Softball's Offense Scores 29 Runs in Saturday Sweep

NASHVILLE, TENN. - - It was a great day for Ball State softball's offense, which scored 29 runs and recorded a .565 batting average to close the Belmont/Tennessee State Invitational with five-inning wins over Tennessee State, 14-4, and St. Bonaventure, 15-0, Saturday afternoon at Tiger Field.

The Cardinals (18-9) opened the day with a dominating 14-4 (5) victory over the tournament co-host Tigers (3-23), scoring a then-season-high 14 runs and pounding out a then-season-best 16 hits. Ball State scored in all five innings versus Tennessee State, starting with a five-run first inning.

Freshman third baseman Stacy Payton powered Ball State's offense in the opener, blasting the first two home runs of her career and finishing the game with four RBIs and a pair of runs scored.

Payton's first home run was a two-run blast in the first inning, while her second was a solo shot in the third. She also added an RBI groundout in the Cardinals' six-run fourth.

Freshman shortstop Hailey Demnianiuk also had a strong opener, going 3-for-3 at the plate including a RBI double in the second inning. She also scored three runs.

Overall, 11 different Cardinals recorded at least one hit versus the Tigers, including junior catcher Olivia Huffman who blasted her first home run of the season in the fourth inning.

Ball State followed with an even better performance in the win over the Bonnies (4-11), scoring a season-high 15 runs on a season-best 19 hits. In addition, junior starting pitcher Aeshia Miles and sophomore reliever Alyssa Rothwell combined to throw a no-hitter.

The Cardinals opened the game with three runs in the first and never looked back, scoring 15 runs over the first four innings of the contest.

Senior second baseman Maddy Labrador led the Cardinals with a 4-for-5 effort at the plate, including a pair of home runs. She also finished the game with team-highs of four RBI and four runs scored.

Labrador's first home run was a solo shot down the left field line in the second inning, while her second was a two-run blast in the third. Labrador just missed her third home run of the game, blasting a RBI double off the wall in right field in the fourth.

Payton also continued her hot hitting in the nightcap, going 3-for-3 with three more RBIs and a run scored. Her first two RBIs came on a bases loaded single in the first, while her third came courtesy of a double in the fourth.

Overall, nine different Cardinals recorded at least one hit versus the Bonnies, including two hits apiece from sophomore left fielder Haley Dominique, sophomore first baseman Janae Hogg, sophomore outfielder Kennedy Wynn, junior catcher Madison Lee and freshman center fielder Katie Janiga.

One of Hogg's two hits was her league-leading 10th home run of the season.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
• Ball State scored at least one run in nine of the 10 innings it played Saturday, including all five innings versus Tennessee State and the first four versus St. Bonaventure.

• Ball State's 29 combined runs are the most for the Cardinals in back-to-back games since 2013 when the team posted a 20-3 win over Grambing State (Feb. 22) and a 9-3 victory over Northern Iowa (Feb. 23).

• The Cardinals finished the day with a .565 team batting average, with 13 of the 14 players who logged an at bat recording at least one hit. Stacy Payton and Maddy Labrador led the offense with five hits apiece.

• Freshman center fielder Katie Janiga paced the Ball State offense with a .750 batting average, going 3-for-4 at the plate over the two games including her first career multi-hit game versus St. Bonaventure.

• Ball State's sluggers combined for six home runs, with two apiece from Stacy Payton and Maddy Labrador, as well as one each from Janae Hogg and Olivia Huffman.

• Stacy Payton entered Saturday with just six RBIs on the year. She more than doubled that total Saturday, with seven combined RBIs in the team's wins over Tennessee State and St. Bonaventure.

• Ball State's pitching staff turned in its second no-hitter of the season in the win over St. Bonaventure, with Aeshia Miles throwing the first three innings and Alyssa Rothwell throwing the final two. Miles struck out one batter in the game, while Rothwell fanned four, including three in the fifth inning. Miles threw Ball State's first no-hitter in a six-inning win over Robert Morris (March 2).

NEXT UP
The Ball State softball team returns to action Wednesday when it travels to Butler for a scheduled 4 p.m. first pitch versus the Bulldogs.

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

Softball's Offense Scores 29 Runs in Saturday Sweep

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Team Stats

Hailey Demnianiuk

Haley Dominique

Stacy Payton

Olivia Huffman

Players Mentioned

Hailey Demnianiuk

Haley Dominique

Janae Hogg

Olivia Huffman

Katie Janiga

Maddy Labrador

Madison Lee

Aeshia Miles

Stacy Payton

Alyssa Rothwell

Kennedy Wynn

Players Mentioned

Hailey Demnianiuk

Haley Dominique

Janae Hogg

Olivia Huffman

Katie Janiga

Maddy Labrador

Madison Lee

Aeshia Miles

Stacy Payton

Alyssa Rothwell

Kennedy Wynn