Sunday, March 17
Macon, Ga.
9 a.m.
Ball State University
22-10
11
vs
3
Fordham
7-15
1
2
3
4
5
6
R
H
E
Ball State
2
1
0
2
2
4
11
11
0
Fordham
0
2
0
0
0
1
3
5
2
Photo by: Tessa Mortensen
Softball Scores Season-High 11 Runs in Win over Fordham
March 17, 2019 | Softball
MACON, Ga. - - The Ball State softball team closed play in the Mercer Bears Classic with a dominating 11-3 (6) victory over Fordham Sunday morning at Sikes Field.
In improving to a Mid-American Conference leading 22-10 on the year, the Cardinals recorded a season-high 11 runs and tallied 11 hits to avenge Friday's loss to the Rams (7-15) in the tournament opener.
Ball State enters the start of league play Friday with wins in 10 of its last 11 games, including four straight to end play in the Mercer Bears Classic.
Leading the way on offense for Ball State on Sunday was junior left fielder Haley Dominique who went 3-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored and three RBIs. Dominique finished the three-day tournament with three home runs and team-highs of eight hits, eight RBIs and seven runs scored.
Freshman second baseman Amaia Daniel also added her third home run of the weekend in the sixth inning, while freshman pinch hitter Faith Hensley made the most of her first at bat in the tournament three batters later with a three-run blast of her own for her first career hit.
In the circle, Ball State freshman Sarah Venker became the first pitcher in the MAC to reach 10 wins this season by holding the Rams to five hits and three runs over her 6.0 innings of work. She also finished the day with eight strikeouts to improve to 10-2 on the year.
Dominique opened the game with a single up the middle, while sophomore third baseman Stacy Payton reached on an error on a sac bunt attempt to put runners on the corners. After Payton stole second, a one-out sacrifice fly from Daniel brought home the first run of the game. Freshman first baseman Mackenzie McCarty followed with an RBI single up the middle making the score 2-0.
Freshman right fielder Trinity Eckerty celebrated her birthday by opening the top of the second inning with her first of two hits on the day. She would later came around to score on an RBI single from Dominique, giving Ball State a 3-0 lead.
Unfortunately, the Rams were able to counter with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning to cut the lead to 3-2.
After a scoreless third inning, freshman Kim Manuel beat out an infield single with one out in the fourth and Dominique followed with a two-run blast to give Ball State its three-run lead back at 5-2.
The Cardinals added two more runs in the top of the fifth, loading the bases with one out and capitalizing on a walk to Venker and a wild pitch to plate freshman pinch runner Becca Clanton and sophomore pitch runner Katie Janiga, respectively.
The top of the sixth saw the Cardinals add four more runs via a pair of two-out home runs. The first was a solo shot from Daniel, while the second was a three-run blast by Hensley. McCarty was hit by a pitch and Janiga singled up the middle to set up Hensley's big at bat.
Fordham tried to stay alive in the bottom of the inning with a leadoff home run, but Venker was able to get the next three batters out, including back-to-back strikeouts to end the game.
The Ball State softball team now turns its attention to league play, with the Cardinals opening their first home series of the season Friday with a scheduled 3 p.m. first pitch versus Akron. The teams will conclude their series Saturday with a 1 p.m. doubleheader.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State softball, follow the team on Twitter: @BallStateSB, @CoachCBartlett & @BallStateSports / Instagram: ballstatesb / Facebook: BallStateSB.
In improving to a Mid-American Conference leading 22-10 on the year, the Cardinals recorded a season-high 11 runs and tallied 11 hits to avenge Friday's loss to the Rams (7-15) in the tournament opener.
Ball State enters the start of league play Friday with wins in 10 of its last 11 games, including four straight to end play in the Mercer Bears Classic.
Leading the way on offense for Ball State on Sunday was junior left fielder Haley Dominique who went 3-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored and three RBIs. Dominique finished the three-day tournament with three home runs and team-highs of eight hits, eight RBIs and seven runs scored.
Freshman second baseman Amaia Daniel also added her third home run of the weekend in the sixth inning, while freshman pinch hitter Faith Hensley made the most of her first at bat in the tournament three batters later with a three-run blast of her own for her first career hit.
In the circle, Ball State freshman Sarah Venker became the first pitcher in the MAC to reach 10 wins this season by holding the Rams to five hits and three runs over her 6.0 innings of work. She also finished the day with eight strikeouts to improve to 10-2 on the year.
Dominique opened the game with a single up the middle, while sophomore third baseman Stacy Payton reached on an error on a sac bunt attempt to put runners on the corners. After Payton stole second, a one-out sacrifice fly from Daniel brought home the first run of the game. Freshman first baseman Mackenzie McCarty followed with an RBI single up the middle making the score 2-0.
Freshman right fielder Trinity Eckerty celebrated her birthday by opening the top of the second inning with her first of two hits on the day. She would later came around to score on an RBI single from Dominique, giving Ball State a 3-0 lead.
Unfortunately, the Rams were able to counter with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning to cut the lead to 3-2.
After a scoreless third inning, freshman Kim Manuel beat out an infield single with one out in the fourth and Dominique followed with a two-run blast to give Ball State its three-run lead back at 5-2.
The Cardinals added two more runs in the top of the fifth, loading the bases with one out and capitalizing on a walk to Venker and a wild pitch to plate freshman pinch runner Becca Clanton and sophomore pitch runner Katie Janiga, respectively.
The top of the sixth saw the Cardinals add four more runs via a pair of two-out home runs. The first was a solo shot from Daniel, while the second was a three-run blast by Hensley. McCarty was hit by a pitch and Janiga singled up the middle to set up Hensley's big at bat.
Fordham tried to stay alive in the bottom of the inning with a leadoff home run, but Venker was able to get the next three batters out, including back-to-back strikeouts to end the game.
The Ball State softball team now turns its attention to league play, with the Cardinals opening their first home series of the season Friday with a scheduled 3 p.m. first pitch versus Akron. The teams will conclude their series Saturday with a 1 p.m. doubleheader.
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: Venker, Sarah (10-2)
L: RANIERI, Gianna (0-1)
Batting:
HR: Dominique, Haley 1 ; Daniel, Amaia 1 ; Hensley, Faith 1
RBI: Dominique, Haley 3 ; Daniel, Amaia 2 ; McCarty, Mackenzie 1 ; Hensley, Faith 3 ; Venker, Sarah 1
SH: Payton, Stacy 1
SF: Daniel, Amaia 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Dominique, Haley 2 ; Payton, Stacy 1 ; Daniel, Amaia 1 ; McCarty, Mackenzie 1 ; Clanton, Becca 1 ; Eckerty, Trinity 1 ; Janiga, Katie 2 ; Hensley, Faith 1 ; Manuel, Kim 1
SB: Payton, Stacy 1
CS: McCarty, Mackenzie 1
HBP: McCarty, Mackenzie 1 ; Demnianiuk, Hailey 1
Batting:
2B: TAFFET, Sarah 1
HR: AUGHINBAUGH, Madie 1 ; ROARK, Molly 1
RBI: SKREPENAK, Chelsea 1 ; AUGHINBAUGH, Madie 1 ; ROARK, Molly 1
SH: BURBRIDGE, Deanna 1
Base Running:
RUNS: AUGHINBAUGH, Madie 1 ; ROARK, Molly 1 ; TAFFET, Sarah 1
SB: SKREPENAK, Chelsea 1 ; TAFFET, Sarah 1
HBP: HUBERTUS, Rachel 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
2
H
3
RBI
3
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
C
/ SoftballUti
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballC/Uti
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
RHP
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