Ball State University
1-2
Southern Miss
1-2
Softball Suffers Pair of Saturday Losses
February 14, 2016 | Softball
GULF SHORES, Ala. - - The second day of the Sand Dollar Classic was a rough one for the Ball State softball team, which was unable to find its rhythm at the plate or in the circle in losses to Southern Miss and 25th-ranked South Alabama Saturday afternoon at The Fieldhouse in Gulf Shores, Ala.
“There is no getting around it, today was a rough day at the park,” first year head coach Megan Ciolli Bartlett said. “We need to get sharper in every facet of the game. The premise of this program is we are built around tough players who are unfazed by days like today. Now we need to go out there and prove that is exactly who we are. We will have a solid game plan ready for UAB tomorrow and we will go at them.”
In Saturday's 17-1 (5) loss to Southern Miss (1-2), the Cardinals (1-3) trailed 1-0 entering the bottom of the second inning when junior center fielder India Steward (Matteson, Ill./Rich South) evened the score with a two-out solo home run to right-center field. Unfortunately, the Golden Eagles responded with 16 runs over the next two innings to take control of the game.
Other bright spots from the game include the first career hits for freshmen Becca Rodriguez (Tucson, Ariz./Sunnyside) and Aeshia Miles (Lawrenceville, Ga./Collins Hill). Rodriguez recorded an infield single to shortstop in the fourth, while Miles singled down the third-base line in the fifth. In addition, junior Amanda Arnett (Monroe, Mich./Monroe) logged a hit for the third straight game and struck out a career-high five batters over 2.2 innings of relief work in the circle.
Arnett continued her solid play in the 8-0 (6) loss to No. 25 South Alabama, drawing a pair of walks to reach base in two of her three plate appearances versus the Jaguars (3-0). Junior Rachel Houck (Greenfield, Ind./Mt. Vernon) recorded two of Ball State's three hits in the game, including a double off the fence in center field.
Freshman Madison Lee (Cerritos, Calif./Cerritos) also logged a double versus South Alabama, driving the ball to the wall in left-center field in her first collegiate at bat. Lee entered the game as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Through the first four games of the season, Arnett leads the Cardinals offense with a .455 (5-for-11) batting average and a .538 on base percentage. She is also the only player to reach base safely in all four contests. Houck is second on the team with a .364 (4-for-11) average and drove in what proved to be the game-winning run Friday versus Louisiana Tech.
“Amanda is doing a fabulous job in the leadoff spot,” Bartlett said. “She is working opposing pitchers hard, seeing a lot of pitches and either getting solid hits or drawing walks. Rachel is really starting to come along. She has not been a full-time starter yet in her career, until yesterday. She is a gifted hitter and we expect big things from her.”
The Ball State softball team closes opening weekend and play in the Sand Dollar Classic Sunday morning, with a scheduled 9 a.m. CT first pitch versus UAB.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State softball, follow the team on Twitter: @BallStateSB, @CoachCBartlett & @BallStateSports / Instagram: ballstatesb / Facebook: BallStateSoftball.
- BallStateSports.com –
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: ROBLES, Samantha (1-1)
L: Wilmes, Carolyn (0-2)
Batting:
2B: DEW, Tori 1 ; ROBLES, Samantha 1
HR: CLEARY, Katie 1
RBI: MCKEEVER, Morgan 2 ; HOLIFIELD, Lauren 3 ; CLEARY, Katie 4 ; DEW, Tori 4 ; PAPP, Samatha 1 ; ROBLES, Samantha 3
Base Running:
RUNS: MCKEEVER, Morgan 2 ; HOLIFIELD, Lauren 4 ; CLEARY, Katie 1 ; DEW, Tori 1 ; PAPP, Samatha 1 ; EVANS, Sarah 2 ; ROBLES, Samantha 1 ; TAYLOR, Beth 1 ; REYNOLDS, Samantha 1 ; JOHNSON, Rachel 2 ; CHRISTOFFERSON, K. 1
HBP: ROBLES, Samantha 1
Batting:
2B: McAnally, Leigh 1
HR: Steward, India 1
RBI: Steward, India 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Steward, India 1
