Friday, February 23
Greenville, NC
12:30 PM
Ball State University
6-2
2
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Canisius
1-10
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3
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5
6
7
R
H
E
Ball State
0
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7
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Canisius
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3
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Photo by: Tessa Mortensen
Strong Pitching Leads Softball to Friday Sweep at ECU Pirate Invite
February 23, 2018 | Softball
GREENVILLE, N.C. - - It was a good Friday for the Ball State softball team, which opened the day with a 2-0 shutout victory over Canisius and capped the afternoon with a 4-1 come-from-behind win over ECU to open play in the ECU Pirate Invitational.
The common denominator in both games, strong performances from the Cardinals (7-2) pitching staff. Combined, Ball State's pitchers allowed just one run, surrendered only 10 hits and struck out 13 batters over 14.0 innings of work. That equates to a 0.50 ERA and a .200 opponent's batting average on the day.
The day started with senior pitcher Carolyn Wilmes dominating the Golden Griffins (1-10), limiting the designated home team to three hits over 6.0 innings of work. In improving to 4-1 on the year, Wilmes chalked up six strikeouts to raise her career total to 227 which ranks 11th in program history.
The nightcap saw junior pitcher Aeshia Miles improve to 3-1 on the year by limiting the host Pirates (6-5) to just six hits and one earned run over 6.1 innings of work. She struck out four batters in the game, and also worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth inning.
Bringing both wins together was sophomore reliever Alyssa Rothwell who earned a pair of saves with two strong outings. In the win over Canisius, Rothwell struck out the side in the seventh for her second save of the season. In the victory over ECU, Rothwell forced back-to-back fly outs to end the game and earn her third save of the year.
Offensively, the Cardinals scored two runs on seven hits versus Canisius, while tallying four runs on 10 hits versus ECU.
Freshman shortstop Hailey Demnianiuk and sophomore center fielder Kennedy Wynn connected for three hits each over the course of the day, while five different Cardinals recorded at least one RBI, led by two from senior first baseman Danae King.
Ball State's biggest hit of the day came in the top of the seventh versus ECU, when sophomore left fielder Haley Dominique belted a no-doubter down the right field line to spark a four-run rally in the inning.
The Ball State softball team continues play in the ECU Pirate Invitational Saturday with games versus Saint Francis (10 a.m.) and ECU (12:30 p.m.).
GAME ONE RECAP: Ball State 2 - Canisius 0
In an early-season pitchers' duel, the Cardinals and Golden Griffins were held to one hit apiece over the first three innings.
However, the Cardinals were able to capitalize on a leadoff walk to senior second baseman Maddy Labrador in the top of the fourth, when Wynn doubled to right-center plating the first run of the game.
Two batters later, junior right fielder/designated player Madison Lee sliced a single to the right-center field gap driving in Wynn for what turned out to be the second and final run of the game.
Canisius would respond by putting runners on second and third with one out in the bottom of the frame. Wilmes regained control with a strikeout, and after hitting a batter to load the bases, was able to force a harmless grounder to Labrador which led to the final out on runner interference.
Wilmes would go on to limit the Golden Griffins to one base runner over the next two innings, while Rothwell came in and struck out the side in the bottom of the seventh to complete the win.
GAME TWO RECAP: Ball State 4 - ECU 1
Ball State looked poised to gain control of the second game early, loading the bases in both the first and third innings.
However, the Cardinals could not come up with a key hit early, as they stranded the bases loaded both times and left a total of nine runners on base over the first six innings.
While the Cardinals could not come up with a key hit early, the team's defense was on point starting with huge double play in the bottom of the second. With no outs and runners at second and third, Dominique made an impressive diving catch on a fly to shallow left field and was able to double-up the runner at third with a solid throw in.
Unfortunately, ECU would go on to score the game's first run in the bottom of the third after a one-out single, a wild pitch and stolen base helped the Pirates put a runner on third. A sacrifice fly followed, giving the hosts a 1-0 edge.
Ball State was able to stop another ECU rally in the fifth, as the hosts loaded the bases with two outs, only to end the threat with fly out to center field.
The Cardinals came up with another big double play in the bottom of the sixth after a leadoff single to open the inning. On a sacrifice bunt by the next batter, the runner going to second rounded too far and was caught in a rundown to complete the 1-4-2-6 double play.
Down to their final three outs, the Cardinals offense came to life with one swing of the bat, as Dominique blasted her second career home run over the netting down the right field line to open the top of the seventh.
After a one-out walk to sophomore designated player Janae Hogg, ECU looked poised to limit the damage with a fly to right field. However, Demnianiuk kept the inning alive with a two-out single to right-center and junior catcher Olivia Huffman dropped a RBI single into shallow center field to drive in what proved to be the game-winning run.
The two-out rally did not stop there, however, as King drove in two more runs with a double to left-center field.
Miles was solid in the circle throughout the game, limiting the Pirates to six hits and one run, while Rothwell came in to get the final two outs and pick up her third save in as many appearances.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State softball, follow the team on Twitter: @BallStateSB, @CoachCBartlett & @BallStateSports / Instagram: ballstatesb / Facebook: BallStateSB.
The common denominator in both games, strong performances from the Cardinals (7-2) pitching staff. Combined, Ball State's pitchers allowed just one run, surrendered only 10 hits and struck out 13 batters over 14.0 innings of work. That equates to a 0.50 ERA and a .200 opponent's batting average on the day.
The day started with senior pitcher Carolyn Wilmes dominating the Golden Griffins (1-10), limiting the designated home team to three hits over 6.0 innings of work. In improving to 4-1 on the year, Wilmes chalked up six strikeouts to raise her career total to 227 which ranks 11th in program history.
The nightcap saw junior pitcher Aeshia Miles improve to 3-1 on the year by limiting the host Pirates (6-5) to just six hits and one earned run over 6.1 innings of work. She struck out four batters in the game, and also worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth inning.
Bringing both wins together was sophomore reliever Alyssa Rothwell who earned a pair of saves with two strong outings. In the win over Canisius, Rothwell struck out the side in the seventh for her second save of the season. In the victory over ECU, Rothwell forced back-to-back fly outs to end the game and earn her third save of the year.
Offensively, the Cardinals scored two runs on seven hits versus Canisius, while tallying four runs on 10 hits versus ECU.
Freshman shortstop Hailey Demnianiuk and sophomore center fielder Kennedy Wynn connected for three hits each over the course of the day, while five different Cardinals recorded at least one RBI, led by two from senior first baseman Danae King.
Ball State's biggest hit of the day came in the top of the seventh versus ECU, when sophomore left fielder Haley Dominique belted a no-doubter down the right field line to spark a four-run rally in the inning.
The Ball State softball team continues play in the ECU Pirate Invitational Saturday with games versus Saint Francis (10 a.m.) and ECU (12:30 p.m.).
GAME ONE RECAP: Ball State 2 - Canisius 0
In an early-season pitchers' duel, the Cardinals and Golden Griffins were held to one hit apiece over the first three innings.
However, the Cardinals were able to capitalize on a leadoff walk to senior second baseman Maddy Labrador in the top of the fourth, when Wynn doubled to right-center plating the first run of the game.
Two batters later, junior right fielder/designated player Madison Lee sliced a single to the right-center field gap driving in Wynn for what turned out to be the second and final run of the game.
Canisius would respond by putting runners on second and third with one out in the bottom of the frame. Wilmes regained control with a strikeout, and after hitting a batter to load the bases, was able to force a harmless grounder to Labrador which led to the final out on runner interference.
Wilmes would go on to limit the Golden Griffins to one base runner over the next two innings, while Rothwell came in and struck out the side in the bottom of the seventh to complete the win.
GAME TWO RECAP: Ball State 4 - ECU 1
Ball State looked poised to gain control of the second game early, loading the bases in both the first and third innings.
However, the Cardinals could not come up with a key hit early, as they stranded the bases loaded both times and left a total of nine runners on base over the first six innings.
While the Cardinals could not come up with a key hit early, the team's defense was on point starting with huge double play in the bottom of the second. With no outs and runners at second and third, Dominique made an impressive diving catch on a fly to shallow left field and was able to double-up the runner at third with a solid throw in.
Unfortunately, ECU would go on to score the game's first run in the bottom of the third after a one-out single, a wild pitch and stolen base helped the Pirates put a runner on third. A sacrifice fly followed, giving the hosts a 1-0 edge.
Ball State was able to stop another ECU rally in the fifth, as the hosts loaded the bases with two outs, only to end the threat with fly out to center field.
The Cardinals came up with another big double play in the bottom of the sixth after a leadoff single to open the inning. On a sacrifice bunt by the next batter, the runner going to second rounded too far and was caught in a rundown to complete the 1-4-2-6 double play.
Down to their final three outs, the Cardinals offense came to life with one swing of the bat, as Dominique blasted her second career home run over the netting down the right field line to open the top of the seventh.
After a one-out walk to sophomore designated player Janae Hogg, ECU looked poised to limit the damage with a fly to right field. However, Demnianiuk kept the inning alive with a two-out single to right-center and junior catcher Olivia Huffman dropped a RBI single into shallow center field to drive in what proved to be the game-winning run.
The two-out rally did not stop there, however, as King drove in two more runs with a double to left-center field.
Miles was solid in the circle throughout the game, limiting the Pirates to six hits and one run, while Rothwell came in to get the final two outs and pick up her third save in as many appearances.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State softball, follow the team on Twitter: @BallStateSB, @CoachCBartlett & @BallStateSports / Instagram: ballstatesb / Facebook: BallStateSB.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Wilmes, Carolyn (4-1)
L: Castro, Lauren (0-3)
S: Rothwell, Alyssa (2)
Batting:
2B: Wynn, Kennedy 1
RBI: Wynn, Kennedy 1 ; Lee, Madison 1
SH: Huffman, Olivia 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Labrador, Maddy 1 ; Wynn, Kennedy 1
CS: O'Donnell, Cadie 1
Base Running:
SB: Hufford, Erin 2 ; Castro, Lauren 1 ; Barnett, Ashley 1
CS: Hufford, Erin 1
HBP: Degaltini, Gianna 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
rf/dp
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
INF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballC
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
RHP
/ SoftballINF/OF
/ SoftballSoftball // Workouts
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