Softball Shuts Out LIU to Close Saturday Play

ORLANDO, Fla. - - Led by another strong pitching performance, this time from freshman Deborah Jones, the Ball State softball team closed the second day of the UCF Invitational with a 5-0 victory over LIU Saturday afternoon at the UCF Softball Complex.

It was the 11th consecutive win for the Cardinals (14-5), which ties as the longest winning streak in program history. The last time the program won 11 straight games was in 2010, while the 2001 and 1998 squads also strung together 11-game winning streaks.

Jones was rolling early, striking out four of the first seven batters she faced on her way to seven total strikeouts for the day. She also limited the Sharks (6-10) to just five hits over her 6.0 innings of work. Sophomore Tieghan Morio entered to pitch the final inning and retired all three batters she faced to complete the shutout victory.

On offense, Ball State was able to capitalize on a passed ball to score the first run of the contest in the top of the third. Senior left fielder Haley Dominique legged out an infield single to reach base, while a two-out single from senior first baseman Janae Hogg moved her to second.

After a passed ball allowed Dominique to move to third, junior designated player Kendall Fields dropped a bloop single into shallow left field to drive Dominique home.

The score remained 1-0 until the top of the fifth, when senior center fielder Kennedy Wynn connected for her second home run of the season, which was also her first career grand slam.

Hogg singled with one out and was replaced by sophomore pinch runner Becca Clanton for the first base runner. Fields then reached on a fielder's choice, and was replaced by freshman pinch runner Shelby Westbrook, while an error allowed Clanton to advance to second. Sophomore right fielder Trinity Eckerty drew a walk to load the bases for Wynn, who then deposited the ball over the fence in left field to give Ball State a 5-0 cushion.

Overall, seven different Cardinals had at least one hit in the game, with Hogg leading the way with a pair of singles.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON NOTES:
- Ball State is batting .364 as a team over the current 11-game winning streak, with sophomore shortstop Amaia Daniel leading the way with a .500 average during the span … 16 different Cardinals have at least one hit during the streak, while 14 different players have scored at least one run and 10 different players have at least three RBI.

- The Cardinals have connected for at least one home run in each of the last 10 games … Ball State's 25 home runs over the first 19 games of the season are the most in the first 19 games in program history and already rank as the 12th-most in a season in program history … The program's single season record is 70 set by the 2012 squad which amassed 19 over its first 19 games.

- In addition to the 25 home runs, the Cardinals have also been doubling at a record-shattering rate with 41 so far this season … The 19-game total is eighth shy of breaking into the top 20 in program history and 59 shy of the program record of 100 set by the 2012 squad which had 37 over the first 19 games.

UP NEXT:
The Ball State softball team closes play in the UCF Invitational Sunday afternoon with a scheduled 12:30 p.m. first pitch versus Columbia.

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

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Team Stats

Janae Hogg

Amaia Daniel

Stacy Payton

Haley Dominique

Players Mentioned

Becca Clanton

Amaia Daniel

Haley Dominique

Trinity Eckerty

Kendall Fields

Janae Hogg

Deborah Jones

Tieghan Morio

Shelby Westbrook

Kennedy Wynn

Players Mentioned

Becca Clanton

Amaia Daniel

Haley Dominique

Trinity Eckerty

Kendall Fields

Janae Hogg

Deborah Jones

Tieghan Morio

Shelby Westbrook

Kennedy Wynn