Late Rally Leads NIU Past Softball in MAC Tournament Opener

Wednesday, May 9

Akron, Ohio (Firestone Stadium)

3:30 p.m.

Ball State University

Northern Illinois University

Late Rally Leads NIU Past Softball in MAC Tournament Opener

May 09, 2018 | Softball

Box Score

AKRON, Ohio - - The second-seeded Ball State softball team opened play in the 2018 Mid-American Conference Softball Championship with a 3-1 loss to seventh-seeded Northern Illinois Wednesday afternoon at Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio.

After four-and-a-half scoreless innings, the Cardinals struck first with a mini two-out rally in the bottom of the fifth. Senior second baseman Maddy Labrador sparked the rally with a single to center field and advanced to second on an NIU error.

Junior catcher Olivia Huffman made the Huskies (22-30) pay for the defensive miscue, following with an RBI double to left-center field to give the Cardinals (34-18) a 1-0 advantage.

Ball State looked poised for another two-out rally in the bottom of the sixth after back-to-back singles from sophomore center fielder Kennedy Wynn and freshman third baseman Stacy Payton. Unfortunately, a popup to second halted the rally and kept the score 1-0.

After a leadoff walk in the seventh, the Huskies were down to their final out following a sacrifice bunt and a popup to second. The Cardinals could not get the final out quick enough, however, as the Huskies tied the score on an RBI single. NIU followed with another single and a two-run double to pull ahead 3-1.

The Ball State offense could not answer in the bottom of the inning, as the Cardinals were retired in order to end the game.

Overall, five different Cardinals tallied a hit in the game, led by Huffman's RBI double in the fifth.

Junior pitcher Aeshia Miles held the Huskies to just three hits over the first 6.2 innings, but ultimately suffered the loss after giving up all three hits in NIU's two-out rally in the seventh. Miles did manage to strike out five batters in the game.

Ball State returns to action in Thursday's 6 p.m. elimination game, when it battles No. 6 Central Michigan who suffered an 8-6 (9) loss to No. 3 Toledo Wednesday night.

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