Wednesday, April 10
Muncie, Ind.
2 p.m.
Ball State University
27-14, 5-4
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vs
4
Northern Illinois
18-20, 5-6
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2
3
4
5
6
7
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H
E
Northern Illinois
0
2
0
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1
4
5
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Ball State
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4
2
Photo by: Don Rogers, Ball State University
Huskies Slip Past Softball in Series Finale
April 10, 2019 | Softball
MUNCIE, Ind.- - Freshman second baseman Amaia Daniel tried to spark a Ball State softball comeback Wednesday afternoon at the Softball Field at First Merchants Ballpark Complex, smashing an RBI double down the right field line in the third inning.
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It was her second of two hits in the contest and drove in the Cardinals (27-14; 5-4 Mid-American Conference) first run, as BSU answered a two-run Huskies (18-20; 5-6 MAC) second with a two-spot of its own in the third.
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Unfortunately, NIU was able score single runs in both the sixth and seventh innings to escape Muncie with a 4-2 victory and take the home-and-home series two-games-to-one.
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Ball State, which used a pair of ninth-inning home runs to take the second game of last Tuesday's doubleheader in DeKalb, looked poised to break the game open in the bottom of the first. Junior designated player Janae Hogg and sophomore third baseman Stacy Payton each drew two-out walks, while Daniel followed with a single to left to load the bases.
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Unfortunately, a fly to left ended the threat and the Huskies were able to capitalize on two hit batters, a walk and a BSU error to score a pair of unearned runs in the top of the second inning.
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The Cardinals countered in the third on Daniel's RBI double and a wild pitch to score sophomore pitch runner/right fielder Katie Janiga to tie the score at 2-2.
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After a pair of scoreless innings, the Huskies were able to pull off a successful squeeze on a sacrifice bunt in the sixth and saw the blustery wind die down in the seventh to tack on a solo home to give the game its final score of 4-2.
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In the circle, freshman Tieghan Morio turned in a solid start, throwing 5.1 innings and surrendering just two hits and one earned run. Her classmate Sarah Venker entered in relief, pitching the final 1.2 innings and yielding three hits and one run. She also had BSU's lone strikeout of the game.
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Aside from Daniel's two hits, freshman center fielder Kim Manuel and junior left fielder Haley Dominique each singled in the two-run third, setting up the RBI double.
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The Cardinals' offense, which entered the day ranked third nationally in walks, also drew five more free passes on the day.
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Ball State will look to return to the sunny side of the scoreboard Friday, when it opens a three-game series at Western Michigan with a scheduled 3 p.m. first pitch at Ebert Field.
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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: BallStateSB.
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It was her second of two hits in the contest and drove in the Cardinals (27-14; 5-4 Mid-American Conference) first run, as BSU answered a two-run Huskies (18-20; 5-6 MAC) second with a two-spot of its own in the third.
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Unfortunately, NIU was able score single runs in both the sixth and seventh innings to escape Muncie with a 4-2 victory and take the home-and-home series two-games-to-one.
Â
Ball State, which used a pair of ninth-inning home runs to take the second game of last Tuesday's doubleheader in DeKalb, looked poised to break the game open in the bottom of the first. Junior designated player Janae Hogg and sophomore third baseman Stacy Payton each drew two-out walks, while Daniel followed with a single to left to load the bases.
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Unfortunately, a fly to left ended the threat and the Huskies were able to capitalize on two hit batters, a walk and a BSU error to score a pair of unearned runs in the top of the second inning.
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The Cardinals countered in the third on Daniel's RBI double and a wild pitch to score sophomore pitch runner/right fielder Katie Janiga to tie the score at 2-2.
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After a pair of scoreless innings, the Huskies were able to pull off a successful squeeze on a sacrifice bunt in the sixth and saw the blustery wind die down in the seventh to tack on a solo home to give the game its final score of 4-2.
Â
In the circle, freshman Tieghan Morio turned in a solid start, throwing 5.1 innings and surrendering just two hits and one earned run. Her classmate Sarah Venker entered in relief, pitching the final 1.2 innings and yielding three hits and one run. She also had BSU's lone strikeout of the game.
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Aside from Daniel's two hits, freshman center fielder Kim Manuel and junior left fielder Haley Dominique each singled in the two-run third, setting up the RBI double.
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The Cardinals' offense, which entered the day ranked third nationally in walks, also drew five more free passes on the day.
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Ball State will look to return to the sunny side of the scoreboard Friday, when it opens a three-game series at Western Michigan with a scheduled 3 p.m. first pitch at Ebert Field.
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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: BallStateSB.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: BRYAN, Mackenzie (10-11)
L: Morio, Tieghan (3-2)
Batting:
2B: MICKELSON, Kira 1
HR: KELLER, Katie 1
RBI: VAN GEERTRY, Jenny 1 ; KELLER, Katie 1 ; GREENO, Dominique 1 ; SCHMIDT, Sam 1
SH: GOERKE, Hannah 1 ; APATO, Kara 1 ; GREENO, Dominique 1
Base Running:
RUNS: KELLER, Katie 1 ; RIO, Jessica 1 ; GOERKE, Hannah 1 ; APATO, Kara 1
SB: GOERKE, Hannah 1 ; LAMICH, Katie 1
HBP: VAN GEERTRY, Jenny 1 ; HOWLETT, Abby 1 ; GOERKE, Hannah 1 ; LAMICH, Katie 1
Batting:
2B: Daniel, Amaia 1
RBI: Daniel, Amaia 1
SH: Payton, Stacy 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Dominique, Haley 1 ; Janiga, Katie 1
SB: Huffman, Olivia 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
Uti
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
RHP
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