A Pair of Two-Run Bombs Lift Softball Past Kent State

Friday, May 11

Akron, Ohio (Firestone Stadium)

1:00 p.m.

Ball State University

36-18

Kent State University

29-23

Kent State

Ball State

Photo by: Tessa Mortensen

A Pair of Two-Run Bombs Lift Softball Past Kent State

May 11, 2018 | Softball

Box Score

Video: Ball State Head Coach Megan Bartlett
Video: Ball State's Maddy Labrador

AKRON, Ohio- - Fueled by home runs from junior catcher Olivia Huffman and senior first baseman Danae King, the Ball State softball team survived and advanced again with a 4-2 victory over Kent State Friday afternoon in the 2018 Mid-American Conference Softball Championship.

"Olivia's home run was a game changer," head coach Megan Ciolli Bartlett said. "The bench erupted at that point. People started swinging bigger, a little bit loser and Danae came up with another big blast."

With the win, the second-seeded Cardinals (36-18) move on to Friday's 6 p.m. elimination game in which it will face third-seeded Toledo who earned its spot in the contest with a 5-2 victory over Western Michigan earlier in the day.

With light rain hampering the early innings, the Golden Flashes (29-23) took advantage of a Ball State error to open the game, plating an unearned run in the top of the first.

Kent State extended its lead to 2-0 in the top of the third as a leadoff single and passed ball helped bring home another unearned tally.

Ball State looked to go down quietly in the bottom of the third, but a check swing infield single from senior second baseman Maddy Labrador kept the offense alive. Huffman then swung the momentum to the Cardinals, nearly knocking the cover off the softball on a monster two-run blast to left field, tying the score at 2-2.

"Olivia did a tremendous job," Bartlett said. "She has a heart of gold. She is one of the hardest workers in the program. Not only is she talented, but she has done tremendous things for the culture too."

The Cardinals looked to play a little small ball in the bottom of the fourth, as sophomore designated player Janae Hogg was walked to open the inning. Senior pinch runner Cadie O'Donnell then moved to second on a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt from sophomore center fielder Kennedy Wynn.

Freshman Stacy Payton nearly took advantage of the runner in scoring position, but her hard liner up the middle was somehow snagged by the KSU pitcher for the second out of the inning.

Have no fear, however, as King took advantage of the runner in scoring position and then some, blasting a two-run shot over the fence in right-center to give Ball State a 4-2 advantage it would not relinquish.

"I love that senior magic," Bartlett said. "If you are going to win in post season, you need your seniors stepping up to the challenge. Danae did a great job getting a pitch she could get extended on. She has great bat speed and is a super-strong player. I am happy for her."

Ball State's pitchers took over from there, as junior starter Aeshia Miles retired the Golden Flashes in order in the top of the fifth.

Kent State looked to mount a comeback in the top of the sixth, putting runners on the corners with two outs. Once again, the Cardinals were able to turn to sophomore closer Alyssa Rothwell who ended the inning and the KSU threat by getting the first batter she faced looking.

Rothwell continued to do her thing in the top of the seventh, shutting the door on Kent State's season by retiring three of the four batters she faced to earn her 11th save of the season.

"Our pitchers were tremendous again today," Bartlett concluded. "Let's just hope they have some gas left in the tank for the next game."

In throwing the first 5.2 innings, Miles picked up her 19th win of the season and improved to 19-9 on the year by limiting Kent State to six hits and a pair of unearned runs while striking out three.

Rothwell did not allow a hit in her 40th appearance of the season and struck out two of the five batters she faced.

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