Saturday, February 18
Tucson, AZ
11am
Ball State University
3-5
5
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3
Abilene Christian University
3-6
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Abilene Christian
0
0
0
2
1
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0
3
7
3
Ball State
2
0
1
2
0
0
X
5
7
1
Photo by: Buddy Delahoussaye
Softball Earns Saturday Split at Wildcat Invitational
February 18, 2017 | Softball
TUCSON, Ariz. - - The Ball State softball team battled through high winds and rain to score a Saturday split on the second day of action in the Wildcat Invitational at No. 10 Arizona's Hillenbrand Stadium.
The Cardinals (3-6) opened the day with a 5-3 victory over Abilene Christian (3-6), paced by a 3-for-3 effort at the plate by freshman designated player Janae Hogg (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral). Ball State closed the day with a 6-0 loss to North Dakota State (2-6).
The Cardinals are scheduled to close play in the Wildcat Invitational at 11 a.m. ET / 9 a.m. MST Sunday versus Boston College.
GAME ONE RECAP: Ball State 5 – Abilene Christian 3
After freshman pitcher Darcie Huber (Greenfield, Ind./Greenfield Central) retired three of the four batters she faced in the top of the first inning, the Ball State offense connected for a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame to give the designated home team an advantage it would not relinquish during the game.
Much like yesterday, it was senior center fielder Rachel Houck (Greenfield, Ind./Louisville) who provided a key hit early, as she followed a double from junior second baseman Maddy Labrador (Lexington, S.C./Spartanburg Methodist) with a RBI single to drive in the first run of the game.
After Houck stole second two outs later, Hogg recorded her first of three hits with a RBI single to left field to give Ball State a 2-0 lead.
The Cardinals extended their lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the third courtesy of a two-out RBI double from Hogg. Houck scored on the play after reaching base on an error and advancing to second on an illegal pitch.
The Abilene Christian offense came to life in the top of the fourth, loading the bases with no outs before a two-run single cut the Ball State edge to 3-2. However, some heads up play by the defense on the hit led to a pair outs as both the batter and the runner originally at first were caught in rundowns.
Ball State answered with a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the frame to reclaim a three-run lead at 5-2. Both runs scored on a bases-loaded, one-out error on a Houck grounder to short.
Following a 28-minute rain delay entering the top of the fifth, the guests on the scoreboard managed to load the bases once again with no outs. This time, however, they were only able to score one run on a RBI infield single, cutting the Ball State advantage to 5-3. Huber managed to induce a pair of grounders to get back-to-back force plays at home before striking out the final batter of the inning.
Huber would close the game from there; retiring six of the final eight batters she faced, including a strikeout to end the game. In picking up her first career complete game victory and improving to 3-0 on the year, Huber scattered seven hits over 7.0 innings while striking out three.
GAME 2 RECAP: North Dakota State 6 – Ball State 0
The second game was a pitcher's duel early, as both teams were held scoreless over the first three innings. Unfortunately, North Dakota State was able to break through for six runs in the top of the fourth and eventually win the game 6-0.
The Cardinals had a pair of chances to break onto the scoreboard early, putting runners on the corners with two outs in the second and putting two on with no outs in the third. However, the hosts on the scoreboard were unable to capitalize in either situation.
Following the six-run fourth, the Cardinals looked poised to answer in the bottom of the inning, starting with a one-out single by freshman left fielder Kennedy Wynn (New Albany, Ind./New Albany). Senior third baseman Amanda Arnett (Monroe, Mich./Monroe) then reached base on a NDSU error. Unfortunately, a strikeout and fly out ended the rally attempt.
Ball State had one more chance to cut into the Bisons' lead in the bottom of the sixth, loading the bases with two outs. However, NDSU's Jacquelyn Sertic struck out the final batter of the inning to end the threat and then retired the Cardinals in order in the seventh to secure the 6-0 victory.
Junior shortstop Brittany Hopper (Scottsdale, Ariz./Phoenix College) led the Ball State offense with a pair of hits in the game, while Labrador, Hogg, Wynn and Madison Lee (Cerritos, Calif./Cerritos) each tallied one hit.
Sophomore Aeshia Miles (Lawrenceville, Ga./Collins Hill) turned in a solid effort in relief, limiting North Dakota State to one hit over the game's final 3.1 innings.
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 –
The Cardinals (3-6) opened the day with a 5-3 victory over Abilene Christian (3-6), paced by a 3-for-3 effort at the plate by freshman designated player Janae Hogg (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral). Ball State closed the day with a 6-0 loss to North Dakota State (2-6).
The Cardinals are scheduled to close play in the Wildcat Invitational at 11 a.m. ET / 9 a.m. MST Sunday versus Boston College.
GAME ONE RECAP: Ball State 5 – Abilene Christian 3
After freshman pitcher Darcie Huber (Greenfield, Ind./Greenfield Central) retired three of the four batters she faced in the top of the first inning, the Ball State offense connected for a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame to give the designated home team an advantage it would not relinquish during the game.
Much like yesterday, it was senior center fielder Rachel Houck (Greenfield, Ind./Louisville) who provided a key hit early, as she followed a double from junior second baseman Maddy Labrador (Lexington, S.C./Spartanburg Methodist) with a RBI single to drive in the first run of the game.
After Houck stole second two outs later, Hogg recorded her first of three hits with a RBI single to left field to give Ball State a 2-0 lead.
The Cardinals extended their lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the third courtesy of a two-out RBI double from Hogg. Houck scored on the play after reaching base on an error and advancing to second on an illegal pitch.
The Abilene Christian offense came to life in the top of the fourth, loading the bases with no outs before a two-run single cut the Ball State edge to 3-2. However, some heads up play by the defense on the hit led to a pair outs as both the batter and the runner originally at first were caught in rundowns.
Ball State answered with a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the frame to reclaim a three-run lead at 5-2. Both runs scored on a bases-loaded, one-out error on a Houck grounder to short.
Following a 28-minute rain delay entering the top of the fifth, the guests on the scoreboard managed to load the bases once again with no outs. This time, however, they were only able to score one run on a RBI infield single, cutting the Ball State advantage to 5-3. Huber managed to induce a pair of grounders to get back-to-back force plays at home before striking out the final batter of the inning.
Huber would close the game from there; retiring six of the final eight batters she faced, including a strikeout to end the game. In picking up her first career complete game victory and improving to 3-0 on the year, Huber scattered seven hits over 7.0 innings while striking out three.
GAME 2 RECAP: North Dakota State 6 – Ball State 0
The second game was a pitcher's duel early, as both teams were held scoreless over the first three innings. Unfortunately, North Dakota State was able to break through for six runs in the top of the fourth and eventually win the game 6-0.
The Cardinals had a pair of chances to break onto the scoreboard early, putting runners on the corners with two outs in the second and putting two on with no outs in the third. However, the hosts on the scoreboard were unable to capitalize in either situation.
Following the six-run fourth, the Cardinals looked poised to answer in the bottom of the inning, starting with a one-out single by freshman left fielder Kennedy Wynn (New Albany, Ind./New Albany). Senior third baseman Amanda Arnett (Monroe, Mich./Monroe) then reached base on a NDSU error. Unfortunately, a strikeout and fly out ended the rally attempt.
Ball State had one more chance to cut into the Bisons' lead in the bottom of the sixth, loading the bases with two outs. However, NDSU's Jacquelyn Sertic struck out the final batter of the inning to end the threat and then retired the Cardinals in order in the seventh to secure the 6-0 victory.
Junior shortstop Brittany Hopper (Scottsdale, Ariz./Phoenix College) led the Ball State offense with a pair of hits in the game, while Labrador, Hogg, Wynn and Madison Lee (Cerritos, Calif./Cerritos) each tallied one hit.
Sophomore Aeshia Miles (Lawrenceville, Ga./Collins Hill) turned in a solid effort in relief, limiting North Dakota State to one hit over the game's final 3.1 innings.
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: Huber, Darcie (3-0)
L: Null, Hannah (1-4)
Batting:
RBI: Hamilton, Braegan 1 ; Matise, Nicole 2
SH: Huff, Casey-May 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Spivey, Alli 1 ; Hamilton, Braegan 1 ; Huff, Casey-May 1
HBP: Spivey, Alli 1 ; Clayton, Blair 1
Batting:
2B: Labrador, Maddy 1 ; Houck, Rachel 1 ; Hogg, Janae 1
RBI: Houck, Rachel 1 ; Hogg, Janae 2
SH: Wynn, Kennedy 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Labrador, Maddy 1 ; Houck, Rachel 2 ; Wynn, Kennedy 1 ; Huffman, Olivia 1
SB: Houck, Rachel 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
0
H
3
RBI
2
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
UTIL
/ SoftballINF/C
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
RHP
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
UTIL
/ Softball
INF/OF
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