturday afternoon at Notre Dame's Melissa Cook Stadium.
With the loss, the Cardinals (34-24) fall to the elimination bracket and will battle the winner of today's first elimination game between 16 seed Notre Dame and Northwestern. Game time is currently set for 6 p.m.
With the victory, the Wildcats (31-24) advance to Sunday's 1 p.m. regional final where it awaits the winner of tonight's 6 p.m. game.
In her NCAA Regional debut, Ball State junior pitcher Kelsey Schifferdecker (Belton, Mo./Belton) turned in a solid performance in the circle, holding last season's Women's College World Series participant Kentucky to just seven hits and one earned run over 5.0 innings of work.
However, it was that postseason experience which helped the Wildcats in a come-from-behind win yesterday (Friday) over Northwestern and again in a solid all-around effort in today's (Saturday) game against the Cardinals.
After a scoreless first inning, Kentucky was able to score the first run of the game on Ball State's first error. With runners at second and third after a sacrifice bunt, the Cardinals looked poised to get the second out of the inning, but a low throw to first base on a grounder to shortstop allowed the runner at third to cross the plate.
Ball State countered with its first hit of the game in the bottom of the inning, as sophomore catcher Shelbie Scamihorn (Terre Haute, Ind./South Vigo) placed a two-out single over the pitcher and between the middle infielders. Unfortunately, a strikeout ended the inning without any further damage.
Kentucky scored its lone earned run in the top of the third inning, after a leadoff single from Sylver Samuel who also advanced to second on a throwing error on the play. Samuel then advanced to third on a fly to right field, before scoring on a successful squeeze bunt from Maisie Steed to give UK a 2-0 advantage.
The Wildcats looked poised to add at least one more run in the inning after a double by Brooklin Hinz. However, a laser throw home by senior left fielder Loren Cihlar (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North) on a single from Erin Rethlake was just in time to get Hinz out at the plate trying to score from second.
Following a scoreless fourth inning, Kentucky struck for three more unearned runs in the top of the fifth. Nikki Sagermann opened the inning with a fly to deep center field and advanced to third when the ball was dropped by the center fielder. Following a groundout, a second BSU error allowed Griffin Joiner to reach base while Sagermann came home. After the second out of the inning, a single by Hinz gave Kentucky runners at the corners, before Rethlake cleared the bases with a two-run double to cap the scoring at 5-0.
Ball State attempted to rally in the top of the seventh, thanks to a one-out hit from senior right fielder Hanne Stuedemann (Mattawan, Mich./Mattawan) and a two-out walk to Scamihorn. However, Kentucky's Nunley was able to end the contest with her seventh strikeout of the day. In all, Nunley held the Mid-American Conference's top offensive club to just two hits and one walk over seven innings of work.
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: Kelsey Nunley (13-14)
L: Schifferdecker, Kelsey (4-2)
Batting:
2B: Nikki Sagermann 1 ; Brooklin Hinz 1 ; Erin Rethlake 1
RBI: Maisie Steed 1 ; Erin Rethlake 2
SH: Maisie Steed 1 ; Ansley Smith 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Nikki Sagermann 1 ; Sylver Samuel 1 ; Darington Richardson 1 ; Brooklin Hinz 2
SB: Darington Richardson 1 ; Maisie Steed 1 ; Kara Howard 1
Base Running:
SB: Steward, India 1
