Saturday, March 6
Starkville, MS
11 a.m. ET / 10 a.m. CT
Ball State University
3-4
10
vs
3
Alcorn State
2-7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Alcorn State
0
0
1
0
2
0
0
3
6
1
Ball State
5
0
0
2
0
3
X
10
12
2
Hensley’s Big Day Leads Softball To Saturday Split
March 06, 2021 | Softball
STARKVILLE, Miss. - - Powered by two home runs and seven RBI from junior outfielder Faith Hensley, the Ball State softball team opened the second day of the Bulldog Invitational with a 10-3 victory over Alcorn State.
Unfortunately, the Cardinals (3-5) could not carry over the momentum into the nightcap, suffering an 8-1 loss to Western Kentucky.
To produce her career-high seven RBI against the Lady Braves (2-8), Hensley blasted her first career grand slam in the bottom of the first. She also capped the scoring with a three-run shot in the bottom of the sixth. In between, she tallied a pair of singles and stole a pair of bases
The opener also saw some more brilliant pitching form junior Tieghan Morio, while helped Alcorn to just six hits and three unearned runs to pick up her second win of the season. She also fanned three batters.
In the game versus the Hilltoppers (9-2), the Cardinals were limited to just four hits, including a third-inning RBI single from senior left fielder Haley Dominique.
The Ball State softball team closes play in the Bulldog Invitational Sunday, with an Noon ET / 11 a.m. CT first pitch versus Alcorn State.
GAME 1 RECAP: Ball State 10 - Alcorn State 3
Ball State jumped out to an early 5-0 lead thanks in part to Hensley, who blasted her first career grand slam in the bottom of the first inning.
Ball State's five-run rally started with a one-out walk to Dominique. Following a walk to senior center fielder Kennedy Wynn, senior first baseman Janae Hogg logged her first of two hits in the game to load the bases.
The bases didn't stay loaded for long, as Hensley blasted an 0-1 pitch over the wall in right field. Four batters later, senior right fielder Katie Janiga drove in the final run of the inning with an RBI single to left. Redshirt sophomore catcher Jazmyne Armendariz scored on the play after reaching base and advancing to third on a Lady Braves error.
The score remained 5-0 until the top of the third, when Alcorn State capitalized on a Ball State error for its first of three unearned runs in the game.
The Cardinals countered with two runs in the bottom of the fourth, courtesy of a two-run single to left field from Hogg. Junior shortstop Amaia Daniel opened the inning with a walk, while Dominique followed with a single. The pair then pulled off a double steal, setting up the two-run single from Hogg.
A pair of Ball State errors led to two more Alcorn runs in the top of the fifth, cutting the Cardinals advantage to four at 7-3.
Hensley would take any doubt out of the contest in the bottom of the sixth with her second home run of the game and team-leading third of the season. The three-run blast also plated freshman Hannah Dukeman who registered her first career hit two batters earlier, as well as Hogg who drew a walk.
In the circle, junior Morio earned her second win and first complete game victory of the season, limiting Alcorn State to six hits and three unearned runs over 7.0 innings. She also struck out three of the 34 batters she faced in the game.
GAME 2 RECAP: Western Kentucky 8 - Ball State 1
The rematch versus Western Kentucky started with a scoreless first, as the first seven batters of the game were retired in order.
The eighth batter, Hensley was the first to reach after being hit by a pitch. Unfortunately, the Cardinals could not capitalize despite the two-out single from McCarty which pushed a runner into scoring position.
Unfortunately, in the bottom of the inning the Hilltoppers were able to take advantage of a Ball State error and plate the game's first run on a two-out RBI single.
The Cardinals were able to counter with a run in the top of the third, thanks to an RBI single from Dominique which plated freshman shortstop Kayla Lissy who walked to open the inning and moved to second on a sac bunt by junior second baseman Amaia Daniel.
The tie did not last long, however, as WKU score five in the bottom of the inning and added two more in the bottom of the fourth to give the game it's final score of 8-1.
Unfortunately, the Cardinals (3-5) could not carry over the momentum into the nightcap, suffering an 8-1 loss to Western Kentucky.
To produce her career-high seven RBI against the Lady Braves (2-8), Hensley blasted her first career grand slam in the bottom of the first. She also capped the scoring with a three-run shot in the bottom of the sixth. In between, she tallied a pair of singles and stole a pair of bases
The opener also saw some more brilliant pitching form junior Tieghan Morio, while helped Alcorn to just six hits and three unearned runs to pick up her second win of the season. She also fanned three batters.
In the game versus the Hilltoppers (9-2), the Cardinals were limited to just four hits, including a third-inning RBI single from senior left fielder Haley Dominique.
The Ball State softball team closes play in the Bulldog Invitational Sunday, with an Noon ET / 11 a.m. CT first pitch versus Alcorn State.
GAME 1 RECAP: Ball State 10 - Alcorn State 3
Ball State jumped out to an early 5-0 lead thanks in part to Hensley, who blasted her first career grand slam in the bottom of the first inning.
Ball State's five-run rally started with a one-out walk to Dominique. Following a walk to senior center fielder Kennedy Wynn, senior first baseman Janae Hogg logged her first of two hits in the game to load the bases.
The bases didn't stay loaded for long, as Hensley blasted an 0-1 pitch over the wall in right field. Four batters later, senior right fielder Katie Janiga drove in the final run of the inning with an RBI single to left. Redshirt sophomore catcher Jazmyne Armendariz scored on the play after reaching base and advancing to third on a Lady Braves error.
The score remained 5-0 until the top of the third, when Alcorn State capitalized on a Ball State error for its first of three unearned runs in the game.
The Cardinals countered with two runs in the bottom of the fourth, courtesy of a two-run single to left field from Hogg. Junior shortstop Amaia Daniel opened the inning with a walk, while Dominique followed with a single. The pair then pulled off a double steal, setting up the two-run single from Hogg.
A pair of Ball State errors led to two more Alcorn runs in the top of the fifth, cutting the Cardinals advantage to four at 7-3.
Hensley would take any doubt out of the contest in the bottom of the sixth with her second home run of the game and team-leading third of the season. The three-run blast also plated freshman Hannah Dukeman who registered her first career hit two batters earlier, as well as Hogg who drew a walk.
In the circle, junior Morio earned her second win and first complete game victory of the season, limiting Alcorn State to six hits and three unearned runs over 7.0 innings. She also struck out three of the 34 batters she faced in the game.
GAME 2 RECAP: Western Kentucky 8 - Ball State 1
The rematch versus Western Kentucky started with a scoreless first, as the first seven batters of the game were retired in order.
The eighth batter, Hensley was the first to reach after being hit by a pitch. Unfortunately, the Cardinals could not capitalize despite the two-out single from McCarty which pushed a runner into scoring position.
Unfortunately, in the bottom of the inning the Hilltoppers were able to take advantage of a Ball State error and plate the game's first run on a two-out RBI single.
The Cardinals were able to counter with a run in the top of the third, thanks to an RBI single from Dominique which plated freshman shortstop Kayla Lissy who walked to open the inning and moved to second on a sac bunt by junior second baseman Amaia Daniel.
The tie did not last long, however, as WKU score five in the bottom of the inning and added two more in the bottom of the fourth to give the game it's final score of 8-1.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Morio, Tieghan (2-1)
L: Ramirez, Alexsis (0-1)
Batting:
RBI: Hunt, Marsha 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Morgan, Chloey 1 ; Ramsey, Amari 2
HBP: Ramsey, Amari 1
Batting:
HR: Hensley, Faith 2
RBI: Hogg, Janae 2 ; Hensley, Faith 7 ; Janiga, Katie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Daniel, Amaia 1 ; Dominique, Haley 2 ; Wynn, Kennedy 1 ; Dukeman, Hannah 1 ; Hogg, Janae 1 ; Wynn, Haley 1 ; Hensley, Faith 2 ; Armendariz, Jazmyne 1
SB: Daniel, Amaia 1 ; Dominique, Haley 1 ; Dukeman, Hannah 1 ; Hensley, Faith 2 ; Magnifico, Gabby 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
2
H
4
RBI
7
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
C/Uti
/ Softball
Uti
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF/C
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
INF/OF
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