Ball State University
20-29, 6-13
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Western Michigan - GM 1
18-24, 9-8
Softball Opens Senior Weekend with Doubleheader Sweep of Western Michigan
April 30, 2016 | Softball
MUNCIE, Ind. - - It was a perfect script to open senior weekend, as Ball State's senior class play a pivotal role in a doubleheader sweep of visiting Western Michigan Friday afternoon at the Softball Field at First Merchants Ballpark Complex.
In the series opener versus the Broncos (18-25 / 9-9 MAC), senior shortstop Selena Reyna sliced a game-winning RBI double down the right field line to lift the Cardinals (21-29 / 7-13 MAC) to a 5-4 (9) victory. In the circle, senior hurler Nicole Steinbach opened the game with her 500th career strikeout and ultimately struck out seven to earn her 15th win of the season.
In the nightcap, senior shortstop Emily Dabkowski drove in Ball State's first three runs in a 6-2 victory. She started the game with a sacrifice fly in the first, before depositing what proved to be a game-winning two-run home run over the fence in center field in the bottom of the third.
Another senior who played a pivotal role in both games was outfielder Sammi Cowger, who finished the day with a team-leading .571 (4-for-7) batting average as she recorded a pair of hits in each contest. Reyna finished the day 3-for-9 and also reached base on a pair of WMU errors, while Dabkowski went 2-for-6 from the plate and also drew a pair of walks.
After a scoreless first three innings in the opener, the Broncos scored first with a pair of two-out runs in the top of the fourth inning. Western Michigan would extend its lead to 4-0 with two more runs in the top of the sixth.
Ball State would answer in the bottom of the sixth, battling back to tie the score with a four-run outburst in the frame. Freshman first baseman Madison Lee opened the frame with a single and advanced to second on a groundout from sophomore catcher Leigh McAnally. Junior third baseman Amanda Arnett followed with a single up the middle, while Dabkowski drew a walk to load the bases.
Reyna followed with what would have been a RBI groundout, but the WMU second baseman misplayed the ball and allowed a second run to cross the plate, giving Ball State runners on the corners with one out trailing 4-2. Junior center fielder India Steward followed with a RBI groundout to cut the WMU edge to 4-3. After a Cowger single gave Ball State runners on the corners with two outs, sophomore designated player Kaitlyn Bath sliced a RBI single through the right side to bring home the tying run.
The score remained deadlocked at 4-4 until the bottom of the ninth, when Reyna's 10th double of the season drove in the winning run in walk-off fashion. Lee opened the inning with a walk and moved to second on a two-out walk to Dabkowski, which set up the game-winning hit.
The second game started with sophomore pitcher Carolyn Wilmes retiring the Broncos in order in the top of the first inning. Ball State followed with a run in the bottom of the frame to take an early 1-0 lead. Lee singled to open the inning and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from McAnally. After Reyna reached base on another error, which allowed Lee to advance to third, Dabkowski drove in the first run of the game with a sacrifice fly to center field.
After a scoreless second inning, Western Michigan capitalized on a one-out home run and a two-out RBI single in the top of the third to pull ahead 2-1.
However, Reyna and Dabkowski would not let the Broncos spoil the opening day of their senior weekend, as Reyna logged a two-out double and Dabkowski followed with a home run to center field giving Ball State a 3-2 edge.
That would be all the run support Wilmes would need, as she kept the Western Michigan offense off the board in each of the final four innings to pick up her second consecutive complete game victory. Over 7.0 innings of work, she allowed just eight hits and a pair of earned runs, while striking out four.
Ball State's offense was not done, however, adding two more runs in the bottom of the fourth on a two-out, bases loaded double from McAnally. Cowger and Steward scored on the play after both reaching base via singles. The Cardinals final run came in the bottom of the sixth on a leadoff home run from Lee.
Ball State and Western Michigan will close their three-game set Saturday with a scheduled 9 a.m. first pitch. The Cardinals will then celebrate the 2016 senior class with a ceremony following the conclusion of the game.
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 –
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Steinbach, Nicole (15-16)
L: KUS, Allyson (13-13)
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Batting:
2B: SCHEFKA, Gabby 1 ; WILLIAMS, Aspen 1
HR: WILLIAMS, Aspen 1
RBI: SCHEFKA, Gabby 1 ; WILLIAMS, Aspen 2
SH: BINKOWSKI, Erin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: CICHOCKI, Kelsea 1 ; SCHEFKA, Gabby 1 ; WYMAN, Brooke 1 ; WILLIAMS, Aspen 1
SB: SCHAAF, Ivy 1 ; WYMAN, Brooke 1
HBP: WILLIAMS, Aspen 1
Batting:
2B: Reyna, Selena 1
RBI: Reyna, Selena 2 ; Steward, India 1 ; Bath, Kaitlyn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Lee, Madison 2 ; Arnett, Amanda 1 ; Dabkowski, Emily 1 ; Reyna, Selena 1
SB: Arnett, Amanda 1
CS: Miles, Aeshia 1
