Friday, March 12
Birmingham, AL
12 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. CT
Ball State University
5-7
0
vs
1
Samford
8-9
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Ball State
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
6
0
Samford
0
1
0
0
0
0
X
1
5
0
Photo by: Ball State University Creative Services
Softball Falls Short in Pair of Friday Games
March 12, 2021 | Softball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - - The Ball State softball team opened the second day of action in the Blazer Classic falling a run short in a 1-0 pitcher's duel versus at tough Samford squad.Â
Â
The day did not get any easier, unfortunately, as the Cardinals (5-8) battled an undefeated Southern Illinois in its second game. BSU held within one run through three innings, but the Salukis (15-0) pulled away late for a 7-1 victory.
Â
The Ball State softball team will have a chance to avenge its first two losses of the tournament Saturday, when it closes play in the Blazer Classic with rematches versus Samford (1:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. CT) and host UAB (6:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. CT).
Â
GAME 1 RECAP: Samford 1 - Ball State 0
In Friday's opener, senior pitcher Darcie Huber turned in a brilliant performance, limiting the Bulldogs (8-9) to five hits over her 6.0 innings of work.
Unfortunately, Samford was able to plate a run in the bottom of the second with a two-out RBI single from Mekhi Mayfield. It proved to be the only run of the game.
Â
The Cardinals threatened to score late, loading the bases with two outs in the top of the seventh. Unfortunately, after giving up a single to senior pinch hitter Stacy Payton, walking senior pinch hitter Gabby Magnifico and hitting redshirt sophomore designated player Jazmyne Armendariz to load the based, Samford's Abby Swaney ended the game with her second strikeout of the day.
Â
Senior first baseman Janae Hogg led the Cardinals at the plate, tallying two of BSU's six hits. Another highlight on the offensive side was a third-inning triple from sophomore Haley Wynn.
Â
GAME 2 RECAP: Southern Illinois 7 - Ball State 1
In the day's second game, the Cardinals found themselves battling an SIU squad which entered the day with a 14-0 record and received votes in both the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Top 25 Poll and the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Poll.
Â
The Salukis would strike first, scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the first. Ball State countered with a two-out RBI double from freshman shortstop Kayla Lissy in the top of the third. Junior second baseman Amaia Daniel scored on the play after reaching on a fielder's choice and stealing second.
Â
Unfortunately, SIU was able to score two runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth to secure a 7-1 victory.
Â
Lissy and junior left fielder Faith Hensley had a pair of hits each for the Cardinals. Sophomore Deborah Jones had a strong start against one of the nation's top teams, limiting SIU to six hits and five runs over 4.2 innings of work.Â
Â
The day did not get any easier, unfortunately, as the Cardinals (5-8) battled an undefeated Southern Illinois in its second game. BSU held within one run through three innings, but the Salukis (15-0) pulled away late for a 7-1 victory.
Â
The Ball State softball team will have a chance to avenge its first two losses of the tournament Saturday, when it closes play in the Blazer Classic with rematches versus Samford (1:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. CT) and host UAB (6:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. CT).
Â
GAME 1 RECAP: Samford 1 - Ball State 0
In Friday's opener, senior pitcher Darcie Huber turned in a brilliant performance, limiting the Bulldogs (8-9) to five hits over her 6.0 innings of work.
Unfortunately, Samford was able to plate a run in the bottom of the second with a two-out RBI single from Mekhi Mayfield. It proved to be the only run of the game.
Â
The Cardinals threatened to score late, loading the bases with two outs in the top of the seventh. Unfortunately, after giving up a single to senior pinch hitter Stacy Payton, walking senior pinch hitter Gabby Magnifico and hitting redshirt sophomore designated player Jazmyne Armendariz to load the based, Samford's Abby Swaney ended the game with her second strikeout of the day.
Â
Senior first baseman Janae Hogg led the Cardinals at the plate, tallying two of BSU's six hits. Another highlight on the offensive side was a third-inning triple from sophomore Haley Wynn.
Â
GAME 2 RECAP: Southern Illinois 7 - Ball State 1
In the day's second game, the Cardinals found themselves battling an SIU squad which entered the day with a 14-0 record and received votes in both the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Top 25 Poll and the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Poll.
Â
The Salukis would strike first, scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the first. Ball State countered with a two-out RBI double from freshman shortstop Kayla Lissy in the top of the third. Junior second baseman Amaia Daniel scored on the play after reaching on a fielder's choice and stealing second.
Â
Unfortunately, SIU was able to score two runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth to secure a 7-1 victory.
Â
Lissy and junior left fielder Faith Hensley had a pair of hits each for the Cardinals. Sophomore Deborah Jones had a strong start against one of the nation's top teams, limiting SIU to six hits and five runs over 4.2 innings of work.Â
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Abby Swaney (4-3)
L: Huber, Darcie (2-2)
Batting:
2B: Daniel, Amaia 1
3B: Wynn, Haley 1
Base Running:
CS: Wynn, Kennedy 1
HBP: Armendariz, Jazmyne 1
Batting:
RBI: Mekhi Mayfield 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Merritt Cahoon 1
CS: Grace Robertson 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
2
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
1
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
C/Uti
/ Softball
Uti
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF/OF
/ Softball
C/INF
/ Softball
INF/OF
/ SoftballBall State Director of Athletics Jeff Mitchell discusses the NCAA vs. House Settlement
Tuesday, July 01
Director of Athletics Jeff Mitchell discusses NCAA vs. House Settlement & Bill Richards Thank You
Friday, June 27
Sports Link: Katie Van Der Mark (Softball)
Wednesday, May 21
Sports Link: Kaitlyn Gibson (Softball)
Wednesday, May 07