Another Big Inning Lifts Softball to Saturday Win at ECU

GREENVILLE, N.C. - - For the second time in as many days, the Ball State softball team used a big inning to defeat tournament host ECU, scoring seven runs in the fourth on the way to a 7-2 victory to close play on the second day of the ECU Pirate Invitational.

After seeing its four-game winning streak snapped with a 4-1 morning loss to Saint Francis, the Cardinals (8-3) rebounded with their second come-from-behind win over the Pirates (6-7) in as many days.

Trailing 1-0 entering the top of the fourth, the Cardinals rattled off six straight hits to open inning and take control of the game. The biggest hit was a three-run blast off the netting in left field by junior catcher Madison Lee.

Overall, the Cardinals pounded out nine hits in the win, with three coming off the bat of Lee.

Senior pitcher Carolyn Wilmes picked up the win versus the Pirates, improving to 5-1 on the year after surrendering just four hits and two runs (one earned) over 6.0 innings of work.

In the morning game versus the Red Flash (8-5), Ball State's top two batters in in the lineup, sophomore left fielder Haley Dominique and freshman shortstop Hailey Demnianiuk, combined for five hits and two walks. Unfortunately, the Cardinals could only come up with one run in the loss.

The Ball State softball team closes play in the ECU Pirate Invitational Sunday morning with a scheduled 9 p.m. first pitch versus Canisius. The Cardinals opened play in North Carolina with a 2-0 win over the Golden Griffins Friday.

GAME ONE RECAP: Saint Francis 4 - Ball State 1

The Red Flash broke onto the scoreboard first in Saturday's morning tilt, posting a pair of runs in the top of the third inning.

Ball State responded in the bottom of the frame, starting with a leadoff walk to freshman right fielder Kendall Fields. With freshman pinch runner Katie Janiga at first, a sacrifice bunt from junior catcher Olivia Huffman pushed Janiga into scoring position at second.

Dominique followed with an infield single to give the Cardinals a pair of base runners, while Demnianiuk smashed an RBI double over the SFU left fielder to give Ball State its first run of the game.

Unfortunately, it would be the only run for Ball State, as a popup and strikeout ended the inning.

Saint Francis tacked on two more runs in the top of the fifth, pushing the score to 4-1.

Ball State tried to answer once again in the bottom of the frame, but the Cardinals could not capitalize on a one-out single by Dominique followed by a walk to Demnianiuk.

The top of the order tried to give the Cardinals life again with two outs in the seventh, as a Dominique double and another Demnianiuk walk brought the tying run to the plate for the second time in three innings. Unfortunately, a fly to center field ended the game.

Junior pitcher Aeshia Miles suffered the loss versus SFU, falling to 3-2 on the year after allowing six hits and four runs, three of which were earned, over 4.1 innings.

Sophomore Alyssa Rothwell threw the final 2.2 innings, limiting the Red Flash to one hit while striking out four.

GAME TWO RECAP: Ball State 7 - ECU 2

After seeing the Cardinals rally for four runs in the seventh inning Friday night, ECU started Saturday's game with a single, sacrifice bunt and RBI double to pull ahead 1-0 in the bottom of the first.

Ball State, which was limited to a hit batter in the top of the first, a Lee single in the second and a Dominique walk in the third, went on to explode for seven runs and seven hits in the fourth inning.

Sophomore center fielder Kennedy Wynn started the inning with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Senior second baseman Maddy Labrador tied the score on the next at bat, singling up the middle to plate Wynn.

Senior first baseman Danae King followed with a single to put runners on the corners, setting up Lee's three-run blast to left field.

Freshman third baseman Stacy Payton kept the rally going with a single to third base, while a bunt single from Janiga and an ECU wild pitch moved both Cardinals into scoring position. The Pirated were finally able to get the first out of the inning on the next play, but it was an RBI groundout from Demnianiuk giving Ball State a 5-1 advantage.

Dominique followed with a walk and moved to second on a wild pitch, while sophomore designated player Janae Hogg capped the scoring with a two-run single up the middle.

While ECU was able to score an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth, Ball State went on to win the game 7-2 as Wilmes retired the side in order in the sixth and Rothwell retired the final three batters she faced in the seventh.

For the most up-to-date news on Ball State softball, follow the team on Twitter: @BallStateSB, @CoachCBartlett & @BallStateSports / Instagram: ballstatesb / Facebook: BallStateSB.

Another Big Inning Lifts Softball to Saturday Win at ECU

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Team Stats

Haley Dominique

Hailey Demnianiuk

Maddy Labrador

Annie Robinson

Players Mentioned

Hailey Demnianiuk

Haley Dominique

Kendall Fields

Janae Hogg

Olivia Huffman

Katie Janiga

Danae King

Maddy Labrador

Madison Lee

Aeshia Miles

Stacy Payton

Alyssa Rothwell

Carolyn Wilmes

Kennedy Wynn

Players Mentioned

Hailey Demnianiuk

Haley Dominique

Kendall Fields

Janae Hogg

Olivia Huffman

Katie Janiga

Danae King

Maddy Labrador

Madison Lee

Aeshia Miles

Stacy Payton

Alyssa Rothwell

Carolyn Wilmes

Kennedy Wynn