Softball’s Comeback Bid Falls Short in MAC Finale at CMU

Saturday, April 27

Mount Pleasant, Mich.

1 p.m.

Ball State University

32-18, 9-8

Central Michigan

20-24-1, 10-7-1

Ball State

Central Michigan

Softball’s Comeback Bid Falls Short in MAC Finale at CMU

April 27, 2019 | Softball

Box Score

MT. PLEASANT, Mich.- - The Ball State softball team fought until the end Saturday afternoon at Margo Jonker Stadium, but a string of bad fielding luck in the second inning was too much for it to overcome in a 10-8 loss at Central Michigan.

With the setback, the Cardinals end the Mid-American Conference portion of the 2019 season with a 32-18 overall record and a 9-8 mark in league play. BSU will wrap up the regular season next Saturday (May 4), when it travels to Purdue Fort Wayne for non-conference games against the Mastodons (11 a.m.) and Oakland (4 p.m.).

Following that, the Cardinals looked poised to earn one of eight spots in the 2019 MAC Tournament which will be played May 8-11 at Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio.

While the Cardinals jumped out to an early 1-0 lead Saturday against the Chippewas (20-24-1; 10-7-1 MAC), scoring on a two-out bases loaded walk to junior left fielder Kennedy Wynn in the top of the first, it was CMU which would take control of the game early.

The hosts opened the bottom of the second inning with a double and back-to-back singles to even the score at 1-1. From there, the Ball State defense committed four errors in the frame to help the Chippewas score six more unearned runs.

Trailing 7-1, the Cardinals bats came to life in the top of the third. Following a leadoff walk to junior designated player Janae Hogg to open the inning, sophomore third baseman Stacy Payton singled to left and freshman second baseman Amaia Daniel followed with an RBI single to left field to plate BSU's first of three runs in the inning.

After a hard shot up the middle and off the CMU pitcher led to an out at first, and moved both runners into scoring position, senior first baseman Annie Robinson doubled over the outfielder's heads in left-center to plate two more runs.

Unfortunately, CMU would add another run in the fourth and capitalize on another BSU error in the fifth to score two more unearned runs and pull ahead 10-4.

The Cardinals would not go away, however, as a three-run blast from Hogg followed by a solo shot from Payton cut the CMU advantage to 10-8.

That would be the end of the Ball State rally, however, and CMU was able to take the rubber game in the three-game series.

Overall, Ball State had a solid day on offense, collecting 10 hits, including two apiece from Hogg and Payton. However, the defense's five errors led to eight unearned runs, costing the Cardinals the game.

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