Softball Falls Short in Series Finale with WMU

MUNCIE, Ind.- - On a cold, rainy Sunday afternoon at the Softball Field at First Merchants Ballpark Complex, the Ball State softball team's offense could not find the spark it need to ignite in a 4-2 loss to Western Michigan.

With the loss, the Cardinals (27-14; 9-5 Mid-American Conference) drop their second consecutive home league series after also splitting a Friday doubleheader with the Broncos (22-19; 9-6).

Ball State did manage to put the first run on the board in Sunday's contest, and after falling behind 2-1 in the fourth, were able to come up with the equalizer on freshman shortstop Stacy Payton's first career triple.

Unfortunately, WMU countered with single runs in the fifth and sixth to win the game 4-2.

FROM COACH BARTLETT:
"We couldn't seem to get anything going offensively. Jordan Kurth is a senior lefty who spins a nice rise ball. She threw a great game and was able to keep us out of our offensive rhythm the entire day.

"We win ball games when we can get the ball to leave the yard. We didn't do it today. Annie Robinson hit a couple of good balls, one of them almost went out. Janae Hogg hit an absolute rocket straight at the second baseman. Any time the middle of our lineup can't get the ball to leave the yard, it's tough.

"We are a powerful team offensively, that's what we do. We are not super-fast, and we don't play a lot of small ball, as it does not fit into the strength of our skill set. We have to come up with extra base hits to be successful.

"Heading into this week, we just need to find a little swag. It's that point in the year where classes are starting to get crazy and people are getting worn down. We just need to relax, reset and get healthy.

BREAKING DOWN THE GAME:
• Senior pitcher Carolyn Wilmes started the day strong, retiring the first nine batters she faced, including four strikeouts.

• The Cardinals' offense was also able to capitalize early thanks to the help of a pair of stolen bases. After leading off the game with a single to left center, sophomore left fielder Haley Dominique stole second and then stole third on a strikeout.

• Following a walk to sophomore third baseman Janae Hogg, senior center fielder Maddy Labrador drove a fly ball to shallow center field, but just deep enough to bring Dominique home from third.

• After being held without a baserunner for the first three innings the Broncos managed a leadoff walk in the top of the fourth to end Wilmes' day. They would go on to get three hits and a pair of runs off junior reliever Aeshia Miles to pull ahead 2-1.

• Ball State answered in the bottom of the inning, starting with a leadoff double down the right field line from Labrador. Two outs later and with Labrador at third, freshman shortstop Stacy Payton blasted her first career triple down the left field line to tie the game.

• Unfortunately, WMU countered with a two-out RBI single in the fifth and a leadoff solo home run in the sixth to win the game 4-2.

• Miles suffered the loss for the Cardinals, falling to 14-7 on the year after allowing six hits and three runs over the final 4.0 innings.

NEXT UP
The Ball State softball team looks to rebound Wednesday when it travels to Butler for a 4 p.m. first pitch.

The Cardinals then welcome Central Michigan to the Softball Field at First Merchants Ballpark Complex for a three-game, senior weekend series. The teams are scheduled to play a single game Friday (3 p.m.) and a doubleheader Saturday (1 p.m.), with all three games being produced for ESPN+ by Ball State Sports Link.

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.

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Team Stats

Haley Dominique

Olivia Huffman

Maddy Labrador

Stacy Payton

Players Mentioned

Haley Dominique

Janae Hogg

Maddy Labrador

Aeshia Miles

Stacy Payton

Annie Robinson

Carolyn Wilmes

Players Mentioned

Haley Dominique

Janae Hogg

Maddy Labrador

Aeshia Miles

Stacy Payton

Annie Robinson

Carolyn Wilmes