Ball State University
11-14
Jacksonville
14-11
Softball Loses 11-3 Slugfest at Jacksonville
March 12, 2016 | Softball
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - - The long ball is usually Ball State softball's forte, unfortunately the Cardinals (11-14) found themselves on the wrong side of five home run slugfest in an 11-3 (6) loss at Jacksonville Friday afternoon at the Debbie & Fred Pruitt Softball Complex.
After opening the day by rallying for a 9-5 victory over Murray State, the Cardinals offense connected for just four hits in an afternoon loss to the Dolphins (14-11). Of the game's 14 runs, nine came from the combined five home runs in the contest.
Jacksonville, who held the Cardinals scoreless in the top of the first, opened the bottom half of the inning with a solo home run to claim a 1-0 advantage. Four batters later Jacksonville added two more runs on a two-out, tworun shot to right-center field.
Ball State retaliated in the top of the second inning, starting with a single up the middle by senior right fielder Selena Reyna. Junior left fielder India Steward followed with a two-run blast of her own over the wall in right-center field. It was her second homerun of the season and cut the Dolphins' lead to 3-2.
Unfortunately, the hosts answered with a run in the second and two more in the third to pull ahead by four at 6-2. The Cardinals looked to rally in the top of the fourth, loading the bases with one out, but a sharp grounder to the JU second baseman turned into an inning-ending double play.
Ball State would cut the gap to 6-3 in the top of the fifth, after sophomore pinch hitter Elise Sandberg opened the inning with a walk and pinch runner Taylor Cooley scored on an error by the Dolphins left fielder on a single by junior center fielder Rachel Houck.
Jacksonville followed with a two-run blast in the bottom of the fifth, and added three more runs in the bottom of the sixth to win the game 11-3.
Junior Amanda Arnett split time at first base and as a relief pitcher in the game, allowing just three hits and two earned runs over 2.0 innings of work. She also struck out four batters, one shy of her career high and just one less the Jacksonville's starter who earned a complete game victory.
The Ball State softball team closes play in the Jacksonville Tournament at 9 a.m. Sunday, with a rematch versus the host Dolphins. So far on spring break, the Cardinals are 3-1 the second time they face an opponent, with the lone loss coming at No. 25 UCF.
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: Taylor Rossman (2-4)
L: Wilmes, Carolyn (1-5)
Batting:
HR: Steward, India 1
RBI: Steward, India 2
SH: Steward, India 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Reyna, Selena 1 ; Steward, India 1 ; COOLEY, Taylor 1
Batting:
2B: Victoria Brown 1 ; Kamille Larrabee 1
HR: Danielle Baker 1 ; Emily Sanchez 1 ; Victoria Brown 1 ; Kristen Griffith 1
RBI: Danielle Baker 2 ; Emily Sanchez 2 ; Victoria Brown 2 ; Kristen Griffith 3 ; Kamille Larrabee 1
SH: Allie McCourt 1 ; Sable Lee 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Danielle Baker 1 ; Allie McCourt 1 ; Heather Roberts 2 ; Emily Sanchez 1 ; Katarina Waldrop 1 ; Victoria Brown 2 ; Adrienne Ramsay 1 ; Kristen Griffith 1 ; Kamille Larrabee 1
SB: Allie McCourt 1
HBP: Heather Roberts 1
