Softball Celebrates Senior Day with 10-2 (5) Win over Western Michigan

Saturday, April 30

Muncie, Indiana

9:00 AM

Ball State University

22-29, 8-13

Western Michigan

18-26, 9-10

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Western Michigan	0	0	0	0	2	2	7	2
Ball State	5	0	0	5	X	10	9	1

Softball Celebrates Senior Day with 10-2 (5) Win over Western Michigan

April 30, 2016 | Softball

Box Score Sports Link: Sounds of the Game (SB...Box Score

By: Ball State Athletics

MUNCIE, Ind. - - While the weather was less than ideal, Saturday saw the perfect ending for the home careers of Ball State softball's five-member senior class, as the team completed a series sweep of Western Michigan with a 10-2 (5) victory at the Softball Field at First Merchants Ballpark Complex.

With the win, the Cardinals improve to 22-29 (8-13 Mid-American Conference) and stay alive in the race for one of eight spots in the 2016 MAC Tournament which will be held May 11-14 at Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio. The Broncos fall to 18-26 (9-10 MAC) after suffering their eighth consecutive loss.

All five Ball State seniors factored in Saturday's victory over WMU, led by Emily Dabkowski who went 3-for-3 at the plate with a RBI and two runs scored. Kelsey Schifferdecker started in the circle, limiting the Broncos to a pair of hits and no runs over 2.0 innings of work. Nicole Steinbach earned the pitching win, throwing the final three innings on the rainy morning and holding WMU to five hits and a pair of runs while striking out three. Sammi Cowger scored a pair of runs and reached base in all three of her plate appearances, while Friday's game one hero Selena Reyna also scored a run in Saturday's finale.

After Schifferdecker retired three of the four batters she faced in the top of the first inning, the Cardinals struck for five runs in the bottom of the inning to take control of the game. Freshman Madison Lee drew a walk to open the frame, while an error on sacrifice bunt attempt from Leigh McAnally gave Ball State a pair of base runners. Following a fielder's choice from Reyna, Dabkowski came up with a clutch single to center field to drive in the game's first run. That was not the end of the play however, as the WMU center fielder misplayed the ball and allowed both Reyna and Dabkowski to cross the plate.

Junior center fielder India Steward kept the momentum going with a walk, and Cowger blasted a double over the WMU left fielder's head to give Ball State runners at second and third for the second time in the inning. Junior third baseman Amanda Arnett then connected with a double to left-center field bringing home both base runners and pushing the score to 5-0.

As the rain moved in and picked up in intensity, the teams played two-and-a-half scoreless innings before the Cardinals struck for five more runs in the bottom of the fourth. Dabkowski started the rally with a one out single through the left side and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Steward followed with a single to center field to give Ball State runners at the corners. Back-to-back walks to Cowger and Arnett would bring in Ball State's first run of the inning and extend the lead to 6-0.

Ball State's next run came when sophomore designated player Kaitlyn Bath was hit by the first pitch in her at bat, while an Aeshia Miles RBI groundout gave the hosts an 8-0 advantage. Lee then drove in the Cardinals' final two runs with a single to center field.

Western Michigan would attempt to keep the game alive in the top of the fifth, opening with a single and double to cut the Ball State lead to 10-1. Following a strikeout by Steinbach, WMU would plate a second run on a RBI single. However, Steinbach followed with her second strikeout of the inning and then induced a fly ball to Cowger in right field to complete the 10-2 victory.

In the three-game series sweep, Cowger led the Ball State offense with a .625 (5-for-8) average and scored three runs. Dabkowski was next on the list with a .556 (5-for-9) average and drove in a team-high four RBI, while also scoring four times. Reyna added three hits on the weekend, including a pair of doubles. Steinbach went 2-0 in the circle with a 2.92 ERA and a .275 opponent's batting average, while Schifferdecker allowed just two hits in 2.0 innings of work.

The Ball State softball team returns to action Friday (May 6), when it opens its final three game MAC regular season series with a scheduled 3 p.m. first pitch at Toledo. The Cardinals and Rockets are slated to conclude the regular season with a 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday.

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 –