Ball State University
18-27
Indiana
24-19
Softball Ends Non-Conference Play with 7-1 Loss at Indiana
April 21, 2016 | Softball
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - - Despite a 3-for-4 effort from freshman designated player Madison Lee, the Ball State softball team closed non-conference play with a 7-1 loss at Indiana's Andy Mohr Field Wednesday evening.
The Cardinals (18-27) opened the game strong, breaking onto the scoreboard with a run in the top of the first inning. Sophomore catcher Leigh McAnally came through with a one out double, while junior third baseman Amanda Arnett drove in what turned out to be Ball State's lone run with a single to center field.
Unfortunately, the Hoosiers' (24-19) first four batters in the bottom of the inning would reach base to even the score at 1-1. Ball State senior pitcher Kelsey Schifferdecker would recover, however, striking out the next batter and forcing a pair of fielder's choices to end the IU threat.
After holding the Cardinals off the board in the top of the second, Indiana capitalized on a Ball State error in the bottom of the second to score what proved to be the game-winning run. The Hoosiers tallied two more runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth to give the game its final score of 7-1.
Lee, who opened the game with a pop fly to second, would do her best to help the Cardinals on offense with a leadoff single in the third and one-out singles in both the fifth and seventh innings. However, Ball State could not cash in on any of her three hits. It was the third three-hit game of Lee's career.
Arnett, who drove in Ball State's lone run of the game, finished the contest 2-for-4 with singles in both the first and fifth innings. Junior center fielder Rachel Houck also provided the Cardinals with a two-out double in the bottom of the fourth.
In the circle, sophomore Carolyn Wilmes turned in a solid 2.0 innings of relief work, limiting Indiana to one hit and recording a pair of strikeouts. Schifferdecker suffered the loss for Ball State, surrendering 10 hits and seven runs (five earned) over 4.0 innings of work.
The Ball State softball team returns to action Friday, when it opens a three-game Mid-American Conference home series versus Central Michigan. The teams will play a single game Friday at 3 p.m. and a Saturday doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.
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: Emily Kirk (3-0)
L: Schifferdecker, Kelsey (2-5)
Batting:
2B: McAnally, Leigh 1 ; Houck, Rachel 1
RBI: Arnett, Amanda 1
SH: McAnally, Leigh 1
Base Running:
RUNS: McAnally, Leigh 1
Batting:
2B: Kelsey Dotson 1
RBI: Rebecca Blitz 1 ; Erin Lehman 2 ; Kelsey Dotson 1 ; Sarah Galovich 1
SH: Sarah Galovich 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Rebecca Blitz 1 ; Sarah Thompson 1 ; Aimilia McDonough 1 ; Rachel O'Malley 3 ; Sarah Galovich 1
SB: Rebecca Blitz 2 ; Erin Lehman 1
HBP: Erin Lehman 1 ; Michelle Huber 1 ; Katelyn Conenna 1 ; Rachel O'Malley 1
