Team Effort Lifts Softball To 3-2 Win over Butler

Tuesday, April 23

Muncie, Ind.

4 p.m.

Ball State University

31-16

Butler

15-28

Butler

Ball State

Photo by: Don Rogers, Ball State University

April 23, 2019 | Softball

Box Score

MUNCIE, Ind.- - It was truly a team effort which helped the Ball State softball team close the home portion of its 2019 season with a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over in-state rival Butler Tuesday afternoon at the Softball Field at First Merchants Ballpark Complex.

In all, 21 different Cardinals (31-16) saw action, including all five pitchers and 16 of the team's 17 active position players.

After the Bulldogs (15-28) jumped on the scoreboard with a run in the top of the first inning, Ball State looked poised to answer in a big way, loading the bases with no outs in the bottom of the inning thanks to an error and back-to-back walks.

However, the Cardinals could only manage one run as sophomore right fielder Kendall Fields drew a third straight walk to even the score at 1-1.

Butler went on to take a 2-1 lead with another run in the top of the third and looked poised to close out the game as their starting pitcher limited the Cardinals to one hit while striking out 10 of the first 24 batters she faced.

Ball State's bench would come up big, however, after a walk to junior second baseman Gabby Magnifico set up yet another clutch at bat from freshman Amaia Daniel. This time it was a one-out, two-run, pinch hit home run to dead center field that drove in what proved to be the game-winning run.

It was Daniel's fourth home run of the season and her 20th hit in the last 20 games. Overall, Daniel has had a hit in 16 of BSU's last 20 games, while reaching base safely in 18 of the last 20 games.

In the circle, junior closer Alyssa Rothwell was credited with the win, after retiring all three batters she faced in the top of the sixth inning. It's Rothwell's fourth win (4-0) of the season to go along with her NCAA-leading 12 saves.

Senior Aeshia Miles picked up the save, her first of the season and the third of her career, after retiring three of the five batters she faced, including a strikeout to end the game.

Redshirt junior Darcie Huber threw the first two innings, allowing three hits and a run. Freshman Sarah Venker entered for the third and fourth innings, striking out five of the 11 batters she faced, while yielding two hits and a run.

The fifth inning belonged to freshman Tieghan Morio, as she retired three of the five batters she faced, allowing just one hit and a walk.

Aside from Daniel's home run, Ball State's other two hits came from junior left fielder Kennedy Wynn and freshman pinch hitter Mackenzie McCarty. The Cardinals also drew six walks, with two coming from Fields.

Next up, the Ball State softball team closes the Mid-American Conference portion of its season with a three-game series at Central Michigan. The teams are scheduled to play a single game Friday (3 p.m.) and a doubleheader Saturday (1 p.m.)

For the most up-to-date news on Ball State softball, follow the team on Twitter: @BallStateSB, @CoachCBartlett & @BallStateSports / Instagram: ballstatesb / Facebook: BallStateSB.