Friday, February 8
Fort Myers, Fla.
10 a.m.
Ball State University
1-0
7
vs
4
LIU Brooklyn
0-1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Ball State
0
0
0
6
0
0
1
7
4
2
LIU Brooklyn
0
0
0
0
0
1
3
4
2
1
Big Inning Lifts Softball to Season-Opening Win
February 08, 2019 | Softball
FT. MYERS, Fla.- - Powered by a six-run fourth inning, the Ball State softball team opened the 2019 season with a 7-4 victory over LIU Brooklyn Friday morning in the opening game of the FGCU Kickoff Classic.
Unfortunately, the Cardinals (1-1) could not carry over the momentum into the nightcap, suffering a 10-2 (6) loss to Penn State at the FGCU Softball Complex.
The Ball State softball team will get a chance to avenge Friday afternoon's loss to the Nittany Lions Saturday at 4:45 p.m.
The Cardinals then close the second day of the tournament under the lights with a scheduled 7 p.m. first pitch versus tournament host FGCU.
GAME 1: Ball State 7 – LIU Brooklyn 4
Junior left fielder Haley Dominique got the Cardinals offense off to a strong start with a single through the right side in the game's first at bat. Ball State would go on to load the bases with two outs in the frame, but could not push a run across the plate.
After two more scoreless innings, the Cardinals broke onto the board in a big way in the top of the fourth, capitalizing on a Blackbirds (0-1) error to score six two-out runs.
Senior Annie Robinson reached on the error, a grounder to short, and was replaced by freshman pinch runner Kim Manuel. Following a strikeout for the second out of the frame, the Cardinals were able to draw three straight walks from sophomore shortstop Hailey Demnianiuk, Dominique and sophomore second baseman Stacy Payton to push the game's first run across.
Ball State, which posted six-or-more runs in an inning 10 times last season, continued the rally with a three-run double from junior first baseman Janae Hogg to pull ahead 4-0.
The next at-bat proved to be the biggest of the game, as freshman third baseman Trinity Eckerty blasted her first career home run off the FGCU videoboard in left field to drive in what proved to be the game-winning runs as she pushed the advantage to 6-0.
Meanwhile in the circle, redshirt sophomore Darcie Huber shined in her first game since the 2017 season, limiting LIU Brooklyn to one hit over the first three innings, while striking out four batters.
Freshman Sarah Venker entered the game in relief in the top of the fourth, throwing a pair of hitless innings and striking out three of the nine batters she faced to earn the win in her collegiate debut.
The Blackbirds would get their first run in the bottom of the sixth inning, only to have the Cardinals counter with an bases-loaded walk from Demnianiuk in the top of the seventh to make the score 7-1.
LIU Brooklyn would get three more runs in the bottom of the seventh, only one of which was earned, but the Cardinals were able to stomp out the rally and pick up the 7-4 victory.
In addition to the big inning, it was more patience at the plate which helped lift Ball State to the win, as the Cardinals drew 12 walks in the game. BSU finished the 2018 season ranked fifth in the nation with 235 walks.
GAME 2: Penn State 10 – Ball State 2 (6)
The nightcap saw the Nittany Lions (1-0) score single runs in the first and second innings to pull out to an early 2-0 lead.
However, the Cardinals countered with a two-spot in the bottom of the second when senior catcher Olivia Huffman blasted her sixth career home run deep over the fence in left field to even the score. Sophomore Kennedy Wynn scored on the play after walking to open the inning.
Unfortunately, that was the only hit Ball State would register in the game, while Penn State went on to score two more runs in the fourth and three runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to pull out the 10-2 victory.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State softball, follow the team on Twitter: @BallStateSB, @CoachCBartlett & @BallStateSports / Instagram: ballstatesb / Facebook: BallStateSoftball
Unfortunately, the Cardinals (1-1) could not carry over the momentum into the nightcap, suffering a 10-2 (6) loss to Penn State at the FGCU Softball Complex.
The Ball State softball team will get a chance to avenge Friday afternoon's loss to the Nittany Lions Saturday at 4:45 p.m.
The Cardinals then close the second day of the tournament under the lights with a scheduled 7 p.m. first pitch versus tournament host FGCU.
GAME 1: Ball State 7 – LIU Brooklyn 4
Junior left fielder Haley Dominique got the Cardinals offense off to a strong start with a single through the right side in the game's first at bat. Ball State would go on to load the bases with two outs in the frame, but could not push a run across the plate.
After two more scoreless innings, the Cardinals broke onto the board in a big way in the top of the fourth, capitalizing on a Blackbirds (0-1) error to score six two-out runs.
Senior Annie Robinson reached on the error, a grounder to short, and was replaced by freshman pinch runner Kim Manuel. Following a strikeout for the second out of the frame, the Cardinals were able to draw three straight walks from sophomore shortstop Hailey Demnianiuk, Dominique and sophomore second baseman Stacy Payton to push the game's first run across.
Ball State, which posted six-or-more runs in an inning 10 times last season, continued the rally with a three-run double from junior first baseman Janae Hogg to pull ahead 4-0.
The next at-bat proved to be the biggest of the game, as freshman third baseman Trinity Eckerty blasted her first career home run off the FGCU videoboard in left field to drive in what proved to be the game-winning runs as she pushed the advantage to 6-0.
?? HOME RUN ?? @teckerty follows w/her first career ??!!!
— Ball State Softball (@BallStateSB) February 8, 2019
A 2-run blast to put the Cardinals ahead 6-0#ChirpChirp | #WeFly pic.twitter.com/b42FHWIx6z
Meanwhile in the circle, redshirt sophomore Darcie Huber shined in her first game since the 2017 season, limiting LIU Brooklyn to one hit over the first three innings, while striking out four batters.
Freshman Sarah Venker entered the game in relief in the top of the fourth, throwing a pair of hitless innings and striking out three of the nine batters she faced to earn the win in her collegiate debut.
The Blackbirds would get their first run in the bottom of the sixth inning, only to have the Cardinals counter with an bases-loaded walk from Demnianiuk in the top of the seventh to make the score 7-1.
LIU Brooklyn would get three more runs in the bottom of the seventh, only one of which was earned, but the Cardinals were able to stomp out the rally and pick up the 7-4 victory.
In addition to the big inning, it was more patience at the plate which helped lift Ball State to the win, as the Cardinals drew 12 walks in the game. BSU finished the 2018 season ranked fifth in the nation with 235 walks.
Congrats on the morning win—a great start to the 2019 season! https://t.co/nEFSXxM5G5
— Geoffrey S. Mearns (@PresidentMearns) February 8, 2019
GAME 2: Penn State 10 – Ball State 2 (6)
The nightcap saw the Nittany Lions (1-0) score single runs in the first and second innings to pull out to an early 2-0 lead.
However, the Cardinals countered with a two-spot in the bottom of the second when senior catcher Olivia Huffman blasted her sixth career home run deep over the fence in left field to even the score. Sophomore Kennedy Wynn scored on the play after walking to open the inning.
?? HOME RUN ??
— Ball State Softball (@BallStateSB) February 8, 2019
... and just like that, we have a TIE GAME ... @ohuffman7 #CrushedIt over the fence in left for her 6th career ?? w/the Cardinals
Ball State 2 - Penn State 2#ChirpChirp | #WeFly | #NCAASoftball pic.twitter.com/PwJ4HfcWwg
Unfortunately, that was the only hit Ball State would register in the game, while Penn State went on to score two more runs in the fourth and three runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to pull out the 10-2 victory.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State softball, follow the team on Twitter: @BallStateSB, @CoachCBartlett & @BallStateSports / Instagram: ballstatesb / Facebook: BallStateSoftball
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Venker, Sarah (1-0)
L: IRVIS, Haley (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Hogg, Janae 1
HR: Eckerty, Trinity 1
RBI: Payton, Stacy 1 ; Hogg, Janae 3 ; Eckerty, Trinity 2 ; Demnianiuk, Hailey 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Dominique, Haley 1 ; Payton, Stacy 1 ; Hogg, Janae 1 ; Eckerty, Trinity 1 ; Wynn, Kennedy 1 ; Manuel, Kim 1 ; Demnianiuk, Hailey 1
SB: Janiga, Katie 1
CS: Kiefor, Jessi 1 ; Janiga, Katie 1
HBP: McCarty, Mackenzie 1
Batting:
3B: CISNEROS, Kiana 1
RBI: BERMEA, Ryleigh 1 ; COLLINS, Emily 1
SH: HINKLE, Katie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: LYMAN, Camryn 1 ; DOMINGO, Amanda 1 ; CISNEROS, Kiana 1 ; BLANCHARD, Kristen 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
3
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
ph/dh
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
INF/OF
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