Friday, March 2
Kissimmee, Fla.
12:00 PM
Ball State University
9-4
3
vs
11
Fordham
2-9
1
2
3
4
5
6
R
H
E
Ball State
0
0
0
3
0
0
3
5
0
Fordham
1
0
1
3
5
1
11
13
1
Photo by: Robert Goldberg
Miles' No-Hitter Leads Softball to 8-0 (6) Win Over Robert Morris
March 02, 2018 | Softball
KISSIMMEE, FLA. - - Junior pitcher Aeshia Miles throw her first career no-hitter, leading the Ball State softball team to an 8-0 (6) win over Robert Morris to close the opening day of the Citrus Classic II at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
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Miles retired the first 17 batters she faced before issuing a walk, the Colonials (3-7) only base runner of the game, then responded with the final out to lock up her first career complete game shutout. She struck out five batters over her 6.0 innings of work, and also had a solid game on defense, logging one putout and four assists.
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"Aeshia's performance was really cool to watch," head coach Megan Ciolli Bartlett said. "She had great command of the ball and was in the driver's seat the entire game. She was able to put the ball on a dime and turned in a tremendous performance against a tough Robert Morris squad. Aeshia is gritty, tough and never backs down from a challenge."
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Sophomore Haley Dominique sparked the Cardinals (10-4) offense in the victory, blasting her first career grand slam in the second and adding a RBI single over the RMU shortstop's head in the sixth to complete the run rule. Dominique added Ball State's first triple of the season in the tournament-opener versus Fordham and finished the day 4-for-8 with a team-high five RBIs.
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"Haley is so much more powerful than when she first got here," Bartlett said. "Her freshman year, she was extremely proficient at smacking the ball through the five-six hole. Now, she has the ability to use the entire field and is hitting for some good power. The biggest difference in her game this year is she is so much more powerful. She has done a tremendous job in the weight room, getting stronger, faster and more explosive."
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The Cardinals opened play in the Citrus Classic II with an 11-3 (6) loss to the Rams. After falling behind 2-0, the Ball State rallied to take a 3-2 lead with another explosive fourth inning.
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Unfortunately, Fordham responded with nine unanswered runs as freshman pitcher Paige Rauch locked down the Cardinals' offense the rest of the game. She also hit a pair of home runs on the day.
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"The hitters faced a very tough pitcher in the first game versus Fordham," Bartlett said. "We were grinding through at bats and were able to push a couple runs across the plate. Unfortunately, as we were starting to get some momentum offensively, we didn't pitch the way we wanted to which handcuffed us late in the game.
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"It was nice to see the hitters to bounce back like that in game two. The most exciting part was seeing our players have their own standard of performance. We take a lot of pride in what we do. We know we are very talented offensively, and we expect to perform at a high level."
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The Ball State softball team continues play in the Citrus Classic II Saturday with a 10 a.m. game versus Delaware, followed by a 12:30 exhibition contest against the Czech Republic.
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GAME 1 RECAP - Fordham 11 - Ball State 3 (6)
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For the third time in as many games, the Cardinals used an explosive fourth inning to try to take control of a game.
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After yielding single runs in both the first and third innings, falling behind 2-0, the Ball State offense responded with three runs in the top of the fourth. Sophomore designated player Janae Hogg opened the inning with a walk, and freshman pinch runner Taylor Castleberry came around to score the Cardinals' first run of the game on a double from sophomore center fielder Kennedy Wynn.
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Senior second baseman Maddy Labrador caught the Fordham defense off guard in the next at bat, perfectly executing a squeeze bunt for a RBI single. After a walk to junior right fielder Madison Lee, a wild pitch advanced both Ball State base runners into scoring position. Freshman third baseman Stacy Payton followed with a RBI groundout to give the Cardinals the lead.
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It was a short-lived lead, however, as the Rams answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning, five runs in the fifth and one more in the sixth to complete the victory.
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One highlight for the Cardinals in the sixth, was senior Brittany Hopper making her first career appearance in the circle and catching Rauch looking for the first out of the inning.
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GAME 2 RECAP - Ball State 8 - Robert Morris 0 (6)
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Following a scoreless first inning, the Cardinals attacked for five runs in the bottom of the second. Wynn walked to open the inning and came around to score the game's first run on a RBI double from Labrador. Lee was hit by the next pitch, and two outs later, freshman center fielder Katie Janiga was hit by another to load the bases. Dominique then launched a no-doubter over the left field fence to make it a 5-0 ball game.
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With Miles shutting down the Colonials offense, Ball State added another run on a leadoff home run from Hogg in the third.
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The Cardinals' seventh run came courtesy of Labrador's second RBI double of the game in the fifth, as her two-out hit to left-center field drove in pinch runner Castleberry from third.
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With bases loaded and no outs in the sixth, Dominique ended the game with a blooper just over the RMU shortstop's head to drive in senior pinch runner Cadie O'Donnell.
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Freshman pinch hitter Kendall Fields opened the inning with a single and was replaced by O'Donnell. Junior designated player Annie Robinson followed with a double, and a walk to junior pinch hitter Olivia Huffman loaded the bases setting up the RBI blooper.
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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: BallStateSB.
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Miles retired the first 17 batters she faced before issuing a walk, the Colonials (3-7) only base runner of the game, then responded with the final out to lock up her first career complete game shutout. She struck out five batters over her 6.0 innings of work, and also had a solid game on defense, logging one putout and four assists.
Â
"Aeshia's performance was really cool to watch," head coach Megan Ciolli Bartlett said. "She had great command of the ball and was in the driver's seat the entire game. She was able to put the ball on a dime and turned in a tremendous performance against a tough Robert Morris squad. Aeshia is gritty, tough and never backs down from a challenge."
Â
Sophomore Haley Dominique sparked the Cardinals (10-4) offense in the victory, blasting her first career grand slam in the second and adding a RBI single over the RMU shortstop's head in the sixth to complete the run rule. Dominique added Ball State's first triple of the season in the tournament-opener versus Fordham and finished the day 4-for-8 with a team-high five RBIs.
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"Haley is so much more powerful than when she first got here," Bartlett said. "Her freshman year, she was extremely proficient at smacking the ball through the five-six hole. Now, she has the ability to use the entire field and is hitting for some good power. The biggest difference in her game this year is she is so much more powerful. She has done a tremendous job in the weight room, getting stronger, faster and more explosive."
Â
The Cardinals opened play in the Citrus Classic II with an 11-3 (6) loss to the Rams. After falling behind 2-0, the Ball State rallied to take a 3-2 lead with another explosive fourth inning.
Â
Unfortunately, Fordham responded with nine unanswered runs as freshman pitcher Paige Rauch locked down the Cardinals' offense the rest of the game. She also hit a pair of home runs on the day.
Â
"The hitters faced a very tough pitcher in the first game versus Fordham," Bartlett said. "We were grinding through at bats and were able to push a couple runs across the plate. Unfortunately, as we were starting to get some momentum offensively, we didn't pitch the way we wanted to which handcuffed us late in the game.
Â
"It was nice to see the hitters to bounce back like that in game two. The most exciting part was seeing our players have their own standard of performance. We take a lot of pride in what we do. We know we are very talented offensively, and we expect to perform at a high level."
Â
The Ball State softball team continues play in the Citrus Classic II Saturday with a 10 a.m. game versus Delaware, followed by a 12:30 exhibition contest against the Czech Republic.
Â
GAME 1 RECAP - Fordham 11 - Ball State 3 (6)
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For the third time in as many games, the Cardinals used an explosive fourth inning to try to take control of a game.
Â
After yielding single runs in both the first and third innings, falling behind 2-0, the Ball State offense responded with three runs in the top of the fourth. Sophomore designated player Janae Hogg opened the inning with a walk, and freshman pinch runner Taylor Castleberry came around to score the Cardinals' first run of the game on a double from sophomore center fielder Kennedy Wynn.
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Senior second baseman Maddy Labrador caught the Fordham defense off guard in the next at bat, perfectly executing a squeeze bunt for a RBI single. After a walk to junior right fielder Madison Lee, a wild pitch advanced both Ball State base runners into scoring position. Freshman third baseman Stacy Payton followed with a RBI groundout to give the Cardinals the lead.
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It was a short-lived lead, however, as the Rams answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning, five runs in the fifth and one more in the sixth to complete the victory.
Â
One highlight for the Cardinals in the sixth, was senior Brittany Hopper making her first career appearance in the circle and catching Rauch looking for the first out of the inning.
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GAME 2 RECAP - Ball State 8 - Robert Morris 0 (6)
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Following a scoreless first inning, the Cardinals attacked for five runs in the bottom of the second. Wynn walked to open the inning and came around to score the game's first run on a RBI double from Labrador. Lee was hit by the next pitch, and two outs later, freshman center fielder Katie Janiga was hit by another to load the bases. Dominique then launched a no-doubter over the left field fence to make it a 5-0 ball game.
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With Miles shutting down the Colonials offense, Ball State added another run on a leadoff home run from Hogg in the third.
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The Cardinals' seventh run came courtesy of Labrador's second RBI double of the game in the fifth, as her two-out hit to left-center field drove in pinch runner Castleberry from third.
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With bases loaded and no outs in the sixth, Dominique ended the game with a blooper just over the RMU shortstop's head to drive in senior pinch runner Cadie O'Donnell.
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Freshman pinch hitter Kendall Fields opened the inning with a single and was replaced by O'Donnell. Junior designated player Annie Robinson followed with a double, and a walk to junior pinch hitter Olivia Huffman loaded the bases setting up the RBI blooper.
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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: BallStateSB.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: RAUCH, Paige (2-0)
L: Wilmes, Carolyn (5-2)
Batting:
2B: Wynn, Kennedy 1
3B: Dominique, Haley 1
RBI: Wynn, Kennedy 1 ; Labrador, Maddy 1 ; Payton, Stacy 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Castleberry, Taylor 1 ; Wynn, Kennedy 1 ; Labrador, Maddy 1
HBP: Demnianiuk, Hailey 1 ; Labrador, Maddy 1 ; Huffman, Olivia 1
Batting:
2B: JOHNSTON, Skylar 1
HR: RAUCH, Paige 2 ; JOHNSTON, Skylar 1
RBI: RAUCH, Paige 2 ; BURBRIDGE, Deanna 1 ; JOHNSTON, Skylar 3 ; SHAW, Madi 1 ; BRIGHT, Kelly 1 ; SKREPENAK, Chelsea 1
SH: BURBRIDGE, Deanna 1
Base Running:
RUNS: RAUCH, Paige 3 ; BURBRIDGE, Deanna 2 ; JOHNSTON, Skylar 2 ; SHAW, Madi 1 ; STORM, Jordy 1 ; SKREPENAK, Chelsea 1 ; AUGHINBAUGH, Madie 1
HBP: STORM, Jordy 1 ; QUENSE, Lauren 2
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
OF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballINF/OF
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