Friday, April 14
Muncie, IN
3pm
Ball State University
26-19, 10-3
8
vs
0
Eastern Michigan University
14-24, 2-11
1
2
3
4
5
6
R
H
E
Eastern Michigan
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
2
Ball State
0
0
4
0
2
2
8
12
0
Photo by: Ball State University Creative Services
Softball Remains Perfect at Home with 8-0 Win Over EMU
April 14, 2017 | Softball
MUNCIE, Ind. – Junior pitcher Carolyn Wilmes (Evansville, Ind./Matre Dei) tied her career high with nine strikeouts, while sophomore catcher Olivia Huffman (Woodbury, Minn./South Dakota) drove in four runs to guide the Ball State softball team to an 8-0 (6 inn.) victory over Eastern Michigan Friday afternoon at the Softball Field at First Merchants Ballpark Complex.
Â
With the win, the Cardinals improve to 7-0 in home games this season and maintain the top spot in the Mid-American Conference standings with a 10-3 league ledger. Ball State is currently 26-19 on the year.
Â
It was another outstanding start in the circle for Wilmes, who improved to 12-9 on the year by limiting the Eagles (14-24, 2-11 MAC) to five hits and no runs over 6.0 innings of work. In earning her fourth shutout victory of the year, Wilmes set the tone early by striking out a pair of batters in each of the first three innings, on her way to finishing the day with a career-high tying nine Ks.
Â
On offense, it was a was a third inning leadoff single by senior center fielder Rachel Houck (Greenfield, Ind./Louisville) which would get the Cardinals going. Houck followed by successfully stealing second and coming around to score after a pair of throwing errors by the Eastern Michigan defense. The stolen base was Houck's 13th of the year on 13 attempts.
Â
Freshman third baseman Janae Hogg (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral) followed with a double to center field, while a walk to junior second baseman Maddy Labrador (Lexington, S.C. / Spartanburg Methodist) gave Ball State a pair of base runners. The Cardinals would go on to load the bases with one out on a fielder's choice by sophomore designated player Madison Lee (Cerritos, Calif./Cerritos) and a walk to junior first baseman Danae King (Glendale, Ariz./Phoenix College).
Â
Labrador came around to score the second run of the inning when the throw home on a grounder to second by freshman right fielder Kennedy Wynn (New Albany, Ind./New Albany) was late, allowing the Cardinals to keep the bases loaded courtesy of the fielder's choice. Two batters later, Huffman provided her first two-run hit of the game with a double to right-center field.
Â
After a scoreless fourth inning, Huffman extended Ball State's lead to 6-0 with a two-run blast over the fence in left field in the bottom of the fifth. Freshman pinch runner Tara Morey (New Palestine, Ind./New Palestine) also scored on the long ball after replacing junior shortstop Brittany Hopper (Scottsdale, Ariz./Phoenix College) who kept the inning alive with a two-out walk. The home run was Huffman's second at the Softball Field at First Merchants Ballpark Complex this season.
Â
In all, the Cardinals out-hit the Eagles 11 to 5 on the day, with two hits apiece from Houck, Hogg, Hopper and Huffman.
Â
Ball State would go on to end the game with one out in the bottom of the sixth on a walk-off, two-run double from Lee. Hogg started the rally with her second double of the game, while Labrador drew her second walk of the day to give the Cardinals a pair of base runners. Lee then battled through a nine-pitch at bat to drive a 2-2 pitch to the center field fence to end the game.
Â
The Cardinals and Eagles return to action Saturday with a scheduled 1 p.m. doubleheader at the Softball Field at First Merchants Ballpark Complex. As always, admission to the games is free.
Â
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State softball, follow the team on Twitter: @BallStateSB, @CoachCBartlett & @BallStateSports / Instagram: ballstatesb / Facebook: BallStateSoftball.
Â
- BallStateSports.com –
Â
With the win, the Cardinals improve to 7-0 in home games this season and maintain the top spot in the Mid-American Conference standings with a 10-3 league ledger. Ball State is currently 26-19 on the year.
Â
It was another outstanding start in the circle for Wilmes, who improved to 12-9 on the year by limiting the Eagles (14-24, 2-11 MAC) to five hits and no runs over 6.0 innings of work. In earning her fourth shutout victory of the year, Wilmes set the tone early by striking out a pair of batters in each of the first three innings, on her way to finishing the day with a career-high tying nine Ks.
Â
On offense, it was a was a third inning leadoff single by senior center fielder Rachel Houck (Greenfield, Ind./Louisville) which would get the Cardinals going. Houck followed by successfully stealing second and coming around to score after a pair of throwing errors by the Eastern Michigan defense. The stolen base was Houck's 13th of the year on 13 attempts.
Â
Freshman third baseman Janae Hogg (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral) followed with a double to center field, while a walk to junior second baseman Maddy Labrador (Lexington, S.C. / Spartanburg Methodist) gave Ball State a pair of base runners. The Cardinals would go on to load the bases with one out on a fielder's choice by sophomore designated player Madison Lee (Cerritos, Calif./Cerritos) and a walk to junior first baseman Danae King (Glendale, Ariz./Phoenix College).
Â
Labrador came around to score the second run of the inning when the throw home on a grounder to second by freshman right fielder Kennedy Wynn (New Albany, Ind./New Albany) was late, allowing the Cardinals to keep the bases loaded courtesy of the fielder's choice. Two batters later, Huffman provided her first two-run hit of the game with a double to right-center field.
Â
After a scoreless fourth inning, Huffman extended Ball State's lead to 6-0 with a two-run blast over the fence in left field in the bottom of the fifth. Freshman pinch runner Tara Morey (New Palestine, Ind./New Palestine) also scored on the long ball after replacing junior shortstop Brittany Hopper (Scottsdale, Ariz./Phoenix College) who kept the inning alive with a two-out walk. The home run was Huffman's second at the Softball Field at First Merchants Ballpark Complex this season.
Â
In all, the Cardinals out-hit the Eagles 11 to 5 on the day, with two hits apiece from Houck, Hogg, Hopper and Huffman.
Â
Ball State would go on to end the game with one out in the bottom of the sixth on a walk-off, two-run double from Lee. Hogg started the rally with her second double of the game, while Labrador drew her second walk of the day to give the Cardinals a pair of base runners. Lee then battled through a nine-pitch at bat to drive a 2-2 pitch to the center field fence to end the game.
Â
The Cardinals and Eagles return to action Saturday with a scheduled 1 p.m. doubleheader at the Softball Field at First Merchants Ballpark Complex. As always, admission to the games is free.
Â
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State softball, follow the team on Twitter: @BallStateSB, @CoachCBartlett & @BallStateSports / Instagram: ballstatesb / Facebook: BallStateSoftball.
Â
- BallStateSports.com –
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Wilmes, Carolyn (12-9)
L: MIRANDA, Nicolle (4-7)
Batting:
2B: KRIEGSHAUSER, M 2
Batting:
2B: Hogg, Janae 2 ; Labrador, Maddy 1 ; Lee, Madison 1 ; Huffman, Olivia 1
HR: Huffman, Olivia 1
RBI: Lee, Madison 2 ; Wynn, Kennedy 1 ; Huffman, Olivia 4
Base Running:
RUNS: Houck, Rachel 1 ; O'Donnell, Cadie 1 ; Labrador, Maddy 2 ; Lee, Madison 1 ; King, Danae 1 ; Morey, Tara 1 ; Huffman, Olivia 1
SB: Houck, Rachel 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
4
Players Mentioned
INF/C
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballC
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
INF/OF
/ SoftballHomecoming // Cardinal Sinners! Presented by Gameday Spirit
Friday, October 17
Softball // Workouts
Wednesday, September 17
Ball State Director of Athletics Jeff Mitchell discusses the NCAA vs. House Settlement
Tuesday, July 01
Director of Athletics Jeff Mitchell discusses NCAA vs. House Settlement & Bill Richards Thank You
Friday, June 27