Big Innings Carry Softball Past Samford

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - - The offense turned in a pair of big innings and senior Alyssa Rothwell made a return to the closer role to lead the Ball State softball team to a 9-6 win over Samford Saturday afternoon at Mary Bowers Field.

Unfortunately, the nightcap did not go the Cardinals' (6-9) way, as UAB earned a 12-6 victory.

Ball State will now take the next 12 days to prepare for its Mid-American Conference opening series versus Bowling Green. The Cardinals will host the Falcons for four games starting March 26 at the Softball Field at First Merchants Ballpark Complex.

GAME 1 RECAP: Ball State 9 - Samford 6
Ball State pounded out 11 total hits in the win over the Bulldogs (9-11), with two each from junior second baseman Amaia Daniel, senior first baseman Janae Hogg, junior left fielder Faith Hensley and sophomore third baseman Haley Wynn.

After Samford struck for a run in the top of the third to pull ahead 1-0, the Cardinals exploded for four runs in the bottom of the frame. The first two came courtesy of a two-run single from Daniel. Senior right fielder Haley Dominique followed with a two-run single of her own to make the score 4-1.

However, the Bulldogs went on to regain the lead with two runs in the fourth, two more in the fifth and another in the sixth.

Trailing 6-4, the Cardinals would come through with their second big inning of the day, plating five runs in the bottom of the sixth.

Senior designated player Stacy Payton opened the scoring with a two-run double to left field. After a pitching change and a walk, H. Wynn picked up her second RBI of the season with a single. Two batters later, Daniel drove in the final two runs of the contest with a double, giving her four RBI on the game.

Enter Rothwell in the circle for the top of the seventh. Returning to the closer role for at least one game, Rothwell did not give up a hit or run to lock up her first save of the season.

It is career save number 29 for Rothwell, who is three shy of tying the NCAA Division I record of 32 set by Mississippi State's Kellie Wilkerson (1999-02).

Sophomore Deborah Jones threw the first 6.0 innings to pick up the win, limiting Samford to nine hits and six runs while striking out two batters.

Seven different Cardinals tallied at least one hit in the game, while eight scored at least one run.

GAME 2 RECAP: UAB 12 - Ball State 6
The nightcap once again saw the Cardinals tally 11 hits, led by a 3-for-4 effort from Payton who also drove in a pair of runs in the game.

Similar to Saturday's opener, Ball State fell behind early as UAB scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning.

The Cardinals echoed the opener again in the top of the third, plating four runs to pull ahead 4-2. The first two came thanks to a two-run single from Hogg, one of her two hits in the game. Two batters later, Payton smashed a two-run single of her own into center field to give Ball State the lead.

It was a short-lived lead, however, as UAB countered with six runs in the bottom of the inning and added two more in the fourth to pull ahead 10-4.

Ball State would score a single runs in the fifth and sixth, off a solo home run from Hogg and an RBI single from H. Wynn, respectively.

Unfortunately, the Blazers would get the runs back in the bottom of the sixth to give the game its final score of 12-6.

In addition to Payton's three hits and Hogg's two, H. Wynn and Dominique each tallied two hits in the contest.

Players Mentioned

Amaia Daniel

Haley Dominique

Faith Hensley

Janae Hogg

Deborah Jones

Stacy Payton

Alyssa Rothwell

Haley Wynn