Ball State University
14-16, 0-1
Miami (OH)
15-11, 1-0
Fifth Inning Rally Leads Miami Past Softball in MAC Opener
March 25, 2016 | Softball
OXFORD, Ohio - - The Ball State softball team opened the 2016 Mid-American Conference season with a 4-3 loss to Miami Friday afternoon at the MU Softball Stadium.
The Cardinals (14-16; 0-1 MAC) looked poised to capture their first league win of the season, leading 3-1 entering the bottom of the fifth inning. Unfortunately, the RedHawks (15-11; 1-0 MAC) first five batters in the fifth were able to string together four hits and a sacrifice bunt to plate three runs and give the hosts the 4-3 victory.
It looked as if Miami was going to take control of the game early, loading the bases with one out in the top of the first inning. However, Ball State senior pitcher Nicole Steinbach was able to get the next batter looking for the second out of the inning. After a passed ball allowed the game's first run to cross the play, Steinbach forced a groundout to short to end the inning and limit the damage to one run.
After being retired in order over the first two innings, the Cardinals offense came to life in the top of the third thanks in part to a hard-hit single back at the pitcher from freshman third baseman Aeshia Miles to open the frame. Sophomore catcher Leigh McAnally followed with an expertly executed sacrifice bunt to move Mile to second. Freshman designated player Madison Lee then dropped a RBI single between the second baseman and right fielder in shallow right-center field to tie the score at 1-1.
Ball State carried over the momentum in the top of the forth, starting with a one-out triple from senior shortstop Emily Dabkowski. Junior left fielder India Steward then pulled off the biggest play of the game for the Cardinals, dropping a squeeze bunt single in front of the Miami third baseman to drive in Dabkowski who was running on contact.
Unfortunately, Steward was called for leaving the base early on the next pitch. The miscue proved critical in the game, as junior first baseman Amanda Arnett blasted a 3-2 pitch deep over the wall in left field to push the Cardinals ahead 3-1.
After retiring nine of the 10 batters she faced between the second and fourth innings, Steinbach ran into trouble in the bottom of the fifth, starting with a leadoff double from Miami's Rylee Whispel. The RedHawks followed with back-to-back singles to cut the Ball State lead to 3-2. After a sacrifice bunt moved runners to second and third with one out, Miami's leading batter Taylor Shuey came through with a two-run single to left-center field to drive in what stood to be the game-winning run.
The Cardinals had one last chance to even the score in the top of the seventh, as Steward led off the inning with a single to left field and promptly stole second giving Ball State a runner in scoring position with no outs. Unfortunately, Miami pitcher Amber Logemann induced a pair of pop flies to shortstop, before ending the game with a strikeout.
Steinbach, who fell to 11-6 after taking the loss in the circle, managed to record four strikeouts in the game, while allowing eight hits and three earned runs.
Steward collected a pair of hits for the second straight game to lead the Ball State offense. Arnett's home run in the fourth was her sixth of the season, while Dabkowski's triple was her MAC-leading fourth of the year.
The Ball State softball team returns to action Saturday, when it looks to take the final two games of the three-game set versus Miami in a 1 p.m. doubleheader at the MU Softball Stadium.
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: LOGEMANN, Amber (9-6)
L: Steinbach, Nicole (11-6)
Batting:
3B: Dabkowski, Emily 1
HR: Arnett, Amanda 1
RBI: Lee, Madison 1 ; Steward, India 1 ; Arnett, Amanda 1
SH: McAnally, Leigh 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Dabkowski, Emily 1 ; Arnett, Amanda 1 ; Miles, Aeshia 1
SB: Steward, India 1
Batting:
2B: WHISPEL, Rylee 1
RBI: SCHLATTMAN, Michaela 1 ; SHUEY, Taylor 2
SH: MCCARVER, Eryn 1 ; LEE, Kat 1
Base Running:
RUNS: SCHLATTMAN, Michaela 1 ; MCCARVER, Eryn 1 ; BUSBY, Tanya 1 ; JONES, Jenna 1
