Ball State University
9-8
Stony Brook
5-8
Softball Uses Season-High 16 Hits to Top Stony Brook 14-1 (5)
March 05, 2016 | Softball
FT. MYERS, Fla. - - The Ball State softball team broke out of its offensive slump from Friday with a season-high 16 hits to open the second day of play at the FGCU/Four Points Spring Break Classic with a 14-1 (5) victory over Stony Brook Saturday morning.
In improving to 9-8 on the year, the Cardinals received contributions from up and down the lineup, with eight of the team's nine starters logging at least one hit. Leading the way for the Ball State offense were senior right fielder Selena Reyna and junior center fielder Rachel Houck with three hits apiece. Four other Cardinals tallied two hits in the game.
While the offense barrage was the story of the game, the action started with junior pitcher Amanda Arnett bookending the opening inning with a pair of strikeouts to keep the Seawolves (5-7) off the board early. Arnett then led off the bottom half of the inning with her 20th hit of the season to get the offense off to a hot start. Two batters later, Houck smashed her first hit of the game, a double to center field, to give the Cardinals runners on the corners.
The Mid-American Conference RBI leader entering the week, senior shortstop Emily Dabkowski, came up next and promptly drove in the game's first run with a sacrifice fly for her first of five RBI in the game. Reyna followed with a RBI single to center field to drive in what proved to be the game-winning run, giving Ball State a 2-0 edge.
Stony Brook looked to have some momentum in the top of the second, loading the bases with two outs, but Arnett was able to record her third strikeout of the game to end the threat.
The Ball State offense then exploded for seven runs on five hits in the bottom of the inning to put the game essentially out of reach. Becca Rodriguez opened the frame with a single through the left side and advanced to second on a one-out error by SBU which also allowed Arnett to reach base. The Cardinals then scored their first run of the inning on a Madison Lee single to left field.
With runners at second and third after Lee advanced on the throw in from the Stony Brook defense, Houck's second hit of the game pushed in a run to extend Ball State's lead to 4-0. Dabkowski upped the Cardinals' advantage by another run, with a RBI fielders' choice in the next at bat. Then Reyna drove in three more with a lightning blast over the fence in left field.
The rally did not stop there, as India Steward singled to center field off a new Stony Brook pitcher. After Steward stole second, she advanced to third on a groundout from senior first baseman Sammi Cowger before scoring on a SBU error on a throw down to third during the next at bat.
The Seawolves looked ready to rally again in the top of the third, after a hit batter and a walk put the first two batters on base. After a Ball State pitching change, the third Stony Brook batter of the frame tallied a RBI double to right field. With runners at second and third, Dabkowski made one of two spectacular defensive plays in the game for the Cardinals, snagging a sharp liner to short and flipping the ball to Madeline Porter at third for a critical double play. The next SBU batter grounded out to short to end the inning.
Leading 9-1, the Cardinals added three more runs in the bottom of the third thanks to a big two-out rally. Lee started the charge with a single through the left side, while Houck followed with her third hit of the game to give Ball state runners at first and second. Dabkowski, Ball State's active career home run leader, then upped her career total to 27 with a three-run no-doubter to left-center field.
After sophomore pitcher Carolyn Wilmes retired the Seawolves in order in the top of the fourth, including a highlight reel diving catch from Reyna in foul territory in right field, the Cardinals added two more runs in the bottom of the inning to give the game its final score of 14-1.
Porter drove in the inning's first run, and her first career RBI, by following a Rodriguez double with one of her own. After a single from Arnett gave Ball State runners on the corners, sophomore pinch hitter Kaitlyn Bath logged her first RBI with the Cardinals thanks to a fielders choice to short.
Wilmes picked up her first win of the season in the circle for the Cardinals, allowing just two hits and one walk over the final three innings. In her two innings of work at the start of the game, Arnett allowed just three hits and one earned run, while striking out three batters in a no decision.
The Ball State softball team continues day two of the FGCU/Four Points Spring Break Classic later this afternoon, with a scheduled 3:45 p.m. first pitch versus tournament host Florida Gulf Coast.
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: Wilmes, Carolyn (1-3)
L: Neales, Maddy (1-3)
Batting:
2B: Phelan, Melissa 1
RBI: Phelan, Melissa 1
SH: Shue, Lexie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Evans, Chelsea 1
HBP: Evans, Chelsea 1
Batting:
2B: Houck, Rachel 1 ; Rodriguez, Becca 1 ; Porter, Madeline 1
HR: Dabkowski, Emily 1 ; Reyna, Selena 1
RBI: Lee, Madison 1 ; Bath, Kaitlyn 1 ; Houck, Rachel 1 ; Dabkowski, Emily 5 ; Reyna, Selena 4 ; Porter, Madeline 1
SF: Dabkowski, Emily 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Arnett, Amanda 2 ; Lee, Madison 1 ; COOLEY, Taylor 1 ; Houck, Rachel 3 ; Dabkowski, Emily 2 ; Reyna, Selena 1 ; Steward, India 1 ; Rodriguez, Becca 2 ; Porter, Madeline 1
SB: Steward, India 1
