Wednesday, May 8
Akron, Ohio / Firestone Stadium
6 p.m.
Ball State University
34-19
2
vs
3
Ohio
32-19
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
R
H
E
Ball State
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
2
4
1
Ohio
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
1
3
5
1
Photo by: Ball State University Creative Services
Softball Falls Run Short in Extra Inning Thriller vs. Ohio
May 08, 2019 | Softball
AKRON, Ohio - - The Ball State softball team got a pair of strong pitching performances and a big hit from another pitcher turned outfielder, but ultimately fell a run short in a 3-2 extra-inning loss to Ohio in its opening game of the 2019 Mid-American Conference Softball Championship.
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In the circle, senior pitcher Aeshia Miles started the game strong for the Cardinals (34-19), holding the Bobcats (32-19) off the board over the first 4.1 innings. Unfortunately, the MAC's leading home run team came up with a big second at bat in the fifth, pulling ahead 1-0 on a solo shot to left field.
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Ohio added another run in the bottom of the sixth inning, putting runners on second and third with one out aided by a Ball State error. The Bobcats then used a successful squeeze bunt to pull ahead 2-0.
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The hosts on the scoreboard would use another squeeze play to load the bases before Ball State junior closer Alyssa Rothwell struck out back-to-back batters to end the inning and strand bases loaded.
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The Ohio defense returned the error to open the top of the seventh inning as the shortstop misplayed a slow grounder to allow senior first baseman Annie Robinson to reach base. The Cardinals then turned to freshman pinch runner Kim Manual for some speed at first.
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It turns out her speed was not needed, as freshman center fielder Sarah Venker deposited an 0-1 pitch over the fence in left field to even the score at 2-2. It was Venker's second two-run home run of the season, as she also hit a big blast in Ball State's come-from-behind 6-5 win at Mercer (March 16).
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From there, the Cardinals were able to force extra innings, only to see the Bobcats score the winning run on a two-out walkoff single down the left field line in the bottom of the eighth.
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Over her 5.1 innings of work, Miles limited the Bobcats to just four hits and a pair of runs. She also struck out four batters. Rothwell held Ohio to just one hit over her 2.1 innings of work while striking out a pair of batters.
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In addition to Venker's home run, Robinson added a two-out single in the second for the Cardinals first hit of the game. Freshman pinch hitter Trinity Eckerty added a one-out single in the fifth, while sophomore third baseman Stacy Payton open the eighth inning with a single to left for Ball State's fourth and final hit of the game.
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The Ball State softball team will look to fend off elimination Thursday at 6 p.m. when it battles second-seeded Kent State in the final game of the second day of the tournament.
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With inclement weather in the forecast for tomorrow, stay tuned to the Ball State softball twitter account (@BallStateSB) and the MAC Softball Championship website (https://getsomemaction.com/tournaments/?id=116&path=softball)Â for any schedule updates.
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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.Â
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In the circle, senior pitcher Aeshia Miles started the game strong for the Cardinals (34-19), holding the Bobcats (32-19) off the board over the first 4.1 innings. Unfortunately, the MAC's leading home run team came up with a big second at bat in the fifth, pulling ahead 1-0 on a solo shot to left field.
Â
Ohio added another run in the bottom of the sixth inning, putting runners on second and third with one out aided by a Ball State error. The Bobcats then used a successful squeeze bunt to pull ahead 2-0.
Â
The hosts on the scoreboard would use another squeeze play to load the bases before Ball State junior closer Alyssa Rothwell struck out back-to-back batters to end the inning and strand bases loaded.
Â
The Ohio defense returned the error to open the top of the seventh inning as the shortstop misplayed a slow grounder to allow senior first baseman Annie Robinson to reach base. The Cardinals then turned to freshman pinch runner Kim Manual for some speed at first.
Â
It turns out her speed was not needed, as freshman center fielder Sarah Venker deposited an 0-1 pitch over the fence in left field to even the score at 2-2. It was Venker's second two-run home run of the season, as she also hit a big blast in Ball State's come-from-behind 6-5 win at Mercer (March 16).
Â
From there, the Cardinals were able to force extra innings, only to see the Bobcats score the winning run on a two-out walkoff single down the left field line in the bottom of the eighth.
Â
Over her 5.1 innings of work, Miles limited the Bobcats to just four hits and a pair of runs. She also struck out four batters. Rothwell held Ohio to just one hit over her 2.1 innings of work while striking out a pair of batters.
Â
In addition to Venker's home run, Robinson added a two-out single in the second for the Cardinals first hit of the game. Freshman pinch hitter Trinity Eckerty added a one-out single in the fifth, while sophomore third baseman Stacy Payton open the eighth inning with a single to left for Ball State's fourth and final hit of the game.
Â
The Ball State softball team will look to fend off elimination Thursday at 6 p.m. when it battles second-seeded Kent State in the final game of the second day of the tournament.
Â
With inclement weather in the forecast for tomorrow, stay tuned to the Ball State softball twitter account (@BallStateSB) and the MAC Softball Championship website (https://getsomemaction.com/tournaments/?id=116&path=softball)Â for any schedule updates.
Â
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State softball, follow the team on Twitter: @BallStateSB, @CoachCBartlett & @BallStateSports / Instagram: ballstatesb / Facebook: BallStateSB.Â
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: MCCRADY, Madi (21-11)
L: Rothwell, Alyssa (4-1)
Batting:
HR: Venker, Sarah 1
RBI: Venker, Sarah 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Manuel, Kim 1 ; Venker, Sarah 1
SB: Huffman, Olivia 1
HBP: Dominique, Haley 1 ; Huffman, Olivia 1 ; Wynn, Kennedy 1
Batting:
HR: BRUNSWICK, MacKenzie 1
RBI: GENO, Morgan 1 ; POND, Charlee 1 ; BRUNSWICK, MacKenzie 1
SH: GENO, Morgan 1 ; ALVAREZ, Natalie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: YUN, Katie 2 ; BRUNSWICK, MacKenzie 1
HBP: GENO, Morgan 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
cf/rf
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
AB
1
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Softball
RHP
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
RHP
/ SoftballRHP
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