Wednesday, April 12
DeKalb, IL
3pm
Ball State University
25-19, 9-3
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Northern Illinois University
19-15, 7-5
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7
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Ball State
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Northern Illinois
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X
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7
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Photo by: Buddy Delahoussaye
Softball Falls Short in Another Rally Attempt at Northern Illinois
April 12, 2017 | Softball
DEKALB, Ill. – After scoring a pair of walk-off wins in an April 4 home doubleheader versus Northern Illinois, the Ball State softball team brought the tying run to the plate in the seventh inning Wednesday in DeKalb, but could not come through with a key hit in a 6-3 loss at Mary M. Bell Field.
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Despite the loss, the Cardinals remain in first place in the Mid-American Conference with a 9-3 league record. Ball State, which is now 25-19 on the year, has won all four league series it has played.
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The Cardinals struck first in the series finale versus the Huskies (19-15; 7-5 MAC) thanks in part to some heads up base running from freshman left fielder Haley Dominique (Oregon, Ohio/Clay). Dominique opened the game with a one-out double and advanced to third on a fielder's choice by diving under and then dancing around a tag attempt from NIU's third baseman.
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Freshman third baseman Janae Hogg (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral) capitalized with the runner at third, pushing home the first run of the game with a RBI single into left field.
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The Huskies answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning, only to see the Cardinals reclaim the lead at 2-1 in the top of the second on a RBI single from Dominique. Sophomore designated player Madison Lee (Cerritos, Calif./Cerritos) scored on the play after walking to open the inning and advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt.
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Ball State would go on to load the bases in the inning, but could not capitalize as a foul out ended the rally attempt. The stranded runners would come back to haunt the Cardinals, as Northern Illinois scored three runs in the bottom of the inning to pull ahead 4-2.
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After Ball State stranded a two more runners in the third inning, junior pitcher Carolyn Wilmes (Evansville, Ind./Matre Dei) entered the game in relief in the bottom of the frame. After striking out the first batter she faced, Wilmes gave up a single and two-run home run as NIU pulled ahead 6-2. Wilmes recovered quickly, however, and struck out the final two batters of the inning.
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Wilmes added two more strikeouts to open the fourth and two more in the fifth, while retiring the side in order in both frames. She finished the contest with seven strikeouts over 3.0 innings of work, two shy of her career-high nine strikeouts set last Saturday in the series opener at Ohio.
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Sophomore pitcher Aeshia Miles (Lawrenceville, Ga./Collins Hill) would also retire the Huskies in order in the bottom of the sixth, keeping the margin 6-2 heading into the final inning.
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Down to its final three outs, the Cardinals wasted little time making the Huskies nervous as senior center fielder Rachel Houck (Greenfield, Ind./Louisville) added a fresh dent to the Mary M. Bell Field scoreboard with her 11th home run of the season. Two outs later, walks to freshman right fielder Kennedy Wynn (New Albany, Ind./New Albany) and Lee brought the tying run to the plate.
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After giving up a pair of walk-off, come-from-behind wins to the Cardinals last week, the Huskies would hold on to claim the victory as a called strike on a 2-2 pitch ended the game.
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Freshman Darcie Huber (Greenfield, Ind./Greenfield Central) suffered the loss in the circle for the Cardinals, falling to 7-6 on the year after allowing four runs on five hits and three walks over the first two innings.
The Ball State softball team returns to action Friday, when it opens a three-game home series versus Eastern Michigan with a scheduled 3 p.m. first pitch at the Softball Field at First Merchants Ballpark Complex. The teams are also scheduled to play a 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday to close the series.
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For the most up-to-date news on Ball State softball, follow the team on Twitter: @BallStateSB, @CoachCBartlett & @BallStateSports / Instagram: ballstatesb / Facebook: BallStateSoftball.
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- BallStateSports.com –
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Despite the loss, the Cardinals remain in first place in the Mid-American Conference with a 9-3 league record. Ball State, which is now 25-19 on the year, has won all four league series it has played.
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The Cardinals struck first in the series finale versus the Huskies (19-15; 7-5 MAC) thanks in part to some heads up base running from freshman left fielder Haley Dominique (Oregon, Ohio/Clay). Dominique opened the game with a one-out double and advanced to third on a fielder's choice by diving under and then dancing around a tag attempt from NIU's third baseman.
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Freshman third baseman Janae Hogg (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral) capitalized with the runner at third, pushing home the first run of the game with a RBI single into left field.
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The Huskies answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning, only to see the Cardinals reclaim the lead at 2-1 in the top of the second on a RBI single from Dominique. Sophomore designated player Madison Lee (Cerritos, Calif./Cerritos) scored on the play after walking to open the inning and advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt.
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Ball State would go on to load the bases in the inning, but could not capitalize as a foul out ended the rally attempt. The stranded runners would come back to haunt the Cardinals, as Northern Illinois scored three runs in the bottom of the inning to pull ahead 4-2.
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After Ball State stranded a two more runners in the third inning, junior pitcher Carolyn Wilmes (Evansville, Ind./Matre Dei) entered the game in relief in the bottom of the frame. After striking out the first batter she faced, Wilmes gave up a single and two-run home run as NIU pulled ahead 6-2. Wilmes recovered quickly, however, and struck out the final two batters of the inning.
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Wilmes added two more strikeouts to open the fourth and two more in the fifth, while retiring the side in order in both frames. She finished the contest with seven strikeouts over 3.0 innings of work, two shy of her career-high nine strikeouts set last Saturday in the series opener at Ohio.
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Sophomore pitcher Aeshia Miles (Lawrenceville, Ga./Collins Hill) would also retire the Huskies in order in the bottom of the sixth, keeping the margin 6-2 heading into the final inning.
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Down to its final three outs, the Cardinals wasted little time making the Huskies nervous as senior center fielder Rachel Houck (Greenfield, Ind./Louisville) added a fresh dent to the Mary M. Bell Field scoreboard with her 11th home run of the season. Two outs later, walks to freshman right fielder Kennedy Wynn (New Albany, Ind./New Albany) and Lee brought the tying run to the plate.
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After giving up a pair of walk-off, come-from-behind wins to the Cardinals last week, the Huskies would hold on to claim the victory as a called strike on a 2-2 pitch ended the game.
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Freshman Darcie Huber (Greenfield, Ind./Greenfield Central) suffered the loss in the circle for the Cardinals, falling to 7-6 on the year after allowing four runs on five hits and three walks over the first two innings.
The Ball State softball team returns to action Friday, when it opens a three-game home series versus Eastern Michigan with a scheduled 3 p.m. first pitch at the Softball Field at First Merchants Ballpark Complex. The teams are also scheduled to play a 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday to close the series.
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For the most up-to-date news on Ball State softball, follow the team on Twitter: @BallStateSB, @CoachCBartlett & @BallStateSports / Instagram: ballstatesb / Facebook: BallStateSoftball.
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- BallStateSports.com –
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: THACKER, Tara (5-7)
L: Huber, Darcie (7-6)
Batting:
2B: Dominique, Haley 1
HR: Houck, Rachel 1
RBI: Dominique, Haley 1 ; Houck, Rachel 1 ; Hogg, Janae 1
SH: Hopper, Brittany 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Dominique, Haley 1 ; Houck, Rachel 1 ; Lee, Madison 1
Batting:
2B: GRABLE, Kayti 1
HR: SCHMIDT, Sam 1
RBI: HARNISH, Bekah 1 ; GRABLE, Kayti 3 ; SCHMIDT, Sam 2
Base Running:
RUNS: RIO, Jessica 2 ; HARNISH, Bekah 1 ; LAMICH, Katie 1 ; SCHMIDT, Sam 1 ; VAN GEERTRY, Jenny 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
1
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ SoftballINF/C
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
RHP
/ SoftballC
/ Softball
UTIL
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
INF/OF
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