Tuesday, April 2
DeKalb, Ill.
2 p.m. (ET)
Ball State University
25-11, 3-1
6
at
7
Northern Illinois (GM 1)
16-17, 3-3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Ball State
0
0
0
0
0
4
2
6
2
0
Northern Illinois
0
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3
0
1
X
7
11
1
Photo by: Tessa Mortensen
Wynn’s Home Runs Lead Softball to Tuesday Split at NIU
April 02, 2019 | Softball
DEKALB, Ill.- - Junior outfielder Kennedy Wynn blasted a pair of home runs in the nightcap to help lead the Ball State softball team to a Tuesday split in a Mid-American Conference doubleheader at Northern Illinois.
After a near miraculous comeback fell a run short in a 7-6 loss to open the day, the Cardinals (26-11; 4-1 MAC) rallied for seven unanswered runs in the nightcap to pick up a 7-5 (9) victory and secure the split with the Huskies (16-18; 3-4 MAC).
Wynn was the offensive hero of the second game, going 3-for-5 at the plate with a pair of home runs, two RBIs and three runs scored. After being limited to just two hits in the opener, the Cardinals offense broke out in the second game with 13 total hits.
After NIU scored five runs in the bottom of the third, Wynn got the offense rolling with a one-out single in the top of the fourth. Sophomore shortstop Hailey Demnianiuk followed with a single to center field, her first of three hits in the game, and an error on the play allowed both runners to move into scoring position.
Senior catcher Madison Lee followed with an RBI single, plating Wynn for BSU's first run of the game, while a wild pitch on a walk to freshman outfielder Kim Manual brought home Demnianiuk to cut the Huskies lead to 5-2.
Wynn then made it a two-run game, at 5-3, in the top of the fifth, blasting a 2-2 pitch over the fence in left-center field for her third home run of the season.
Ball State would go on to even the score in the top of the sixth, thanks to a leadoff single from Manuel and back-to-back RBI doubles from junior outfielder Haley Dominique and sophomore third baseman Stacy Payton.
The score remained deadlocked at 5-5 until one out in the top of the ninth, when Wynn belted her second solo shot of the game to give Ball State a 6-5 edge. Demnianiuk followed with her second career home run, adding an insurance run at 7-5.
Junior Alyssa Rothwell then shut down the Huskies in the bottom of the ninth, including her fourth strikeout of the day to end the game. Overall, Rothwell threw the final 2.2 innings and allowed just two base runners to go along with her four strikeouts as she improved to 2-0 on the year.
Senior Aeshia Miles started the game, striking out two Huskies while allowing seven hits and five runs (four earned) over the first 3.0 innings. Freshman Tieghan Morio entered in relief, throwing the next 3.1 innings and retiring 11 of the 14 batters she faced, including three on strikeouts.
In the opener, the Cardinals found themselves down 6-0 after NIU stuck for three runs in the third and three more in the fourth. However, they would not go down without a fight, posting four runs in the top of the sixth.
Freshman second baseman Amaia Daniel was hit by a pitch with one out to start the rally, while freshman first baseman Mackenzie McCarty reached on a fielder's choice in the next at bat, with an error on the play allowing Daniel to advance to second.
Wynn then entered as a pinch hitter, drawing a walk to load the bases. Two batters later senior catcher Olivia Huffman drew a two-out bases loaded walk to bring in Ball State's first run of the game. Freshman relief pitcher Sarah Venker then cleared the bases with a pinch hit, three-run double to make the score 6-4.
Unfortunately, NIU was able to score a run in the bottom of the sixth to reclaiming a three-run edge at 7-4. That proved to be a critical run, as the Cardinals were able to get a little more two-out magic in the seventh after Daniel was hit by a pitch and McCarty blasted a two-run shot to bring BSU within one at 7-6. However, the rally stopped there as a fly to deep center was tracked down to end the game.
Huber suffered the loss in the opener, allowing five runs on six hits over 3.2 innings. She did manage to strikeout six batters, however. Venker pitched the final 2.1 innings, allowing five hits and two runs, while picking up one strikeout.
The Ball State softball team returns to action Friday, when it welcomes Bowling Green to the Softball Field at First Merchants Ballpark complex for a 3 p.m. first pitch on ESPN3. The teams will also play a Saturday doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. on ESPN3.
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State softball, follow the team on Twitter: @BallStateSB, @CoachCBartlett & @BallStateSports / Instagram: ballstatesb / Facebook: BallStateSB.
After a near miraculous comeback fell a run short in a 7-6 loss to open the day, the Cardinals (26-11; 4-1 MAC) rallied for seven unanswered runs in the nightcap to pick up a 7-5 (9) victory and secure the split with the Huskies (16-18; 3-4 MAC).
Wynn was the offensive hero of the second game, going 3-for-5 at the plate with a pair of home runs, two RBIs and three runs scored. After being limited to just two hits in the opener, the Cardinals offense broke out in the second game with 13 total hits.
After NIU scored five runs in the bottom of the third, Wynn got the offense rolling with a one-out single in the top of the fourth. Sophomore shortstop Hailey Demnianiuk followed with a single to center field, her first of three hits in the game, and an error on the play allowed both runners to move into scoring position.
Senior catcher Madison Lee followed with an RBI single, plating Wynn for BSU's first run of the game, while a wild pitch on a walk to freshman outfielder Kim Manual brought home Demnianiuk to cut the Huskies lead to 5-2.
Wynn then made it a two-run game, at 5-3, in the top of the fifth, blasting a 2-2 pitch over the fence in left-center field for her third home run of the season.
Ball State would go on to even the score in the top of the sixth, thanks to a leadoff single from Manuel and back-to-back RBI doubles from junior outfielder Haley Dominique and sophomore third baseman Stacy Payton.
The score remained deadlocked at 5-5 until one out in the top of the ninth, when Wynn belted her second solo shot of the game to give Ball State a 6-5 edge. Demnianiuk followed with her second career home run, adding an insurance run at 7-5.
Junior Alyssa Rothwell then shut down the Huskies in the bottom of the ninth, including her fourth strikeout of the day to end the game. Overall, Rothwell threw the final 2.2 innings and allowed just two base runners to go along with her four strikeouts as she improved to 2-0 on the year.
Senior Aeshia Miles started the game, striking out two Huskies while allowing seven hits and five runs (four earned) over the first 3.0 innings. Freshman Tieghan Morio entered in relief, throwing the next 3.1 innings and retiring 11 of the 14 batters she faced, including three on strikeouts.
In the opener, the Cardinals found themselves down 6-0 after NIU stuck for three runs in the third and three more in the fourth. However, they would not go down without a fight, posting four runs in the top of the sixth.
Freshman second baseman Amaia Daniel was hit by a pitch with one out to start the rally, while freshman first baseman Mackenzie McCarty reached on a fielder's choice in the next at bat, with an error on the play allowing Daniel to advance to second.
Wynn then entered as a pinch hitter, drawing a walk to load the bases. Two batters later senior catcher Olivia Huffman drew a two-out bases loaded walk to bring in Ball State's first run of the game. Freshman relief pitcher Sarah Venker then cleared the bases with a pinch hit, three-run double to make the score 6-4.
Unfortunately, NIU was able to score a run in the bottom of the sixth to reclaiming a three-run edge at 7-4. That proved to be a critical run, as the Cardinals were able to get a little more two-out magic in the seventh after Daniel was hit by a pitch and McCarty blasted a two-run shot to bring BSU within one at 7-6. However, the rally stopped there as a fly to deep center was tracked down to end the game.
Huber suffered the loss in the opener, allowing five runs on six hits over 3.2 innings. She did manage to strikeout six batters, however. Venker pitched the final 2.1 innings, allowing five hits and two runs, while picking up one strikeout.
The Ball State softball team returns to action Friday, when it welcomes Bowling Green to the Softball Field at First Merchants Ballpark complex for a 3 p.m. first pitch on ESPN3. The teams will also play a Saturday doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. on ESPN3.
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: BRYAN (10-7)
L: Huber, Darcie (4-2)
Batting:
2B: Venker, Sarah 1
HR: McCarty, Mackenzie 1
RBI: McCarty, Mackenzie 2 ; Huffman, Olivia 1 ; Venker, Sarah 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Daniel, Amaia 2 ; McCarty, Mackenzie 2 ; Wynn, Kennedy 1 ; Huffman, Olivia 1
HBP: Dominique, Haley 1 ; Daniel, Amaia 2
Batting:
2B: ALLEN 2 ; KELLER 1 ; HOWLETT 1
3B: KELLER 1
RBI: ALLEN 1 ; KELLER 3 ; BARONE 3
SH: BARONE 1
Base Running:
RUNS: V. GEERTRY 2 ; ALLEN 2 ; KELLER 2 ; MAHY 1
SB: BARONE 1 ; RODRIGUEZ 1
CS: RIO 1
HBP: KELLER 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
2
H
1
RBI
2
p/ph
AB
1
R
0
H
1
RBI
3
AB
2
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
Uti
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
C
/ SoftballC
/ Softball
C
/ SoftballC/Uti
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
RHP
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
RHP
/ SoftballRHP
/ Softball
INF/OF
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