Softball Falls Short in Comeback Attempt vs. Iowa State

LAFAYETTE, La. - - The Ball State softball team closed play in the 31st Annual Louisiana Classics with a 7-4 loss to Iowa State Sunday morning at Lamson Park.

Coming off a late-night doubleheader, the Cardinals (1-4) offense came to life late in Sunday's game. Unfortunately, a well-rested Cyclones (2-2) squad, which played the two early games Saturday, managed to hold off a comeback attempt after Ball State brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh.

In her first career pitching start, sophomore Aeshia Miles (Lawrenceville, Ga./Collins Hill) worked out of a bases loaded jam in the top of the first inning. She also struck out a pair of batters in the second, before the Cyclones rallied for five runs in the third aided in part by a Ball State error. Miles finished the game with two strikeouts over 2.1 innings of work.

Ball State's first hit of the game came in the bottom of the third when junior second baseman Maddy Labrador (Lexington, S.C./Spartanburg Methodist) sliced a single to right field. With the single, Labrador has reached base safely in all five games for the Cardinals this season.

Freshman designated player Janae Hogg (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral) tried to spark the Ball State offense in the bottom of the fourth with her third career hit, a one-out single down the left field line. Freshman pinch runner Caitlyn Robinson (Clarksville, Ohio/Clinton-Massie) advanced to second on a wild pitch, but the Cardinals failed to bring her home.

The Cardinals managed to get a pair of base runners on with two outs in the fifth as sophomore Olivia Huffman (Woodbury, Minn./South Dakota) and Labrador were hit by pitches. Unfortunately a hard grounder to third allowed Iowa State to make the force play at third to end the threat.

After the Cyclones extended their lead to 6-0 in the top of the sixth courtesy of a leadoff home run, the Ball State offense finally broke through with four runs in the bottom of the frame. Junior shortstop Brittany Hopper (Scottsdale, Ariz./Phoenix College) started the rally with a leadoff walk. Hogg followed with a double, while sophomore right fielder Madison Lee (Cerritos, Calif./Cerritos) reached base on a fielder's choice to load the bases.

Junior first baseman Danae King (Glendale, Ariz./Phoenix College) then drove in Ball State's first run of the game with a RBI single through the left side. Senior left fielder Amanda Arnett (Monroe, Mich./Monroe) followed with a two-run double, cutting the Iowa State lead in half at 6-3.

The Cardinals were able to push one more run across the plate in the sixth, courtesy of freshman Kennedy Wynn's (New Albany, Ind./New Albany) first career RBI on a sacrifice fly.

Unfortunately, Iowa State added another run in the top of the seventh to reclaim a three-run lead at 7-4.

The Cardinals threatened again in the bottom of the seventh, as senior center fielder Rachel Houck (Greenfield, Ind./Louisville) opened the inning with a single. Ball State managed to get a pair of runners on base with two outs after Lee was hit by a pitch, but a strikeout ended the rally attempt and the game.

Freshman pitcher Darcie Huber (Greenfield, Ind./Greenfield Central) also turned in a strong effort in relief, limiting the Cyclones to six hits and a pair of runs over 4.2 innings of work. She struck out a pair of batters in the game.

The Ball State softball team returns to action next Friday, when it opens play in the Wildcat Invitational with games versus Drake (3 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. MST) and tournament host Arizona (5 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. MST).

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 –

Softball Falls Short in Comeback Attempt vs. Iowa State

Players Mentioned

Amanda Arnett

Janae Hogg

Brittany Hopper

Rachel Houck

Darcie Huber

Olivia Huffman

Danae King

Maddy Labrador

Madison Lee

Aeshia Miles

Caitlyn Robinson

Kennedy Wynn