Saturday, May 12
Akron, Ohio (Firestone Stadium)
9:30 a.m.
Ball State University
37-19
3
vs
4
Northern Illinois University
24-31
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Northern Illinois
3
0
0
1
0
0
0
4
5
3
Ball State
0
0
1
0
2
0
0
3
11
3
Softball’s MAC Tournament Run Ends with Loss To NIU
May 12, 2018 | Softball
AKRON, Ohio- - Ball State softball's run in the 2018 Mid-American Conference Softball Championship came to an end Saturday morning with a 4-3 loss to Northern Illinois in its fourth elimination game in three days at Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio.
"I am very proud of what our team accomplished this season," head coach Megan Ciolli Bartlett said. "While we didn't end the year how we wanted, we battled until the very end. Everyone involved in our program has a lot to be proud of and a lot to look forward to in 2019."
The Cardinals (37-19), who also fell to the Huskies (24-31) by a score of 3-1 in its MAC Tournament opener, rebounded with elimination game victories over Central Michigan (5-1), Kent State (4-2) and Toledo (2-0).
Unfortunately, the Cardinals fell a run shy of advancing to the MAC Softball Championship series Saturday, as Northern Illinois jumped out to a 3-0 lead aided by several defensive miscues in the top of the first.
The Cardinals, who had a quick turnaround after playing in Friday's fourth game, were able to get one run back in the bottom of the third when a two-out NIU error helped sophomore Haley Dominique score from second.
The Huskies were able to get the run back in the top of the fourth, however, as another error and a successful squeeze bunt pushed the score to 4-1
Ball State looked poised to get back into the game in the bottom of the fourth, loading the bases with one out. Unfortunately, a strikeout and a groundout back to the pitcher ended the rally attempt.
The Cardinals would not go down without a fight, however, as sophomore designated player Janae Hogg opened the bottom of the fifth with a hard shot through the left side. With senior pinch runner Cadie O'Donnell taking Hogg's place at first, sophomore center fielder Kennedy Wynn made it a two-run game with a double to the fence in left-center field.
Senior first baseman Danae King followed with a single through the left side to put runners on the corners, setting up an RBI single from freshman third baseman Stacy Payton. Unfortunately, after a single by junior right fielder Madison Lee loaded the bases, another strikeout and grounded stranded the bases loaded once again.
The Cardinals had one last opportunity to tie the score in the bottom of the sixth, starting with a one-out walk to Hogg. King followed with a two-out single, while an error on a Payton grounder to third loaded the bases for a third straight inning.
Like the two innings before, however, the Cardinals could not come up with a key hit as a strikeout ended the inning.
Overall, Ball State managed to out-hit the Huskies 11 to five in the contest, with two hits apiece from Hogg, King and senior second baseman Maddy Labrador.
Junior Aeshia Miles took the loss in the circle despite limiting the Huskies to three hits and four runs, only two of which were earned. She also struck out three batters over her 3.1 innings of work.
Sophomore Alyssa Rothwell threw the final 3.2 innings, surrendering just two hits and striking out four.
With its three wins in the 2018 MAC Tournament, Ball State raised its win total to 37 on the year which ties as the fourth-highest single season total in program history.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State softball, follow the team on Twitter: @BallStateSB, @CoachCBartlett & @BallStateSports / Instagram: ballstatesb / Facebook: BallStateSB.
"I am very proud of what our team accomplished this season," head coach Megan Ciolli Bartlett said. "While we didn't end the year how we wanted, we battled until the very end. Everyone involved in our program has a lot to be proud of and a lot to look forward to in 2019."
The Cardinals (37-19), who also fell to the Huskies (24-31) by a score of 3-1 in its MAC Tournament opener, rebounded with elimination game victories over Central Michigan (5-1), Kent State (4-2) and Toledo (2-0).
Unfortunately, the Cardinals fell a run shy of advancing to the MAC Softball Championship series Saturday, as Northern Illinois jumped out to a 3-0 lead aided by several defensive miscues in the top of the first.
The Cardinals, who had a quick turnaround after playing in Friday's fourth game, were able to get one run back in the bottom of the third when a two-out NIU error helped sophomore Haley Dominique score from second.
The Huskies were able to get the run back in the top of the fourth, however, as another error and a successful squeeze bunt pushed the score to 4-1
Ball State looked poised to get back into the game in the bottom of the fourth, loading the bases with one out. Unfortunately, a strikeout and a groundout back to the pitcher ended the rally attempt.
The Cardinals would not go down without a fight, however, as sophomore designated player Janae Hogg opened the bottom of the fifth with a hard shot through the left side. With senior pinch runner Cadie O'Donnell taking Hogg's place at first, sophomore center fielder Kennedy Wynn made it a two-run game with a double to the fence in left-center field.
Senior first baseman Danae King followed with a single through the left side to put runners on the corners, setting up an RBI single from freshman third baseman Stacy Payton. Unfortunately, after a single by junior right fielder Madison Lee loaded the bases, another strikeout and grounded stranded the bases loaded once again.
The Cardinals had one last opportunity to tie the score in the bottom of the sixth, starting with a one-out walk to Hogg. King followed with a two-out single, while an error on a Payton grounder to third loaded the bases for a third straight inning.
Like the two innings before, however, the Cardinals could not come up with a key hit as a strikeout ended the inning.
Overall, Ball State managed to out-hit the Huskies 11 to five in the contest, with two hits apiece from Hogg, King and senior second baseman Maddy Labrador.
Junior Aeshia Miles took the loss in the circle despite limiting the Huskies to three hits and four runs, only two of which were earned. She also struck out three batters over her 3.1 innings of work.
Sophomore Alyssa Rothwell threw the final 3.2 innings, surrendering just two hits and striking out four.
With its three wins in the 2018 MAC Tournament, Ball State raised its win total to 37 on the year which ties as the fourth-highest single season total in program history.
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: FRENZ, Alex (12-6)
L: Miles, Aeshia (20-10)
S: BRYAN, MacKenzie (4)
Batting:
2B: GREENO, Dominique 1 ; HARNISH, Bekah 1 ; ALLEN, Anne 1
RBI: VAN GEERTRY, Jenny 1 ; HARNISH, Bekah 2
SH: VAN GEERTRY, Jenny 1
Base Running:
RUNS: GREENO, Dominique 1 ; WOOLLARD, Alaynie 1 ; HARNISH, Bekah 1 ; TOOMALATAI, Kalalael 1
SB: ALLEN, Anne 1
Batting:
2B: Wynn, Kennedy 1
RBI: Wynn, Kennedy 1 ; Payton, Stacy 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Dominique, Haley 1 ; O'Donnell, Cadie 1 ; Wynn, Kennedy 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
INF/OF
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