Saturday, April 13
Kalamazoo, Mich.
1 p.m.
Ball State University
28-15, 6-5
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Western Michigan (GM 1)
12-18, 5-5
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Ball State
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Western Michigan
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Photo by: Ball State University Creative Services
Softball Captures Weekend Series at Western Michigan
April 13, 2019 | Softball
KALAMAZOO, Mich.- - Thanks to another home run from sophomore designated player Kendall Fields and more strong pitching from freshman Tieghan Morio, the Ball State softball team won its three-game series at Western Michigan with a 5-3 victory in the rubber game Saturday evening at Ebert Field.
Fields' two-run shot to give the Cardinals (29-15; 7-5 Mid-American Conference) a 4-2 lead in the nightcap was not her only big hit of the day. With two outs, a full count and BSU trailing 9-6 in the bottom of the seventh in Saturday's first game, Fields blasted a three-run homer to tie the score in force extra innings.
Unfortunately, the Broncos (12-19; 5-6 MAC) were able to push across what proved to be the game-winning run in the eighth to take the opener 10-9, forcing a rubber game in the series.
Fields finished the weekend with three home runs, 10 RBI and a 1.083 slugging percentage. She hit a grand slam in Friday's series opener, a three-run blast and an RBI single in the second game, plus a two-run home run in Saturday's nightcap.
Back in the circle, Morio shined once again in the nightcap versus the Broncos, limiting the hosts to eight hits and one earned run over 5.2 innings of work. With the effort, she secured her second victory of the weekend and her fifth of the season.
Then, for the final inning-and-a-third, enter junior closer Alyssa Rothwell who secured her 11th save of the season in the win. She started by striking out the first batter she faced in the bottom of the sixth with two WMU players on base. After an error to open the bottom of the seventh, Rothwell forced three straight popups to short to end the game.
With her 11th save of the season, Rothwell tied her Ball State and MAC single season record and upped her career total to 25. The NCAA Division I single season saves record is 15 held by Mallory Aldred (Canisius, 2008) and Taylor Bauman (FGCU, 2018). The NCAA Division I career saves record is 32 held by Kellie Wilkerson (Mississippi State, 1999-2002).
In Saturday's nightcap, WMU opened the scoring by capitalizing on a pair of Ball State errors to score two unearned runs in the first inning. The Cardinals countered in the top of the second with a one-out single off the fence by senior first baseman Annie Robinson and an RBI double to right center by sophomore shortstop Hailey Demnianiuk.
The Cardinals then took the lead for good with a four-run third inning. Freshman center fielder Kim Manuel opened the inning with a double down the left field line over the pulled in WMU defense. After junior left fielder Haley Dominique moved her to third with a sacrifice bunt, sophomore third baseman Stacy Payton brought her home with a single to center.
Two batters later, Fields deposited her third home run of the weekend over the fence in left-center field. The Cardinals were not done there, however, as Robinson followed with a double to right center and freshman pinch runner Becca Clanton scored on an RBI double to left by junior right fielder Kennedy Wynn.
WMU scored its final run of the game in the bottom of the fourth, before stranding the bases loaded in the fifth and two more runners in the sixth.
Overall, the Cardinals pounded out eight hits in the second game, with two each from Payton and Robinson.
Both offenses took flight in the opener, as the teams traded two run bursts in both the first and second innings.
With the score tied at 4-4 after two, WMU was able to pull ahead 9-4 with three more runs in the third and two more in the fourth.
The Cardinals would battle back, however, as Payton smashed a two-run shot off the top of the foul pole in left field in the fifth inning.
Following a scoreless sixth, Fields worked the count full with two outs and two on in the top of the seventh before forcing extra innings with a three-run shot off the top of a parked car in center field.
Unfortunately, the Broncos pushed across the winning run in the bottom of the eighth, taking the game 10-9.
Ball State's batters also squared up eight hits in the opener, with two each from Dominique, freshman second baseman Amaia Daniel and Fields.
The Ball State softball team returns to action Friday, when it opens senior weekend with a scheduled 3 p.m. first pitch versus Toledo. The Cardinals and Rockets are also scheduled to play at 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday, with Ball State honoring its four-member senior class following the second game.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State softball, follow the team on Twitter: @BallStateSB, @CoachCBartlett & @BallStateSports / Instagram: ballstatesb / Facebook: BallStateSB.
Fields' two-run shot to give the Cardinals (29-15; 7-5 Mid-American Conference) a 4-2 lead in the nightcap was not her only big hit of the day. With two outs, a full count and BSU trailing 9-6 in the bottom of the seventh in Saturday's first game, Fields blasted a three-run homer to tie the score in force extra innings.
Unfortunately, the Broncos (12-19; 5-6 MAC) were able to push across what proved to be the game-winning run in the eighth to take the opener 10-9, forcing a rubber game in the series.
Fields finished the weekend with three home runs, 10 RBI and a 1.083 slugging percentage. She hit a grand slam in Friday's series opener, a three-run blast and an RBI single in the second game, plus a two-run home run in Saturday's nightcap.
Back in the circle, Morio shined once again in the nightcap versus the Broncos, limiting the hosts to eight hits and one earned run over 5.2 innings of work. With the effort, she secured her second victory of the weekend and her fifth of the season.
Then, for the final inning-and-a-third, enter junior closer Alyssa Rothwell who secured her 11th save of the season in the win. She started by striking out the first batter she faced in the bottom of the sixth with two WMU players on base. After an error to open the bottom of the seventh, Rothwell forced three straight popups to short to end the game.
With her 11th save of the season, Rothwell tied her Ball State and MAC single season record and upped her career total to 25. The NCAA Division I single season saves record is 15 held by Mallory Aldred (Canisius, 2008) and Taylor Bauman (FGCU, 2018). The NCAA Division I career saves record is 32 held by Kellie Wilkerson (Mississippi State, 1999-2002).
In Saturday's nightcap, WMU opened the scoring by capitalizing on a pair of Ball State errors to score two unearned runs in the first inning. The Cardinals countered in the top of the second with a one-out single off the fence by senior first baseman Annie Robinson and an RBI double to right center by sophomore shortstop Hailey Demnianiuk.
The Cardinals then took the lead for good with a four-run third inning. Freshman center fielder Kim Manuel opened the inning with a double down the left field line over the pulled in WMU defense. After junior left fielder Haley Dominique moved her to third with a sacrifice bunt, sophomore third baseman Stacy Payton brought her home with a single to center.
Two batters later, Fields deposited her third home run of the weekend over the fence in left-center field. The Cardinals were not done there, however, as Robinson followed with a double to right center and freshman pinch runner Becca Clanton scored on an RBI double to left by junior right fielder Kennedy Wynn.
WMU scored its final run of the game in the bottom of the fourth, before stranding the bases loaded in the fifth and two more runners in the sixth.
Overall, the Cardinals pounded out eight hits in the second game, with two each from Payton and Robinson.
Both offenses took flight in the opener, as the teams traded two run bursts in both the first and second innings.
With the score tied at 4-4 after two, WMU was able to pull ahead 9-4 with three more runs in the third and two more in the fourth.
The Cardinals would battle back, however, as Payton smashed a two-run shot off the top of the foul pole in left field in the fifth inning.
Following a scoreless sixth, Fields worked the count full with two outs and two on in the top of the seventh before forcing extra innings with a three-run shot off the top of a parked car in center field.
Unfortunately, the Broncos pushed across the winning run in the bottom of the eighth, taking the game 10-9.
Ball State's batters also squared up eight hits in the opener, with two each from Dominique, freshman second baseman Amaia Daniel and Fields.
The Ball State softball team returns to action Friday, when it opens senior weekend with a scheduled 3 p.m. first pitch versus Toledo. The Cardinals and Rockets are also scheduled to play at 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday, with Ball State honoring its four-member senior class following the second game.
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: STEFANICK, Sydney (5-6)
L: Miles, Aeshia (5-8)
Batting:
2B: Dominique, Haley 1 ; Robinson, Annie 1
HR: Payton, Stacy 1 ; Fields, Kendall 1
RBI: Dominique, Haley 1 ; Daniel, Amaia 1 ; Payton, Stacy 2 ; Fields, Kendall 4 ; Robinson, Annie 1
SH: Manuel, Kim 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Manuel, Kim 1 ; Dominique, Haley 3 ; Daniel, Amaia 1 ; Payton, Stacy 2 ; Fields, Kendall 1 ; Demnianiuk, Hailey 1
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Batting:
2B: FAULTERSACK, Jenna 1 ; STEFANICK, Sydney 1 ; BARG, Erin 1
3B: NUYEN, Emma 1
HR: STEFANICK, Sydney 1
RBI: SWINEHART, Mackenzie 1 ; STEFANICK, Sydney 4 ; WYMAN, Brooke 2 ; NUYEN, Emma 2
SH: BARG, Erin 2
Base Running:
RUNS: FAULTERSACK, Jenna 1 ; STEFANICK, Sydney 2 ; GLENFIELD, Kaylen 2 ; WYMAN, Brooke 1 ; SOBESKI, Skyler 1 ; KEHOE, Maggie 1 ; NUYEN, Emma 2
HBP: FAULTERSACK, Jenna 1
Game Leaders
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RBI
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4
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2
RBI
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4
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1
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2
RBI
4
AB
3
R
2
H
1
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
C
/ SoftballUti
/ Softball
INF
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OF
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RHP
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INF
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RHP
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INF/OF
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