Tuesday, April 13
Indianapolis, IN
4 p.m,
Ball State University
17-10
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Butler
14-15
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7
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H
E
Ball State
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Butler
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2
Butler Slips Past Softball in Final At Bat
April 13, 2021 | Softball
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - - After rallying for three fifth inning runs to take a 4-3 advantage, the Ball State softball team looked like it was heading for a program record 12th straight victory Tuesday afternoon at the Butler Softball Field.
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Unfortunately, the Bulldogs (14-15) took a page from the Cardinals' (18-10) playbook and put runners at first and second with no outs in the bottom of the seventh. Ball State managed to get the next two batters out, but despite a nice diving attempt on a tailing liner to right-center field, Butler was able to get a two-run, game-winning double in the final at bat for a 5-4 victory.
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The loss snaps Ball State's winning streak at 11 games, which ties as the longest in program history with runs of similar length in 1998, 2001, 2010 and 2020.
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While the Cardinals did not get the win, there were some big positives from today's game, highlighted by the three-run fifth inning. Freshman Kayla Lissy started the rally with a one-out triple to right field.
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Junior pinch hitter Trinity Eckerty followed with a RBI sacrifice bunt, and was actually able to stay alive as she reached on a fielders' choice and moved to second on a throwing error. Senior pinch hitter Gabby Magnifico took advantage, following with her first career triple to tie the score.
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The score was not tied for long, as Magnifico came around to score the go-ahead run, at 4-3, on a wild pitch.
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The score remained 4-3 until the two-out, walk-off double by Butler shortstop Maddie Moore.
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The Bulldogs actually jumped out to an early 2-0 lead thanks to a pair of first inning runs. Ball State was able to get one of the runs back on a RBI single from senior designated player Janae Hogg in the top of the third.
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Freshman pinch runner Kaitlyn Mathews scored on the play after entering to run for senior first baseman Stacy Payton who drew a walk. Mathews then advanced two bases on a pair of wild pitches, setting up the RBI single.
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Butler would get the run back in the bottom of the frame, however, to pull ahead 3-1. Cue the three-run fifth for Ball State.
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Overall, the Bulldogs' pitching did a good job keeping the Cardinals offense under wraps, allowing just four hits to a Ball State squad that entered the game ranked 22nd nationally with a .323 team batting average.
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On the other side, Ball State's pitching allowed just six hits in the game. Senior Darcie Huber started the game, throwing the first 3.0 innings and allowing just three hits and two runs. Senior Alyssa Rothwell pitch the final 3.2, allowing just three hits and three runs herself.
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The Ball State softball team returns to action Friday, when it opens a four-game series Mid-American Conference series at Akron. The Cardinals are 11-0 in MAC play this season, including series sweeps of Bowling Green, Central Michigan and Kent State.
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Unfortunately, the Bulldogs (14-15) took a page from the Cardinals' (18-10) playbook and put runners at first and second with no outs in the bottom of the seventh. Ball State managed to get the next two batters out, but despite a nice diving attempt on a tailing liner to right-center field, Butler was able to get a two-run, game-winning double in the final at bat for a 5-4 victory.
Â
The loss snaps Ball State's winning streak at 11 games, which ties as the longest in program history with runs of similar length in 1998, 2001, 2010 and 2020.
Â
While the Cardinals did not get the win, there were some big positives from today's game, highlighted by the three-run fifth inning. Freshman Kayla Lissy started the rally with a one-out triple to right field.
Â
Junior pinch hitter Trinity Eckerty followed with a RBI sacrifice bunt, and was actually able to stay alive as she reached on a fielders' choice and moved to second on a throwing error. Senior pinch hitter Gabby Magnifico took advantage, following with her first career triple to tie the score.
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The score was not tied for long, as Magnifico came around to score the go-ahead run, at 4-3, on a wild pitch.
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The score remained 4-3 until the two-out, walk-off double by Butler shortstop Maddie Moore.
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The Bulldogs actually jumped out to an early 2-0 lead thanks to a pair of first inning runs. Ball State was able to get one of the runs back on a RBI single from senior designated player Janae Hogg in the top of the third.
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Freshman pinch runner Kaitlyn Mathews scored on the play after entering to run for senior first baseman Stacy Payton who drew a walk. Mathews then advanced two bases on a pair of wild pitches, setting up the RBI single.
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Butler would get the run back in the bottom of the frame, however, to pull ahead 3-1. Cue the three-run fifth for Ball State.
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Overall, the Bulldogs' pitching did a good job keeping the Cardinals offense under wraps, allowing just four hits to a Ball State squad that entered the game ranked 22nd nationally with a .323 team batting average.
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On the other side, Ball State's pitching allowed just six hits in the game. Senior Darcie Huber started the game, throwing the first 3.0 innings and allowing just three hits and two runs. Senior Alyssa Rothwell pitch the final 3.2, allowing just three hits and three runs herself.
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The Ball State softball team returns to action Friday, when it opens a four-game series Mid-American Conference series at Akron. The Cardinals are 11-0 in MAC play this season, including series sweeps of Bowling Green, Central Michigan and Kent State.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: GRAVES, Alyssa (5-4)
L: Rothwell, Alyssa (2-3)
Batting:
3B: Magnifico, Gabby 1 ; Lissy, Kayla 1
RBI: Eckerty, Trinity 1 ; Magnifico, Gabby 1 ; Hogg, Janae 1
SH: Eckerty, Trinity 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Eckerty, Trinity 1 ; Magnifico, Gabby 1 ; Mathews, Kaitlyn 1 ; Lissy, Kayla 1
SB: Dukeman, Hannah 1
Batting:
2B: MOORE, Maddie 1
RBI: RICKETTS, Karli 1 ; MOORE, Maddie 3 ; CHRISTIANSEN, Madi 1
SH: RICKETTS, Karli 1 ; CANDOTTI, Christina 1 ; GARCIA, Alyssa 1
SF: MOORE, Maddie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: FEY, Lauren 2 ; AVERY, Bri 1 ; SIMPSON, Loren 1 ; McMAHON, Mallory 1
SB: AVERY, Bri 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
ph/2b
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
RHP
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballINF/OF
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballC/INF
/ Softball
RHP
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