
Photo by: Tessa Mortensen
Softball Picks Up Pair of Friday Wins, Moves to 15-7 on the Year
March 09, 2018 | Softball
BOCA RATON, FLA. - - Powered by a seventh inning home run from sophomore designated player Janae Hogg, the Ball State softball team closed the second day of the FAU Parents' Weekend Tournament with a 7-6 come-from-behind win over Florida A&M Friday afternoon at the FAU Softball Stadium.
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It was the Cardinals' (15-7) second win of the day, as they started the morning with an 8-1 victory over LIU Brooklyn. With the win, Ball State improve to 2-0 on the year versus the Blackbirds (6-14) who they also defeated 10-2 (5) in the second game of the FGCU Kickoff Classic.
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In addition to her game-winning home run versus the Rattlers (5-14), Hogg went yard versus LIU Brooklyn, briefly tying the game 1-1 with a leadoff shot in the bottom of the fourth.
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Junior catcher Madison Lee followed Hogg's blast with a three-run shot of her own later in the inning and drove in a pivotal run in the sixth inning versus the Rattlers with a RBI groundout to cut FAMU's lead to 6-5. Lee led all Ball State players with four RBIs on the day.
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Meanwhile, freshman third baseman Stacy Payton paced the Ball State offense with three hits Friday, including a three-run double in the fifth inning versus the Blackbirds. Two of her hits came in the opener, while the other came in the nightcap.
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In the circle, junior Aeshia Miles improved to 8-3 on the year by picking up the win over LIU Brooklyn. Over 6.0 innings of work, she limited the Blackbirds to six hits and one earned run, while striking out six.
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The second game saw sophomore pitcher Alyssa Rothwell pick up the victory in relief, improving to 2-1 on the year, as she held FAMU to just one hit while striking out two over the final two innings.
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The Ball State softball team closes play in the FAU Parents' Weekend Tournament Saturday with a scheduled 9 a.m. first pitch versus No. 22 Michigan.
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GAME 1 RECAP: Ball State 8 – LIU Brooklyn 1
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Looking to avenge an early-season 10-2 (5) loss to the Cardinals, the Blackbirds broke onto the scoreboard first courtesy of a two-out RBI double in the top of the fourth inning.
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The lead was short-lived, however, as Hogg blasted the first pitch of the bottom of the inning over the fence in left-center field to tie the score at 1-1. The Cardinals then capitalized on a pair of LIU Brooklyn errors, as both senior second baseman Maddy Labrador and Payton reached on defensive miscues.
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Lee took advantage of the dual base runners, making it a 4-1 ball game with her second home run of the season, a three-run shot to left-center field.
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The Cardinals extended their lead to 8-1 with four more runs in the bottom of the fifth. Freshman shortstop Hailey Demnianiuk started the frame with a single, while a fielder's choice by Hogg put senior pinch runner Cadie O'Donnell at first.
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Labrador followed with a walk, while a single through the left side by sophomore right fielder Kennedy Wynn loaded the bases. Payton then cleared the bases with a three-run double to center field.
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Ball State's final run came across on a hard single to third by Lee, when the throw to first, which was not in time to get the out, was high and wide allowing Payton to score.
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Miles, meanwhile, continued to shine in the circle by limiting the Blackbirds to six hits and one earned run over 6.0 innings of work. She also struck out six batters, while issuing just one walk.
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GAME 2 RECAP: Ball State 7 – Florida A&M 6
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In a game that started as a pitchers' duel, Ball State struck first by capitalizing on a leadoff walk in the top of the second inning. Wynn drew the walk to open the inning, moved to second on a wild pitch and advanced to third on a Payton groundout. Demnianiuk followed with a RBI single up the middle to give Ball State a 1-0 advantage.
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After retiring the first seven batters she faced, including three by strikeout, senior pitcher Carolyn Wilmes ran into some trouble in the third as FAMU was able to take advantage of a pair of errors by the Cardinals to score three unearned runs.
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The Rattlers added a fourth run in the bottom of the fourth inning, pulling ahead 4-1 on a wild pitch with runners at second and third.
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The Cardinals countered, however, with a three spot of the own in the top of the fifth to tie the score at 4-4. Demnianiuk was hit by the first pitch to open the inning, while a one-out walk to junior catcher Olivia Huffman gave Ball State a pair of baserunners.
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Two batters later, Haley Dominique made it a one-run game with a two-run double which split the FAMU outfielders in left-center. Labrador followed with a RBI single up the middle, tying the score at 4-4.
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The Rattlers had an answer in the bottom of the inning, however, scoring a pair of runs on a two-out double down the left field line.
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Ball State would load the bases with no outs in the top of the sixth, courtesy of back-to-back singles from Wynn and Payton, plus a walk to Demnianiuk. Unfortunately, they were able to get just one run out of the situation, on a groundout to second by Lee.
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After Rothwell entered the game in relief and retired the Rattlers in order in the home half of the sixth, the Cardinals completed their comeback in the top of the seventh. Dominique started the rally with a leadoff single, while Hogg capped it with a two-run blast to push Ball State ahead 7-6.
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FAMU managed to get a one-out single in the bottom of the inning, but Rothwell forced back-to-back pop ups to end the game.
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Despite giving up five hits and six runs, only three of which were earned, Wilmes finished the game with seven strikeouts.
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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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It was the Cardinals' (15-7) second win of the day, as they started the morning with an 8-1 victory over LIU Brooklyn. With the win, Ball State improve to 2-0 on the year versus the Blackbirds (6-14) who they also defeated 10-2 (5) in the second game of the FGCU Kickoff Classic.
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In addition to her game-winning home run versus the Rattlers (5-14), Hogg went yard versus LIU Brooklyn, briefly tying the game 1-1 with a leadoff shot in the bottom of the fourth.
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Junior catcher Madison Lee followed Hogg's blast with a three-run shot of her own later in the inning and drove in a pivotal run in the sixth inning versus the Rattlers with a RBI groundout to cut FAMU's lead to 6-5. Lee led all Ball State players with four RBIs on the day.
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Meanwhile, freshman third baseman Stacy Payton paced the Ball State offense with three hits Friday, including a three-run double in the fifth inning versus the Blackbirds. Two of her hits came in the opener, while the other came in the nightcap.
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In the circle, junior Aeshia Miles improved to 8-3 on the year by picking up the win over LIU Brooklyn. Over 6.0 innings of work, she limited the Blackbirds to six hits and one earned run, while striking out six.
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The second game saw sophomore pitcher Alyssa Rothwell pick up the victory in relief, improving to 2-1 on the year, as she held FAMU to just one hit while striking out two over the final two innings.
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The Ball State softball team closes play in the FAU Parents' Weekend Tournament Saturday with a scheduled 9 a.m. first pitch versus No. 22 Michigan.
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GAME 1 RECAP: Ball State 8 – LIU Brooklyn 1
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Looking to avenge an early-season 10-2 (5) loss to the Cardinals, the Blackbirds broke onto the scoreboard first courtesy of a two-out RBI double in the top of the fourth inning.
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The lead was short-lived, however, as Hogg blasted the first pitch of the bottom of the inning over the fence in left-center field to tie the score at 1-1. The Cardinals then capitalized on a pair of LIU Brooklyn errors, as both senior second baseman Maddy Labrador and Payton reached on defensive miscues.
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Lee took advantage of the dual base runners, making it a 4-1 ball game with her second home run of the season, a three-run shot to left-center field.
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The Cardinals extended their lead to 8-1 with four more runs in the bottom of the fifth. Freshman shortstop Hailey Demnianiuk started the frame with a single, while a fielder's choice by Hogg put senior pinch runner Cadie O'Donnell at first.
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Labrador followed with a walk, while a single through the left side by sophomore right fielder Kennedy Wynn loaded the bases. Payton then cleared the bases with a three-run double to center field.
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Ball State's final run came across on a hard single to third by Lee, when the throw to first, which was not in time to get the out, was high and wide allowing Payton to score.
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Miles, meanwhile, continued to shine in the circle by limiting the Blackbirds to six hits and one earned run over 6.0 innings of work. She also struck out six batters, while issuing just one walk.
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GAME 2 RECAP: Ball State 7 – Florida A&M 6
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In a game that started as a pitchers' duel, Ball State struck first by capitalizing on a leadoff walk in the top of the second inning. Wynn drew the walk to open the inning, moved to second on a wild pitch and advanced to third on a Payton groundout. Demnianiuk followed with a RBI single up the middle to give Ball State a 1-0 advantage.
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After retiring the first seven batters she faced, including three by strikeout, senior pitcher Carolyn Wilmes ran into some trouble in the third as FAMU was able to take advantage of a pair of errors by the Cardinals to score three unearned runs.
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The Rattlers added a fourth run in the bottom of the fourth inning, pulling ahead 4-1 on a wild pitch with runners at second and third.
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The Cardinals countered, however, with a three spot of the own in the top of the fifth to tie the score at 4-4. Demnianiuk was hit by the first pitch to open the inning, while a one-out walk to junior catcher Olivia Huffman gave Ball State a pair of baserunners.
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Two batters later, Haley Dominique made it a one-run game with a two-run double which split the FAMU outfielders in left-center. Labrador followed with a RBI single up the middle, tying the score at 4-4.
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The Rattlers had an answer in the bottom of the inning, however, scoring a pair of runs on a two-out double down the left field line.
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Ball State would load the bases with no outs in the top of the sixth, courtesy of back-to-back singles from Wynn and Payton, plus a walk to Demnianiuk. Unfortunately, they were able to get just one run out of the situation, on a groundout to second by Lee.
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After Rothwell entered the game in relief and retired the Rattlers in order in the home half of the sixth, the Cardinals completed their comeback in the top of the seventh. Dominique started the rally with a leadoff single, while Hogg capped it with a two-run blast to push Ball State ahead 7-6.
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FAMU managed to get a one-out single in the bottom of the inning, but Rothwell forced back-to-back pop ups to end the game.
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Despite giving up five hits and six runs, only three of which were earned, Wilmes finished the game with seven strikeouts.
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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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