Sunday, February 17
Madeira Beach, Fla.
9 a.m
Ball State University
7-3
3
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2
Quinnipiac
2-3
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2
3
4
5
6
7
8
R
H
E
Quinnipiac
0
2
0
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2
5
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Ball State
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Photo by: Tessa Mortensen
Softball Wins Thriller Over Quinnipiac on Final Day of Madeira Beach Invite
February 17, 2019 | Softball
MADEIRA BEACH, Fla.- - It may have taken a little extra time, but the Ball State softball team opened the final day of the Madeira Beach Invitational with a 3-2 (8) win over Quinnipiac Sunday morning at ROC Park.
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Unfortunately, the Cardinals (7-4) could not carry over the momentum into the nightcap, suffering a 5-1 loss to Murray State in the weekend finale.
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The Ball State softball team returns to action Friday, when it opens play in the Silicon Valley Classic I with games versus Northern Colorado (Noon ET / 9 a.m. PT) and San Jose State (2:30 p.m. ET / 11:30 a.m. PT).
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Game 1: Ball State 3 – Quinnipiac 2
The opener saw yet another dominating performance from the Ball State pitching staff, as freshman starter Tieghan Morio and junior reliever Alyssa Rothwell combined for 15 strikeouts over the eight innings.
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In her 5.2 innings of work, Morio turned in the best performance of her young career, striking out a career-high eight batters while limiting the Bobcats (2-3) to just five hits and a pair of runs. She got off to a quick start on the day, striking out the first two batters she faces, while also fanning the side in the fourth inning.
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Rothwell took control over the final 2.1 innings, striking out all seven batters she faced to keep the visitors off the board as the Cardinals rallied from down 2-1 with single runs in the seventh and eighth to win the game. The effort gave Rothwell her first win of the season, to go along with her four saves.
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Ball State actually struck first in the contest, as junior left fielder Haley Dominique doubled to center field to open the game. Junior first baseman Janae Hogg and freshman designated player Mackenzie McCarty followed with walks, while an RBI groundout from sophomore shortstop Hailey Demnianiuk gave the hosts on the board a 1-0 lead.
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The lead was short-lived, however, as Quinnipiac posted a pair of runs in the top of the second thanks to a two-out, two-run single.
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That was the only blemish on Ball State's pitchers, however, and the Cardinals offense would eventually battle back and tie the score in the seventh courtesy of a sacrifice fly from sophomore third baseman Stacy Payton. Senior catcher Olivia Huffman scored on the play after walking to open the inning.
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Huffman would also play the hero in the bottom of the eighth inning, drawing a bases loaded walk after falling behind 0-2 in the count. Sophomore pinch hitter/right fielder Katie Janiga scored the winning run after being placed on second due to the international tiebreak rule.
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Game 2: Ball State 1 – Murray State 5
After a pair of scoreless innings, Ball State looked like it was going to break onto the board first in the top of the third, as Payton and Hogg hit back-to-back one-out singles, while an error on a McCarty fly to right loaded the bases. Unfortunately, a strikeout and foul fly ended the threat.
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Murray State then put up single runs in the bottom of both the third and fifth innings to pull ahead 2-0.
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The Cardinals tried to battle back, as some heads up base running by Demnianiuk in the top of the sixth help BSU score its first run of the game. With two outs in the inning, senior pinch hitter Annie Robinson sliced a single down the right field line.
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After Demnianiuk reentered to run at first, Huffman entered the game as a pinch runner and drew her third walk of the day. Reenter freshman center fielder Kim Manuel and the Cardinals had speedy runners at first and second with two outs.
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Dominique followed with chopper to shortstop, which snuck past the Racers pitcher, and beat the throw to first. Demnianiuk took advantage of the chopper, scoring from second on the play. Unfortunately, Manual was not so lucky and was thrown out trying to reach third after the throw home.
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With the Ball State rally cut short, Murray State put three more runs on the board in the bottom of the sixth, and retired the Cardinals in order in the seventh, to win the game 5-1.
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Redshirt sophomore pitcher Darcie Huber threw the first three innings, striking out two batters before yielding to senior Aeshia Miles. Miles also struck out a pair of batters in her 2.1 innings of work. Rothwell pitched the final 0.2 innings.
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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: BallStateSoftball.
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Unfortunately, the Cardinals (7-4) could not carry over the momentum into the nightcap, suffering a 5-1 loss to Murray State in the weekend finale.
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The Ball State softball team returns to action Friday, when it opens play in the Silicon Valley Classic I with games versus Northern Colorado (Noon ET / 9 a.m. PT) and San Jose State (2:30 p.m. ET / 11:30 a.m. PT).
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Game 1: Ball State 3 – Quinnipiac 2
The opener saw yet another dominating performance from the Ball State pitching staff, as freshman starter Tieghan Morio and junior reliever Alyssa Rothwell combined for 15 strikeouts over the eight innings.
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In her 5.2 innings of work, Morio turned in the best performance of her young career, striking out a career-high eight batters while limiting the Bobcats (2-3) to just five hits and a pair of runs. She got off to a quick start on the day, striking out the first two batters she faces, while also fanning the side in the fourth inning.
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Rothwell took control over the final 2.1 innings, striking out all seven batters she faced to keep the visitors off the board as the Cardinals rallied from down 2-1 with single runs in the seventh and eighth to win the game. The effort gave Rothwell her first win of the season, to go along with her four saves.
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Ball State actually struck first in the contest, as junior left fielder Haley Dominique doubled to center field to open the game. Junior first baseman Janae Hogg and freshman designated player Mackenzie McCarty followed with walks, while an RBI groundout from sophomore shortstop Hailey Demnianiuk gave the hosts on the board a 1-0 lead.
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The lead was short-lived, however, as Quinnipiac posted a pair of runs in the top of the second thanks to a two-out, two-run single.
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That was the only blemish on Ball State's pitchers, however, and the Cardinals offense would eventually battle back and tie the score in the seventh courtesy of a sacrifice fly from sophomore third baseman Stacy Payton. Senior catcher Olivia Huffman scored on the play after walking to open the inning.
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Huffman would also play the hero in the bottom of the eighth inning, drawing a bases loaded walk after falling behind 0-2 in the count. Sophomore pinch hitter/right fielder Katie Janiga scored the winning run after being placed on second due to the international tiebreak rule.
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Game 2: Ball State 1 – Murray State 5
After a pair of scoreless innings, Ball State looked like it was going to break onto the board first in the top of the third, as Payton and Hogg hit back-to-back one-out singles, while an error on a McCarty fly to right loaded the bases. Unfortunately, a strikeout and foul fly ended the threat.
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Murray State then put up single runs in the bottom of both the third and fifth innings to pull ahead 2-0.
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The Cardinals tried to battle back, as some heads up base running by Demnianiuk in the top of the sixth help BSU score its first run of the game. With two outs in the inning, senior pinch hitter Annie Robinson sliced a single down the right field line.
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After Demnianiuk reentered to run at first, Huffman entered the game as a pinch runner and drew her third walk of the day. Reenter freshman center fielder Kim Manuel and the Cardinals had speedy runners at first and second with two outs.
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Dominique followed with chopper to shortstop, which snuck past the Racers pitcher, and beat the throw to first. Demnianiuk took advantage of the chopper, scoring from second on the play. Unfortunately, Manual was not so lucky and was thrown out trying to reach third after the throw home.
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With the Ball State rally cut short, Murray State put three more runs on the board in the bottom of the sixth, and retired the Cardinals in order in the seventh, to win the game 5-1.
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Redshirt sophomore pitcher Darcie Huber threw the first three innings, striking out two batters before yielding to senior Aeshia Miles. Miles also struck out a pair of batters in her 2.1 innings of work. Rothwell pitched the final 0.2 innings.
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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: BallStateSoftball.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Rothwell, Alyssa (1-0)
L: Kendall Brundrett (1-3)
Batting:
RBI: Taylor Troyan 2
SH: Hannah Davis 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Alexis Otero 1 ; Rebecca Drake 1
HBP: Rachel Marchuk 1
Batting:
2B: Dominique, Haley 1
RBI: Payton, Stacy 1 ; Magnifico, Gabby 1 ; Huffman, Olivia 1
SH: Manuel, Kim 1
SF: Payton, Stacy 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Dominique, Haley 1 ; Janiga, Katie 1 ; Huffman, Olivia 1
SB: Venker, Sarah 1 ; Demnianiuk, Hailey 1 ; Manuel, Kim 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
0
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
0
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
INF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
RHP
/ SoftballC
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
C/Uti
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
RHP
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
RHP
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