Friday, April 16
Akron, OH
3 p.m.
Ball State University
18-10, 12-0
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5
Akron
3-23, 2-10
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3
4
5
6
7
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H
E
Ball State
1
0
4
0
1
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6
10
2
Akron
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5
4
1
Bottom of Lineup Big in Softball Win at Akron
April 16, 2021 | Softball
AKRON, Ohio - - It is no secret that anyone in the lineup can make a huge impact for the Ball State softball team.
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In Friday's Mid-American Conference series opener at Akron, it was batters eight and nine who came up with clutch hits to help account for five unanswered runs as the Cardinals (18-10; 12-0 MAC) rallied for a 6-5 come-from-behind victory over the Zips (3-23; 2-10 MAC).
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It was the 12th straight MAC win for BSU and ties the 2013 squad for the best start to league play in program history.
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While Ball State scored the game's first run in the top of the first, courtesy of a two-out RBI single from senior first baseman Janae Hogg, it was Akron which would take control of the contest early.
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The Zips countered BSU's opening-inning run with a three-run home run in the bottom of the frame, then added two more runs in the bottom of the second to pull ahead 5-1.
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The Cardinals would not be deterred, however, countering with an explosive four-run third inning. Senior catcher Stacy Payton started the rally with a walk, while junior left fielder Faith Hensley and senior designated player Delaney Johnson followed with back-to-back one-out singles.
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BSU's eight-hole hitter Kennedy Wynn was then able to cut the Zips lead to two with a two-run double to right field. Freshman shortstop Kayla Lissy followed from the ninth spot with an RBI groundout which also moved K. Wynn to third.
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It proved to be an even bigger play moments later, as a wild pitch allowed K. Wynn to score the game-tying run.
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Lissy would come up big again in the top of the fifth, driving in what proved to be the game-winning run with a two-out RBI single to center field. Hensley scored on the play after a single through the left side with one out and moving to second on a Johnson single to nearly the identical spot.
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Combined, K. Wynn and Lissy helped account for Ball State's final five runs. Each tallied two RBI, while Wynn also scored on the wild pitch.
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Overall, Hensley led the way on offense for Ball State by going 3-for-3 with two runs scored and a walk. Johnson was 2-for-3, while K. Wynn and Lissy each added a hit as the bottom four in the order accounted for seven of Ball State's 10 hits.
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In the circle, sophomore Deborah Jones improved to 8-2 on the year after throwing the first 5.0 innings. After a rough opening two innings, Jones responded by retiring 10 of the final 11 batters she faced.
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Junior pitcher Tieghan Morio took the mound for the final two innings, and picked up right were Jones left off by retiring six of the seven batters she faced. She ended the game by getting a batter looking to secure her second career save.
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Ball State and Akron will battle again Saturday, this time for a 1 p.m. doubleheader at Lee R. Jackson Softball Field.
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In Friday's Mid-American Conference series opener at Akron, it was batters eight and nine who came up with clutch hits to help account for five unanswered runs as the Cardinals (18-10; 12-0 MAC) rallied for a 6-5 come-from-behind victory over the Zips (3-23; 2-10 MAC).
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It was the 12th straight MAC win for BSU and ties the 2013 squad for the best start to league play in program history.
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While Ball State scored the game's first run in the top of the first, courtesy of a two-out RBI single from senior first baseman Janae Hogg, it was Akron which would take control of the contest early.
Â
The Zips countered BSU's opening-inning run with a three-run home run in the bottom of the frame, then added two more runs in the bottom of the second to pull ahead 5-1.
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The Cardinals would not be deterred, however, countering with an explosive four-run third inning. Senior catcher Stacy Payton started the rally with a walk, while junior left fielder Faith Hensley and senior designated player Delaney Johnson followed with back-to-back one-out singles.
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BSU's eight-hole hitter Kennedy Wynn was then able to cut the Zips lead to two with a two-run double to right field. Freshman shortstop Kayla Lissy followed from the ninth spot with an RBI groundout which also moved K. Wynn to third.
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It proved to be an even bigger play moments later, as a wild pitch allowed K. Wynn to score the game-tying run.
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Lissy would come up big again in the top of the fifth, driving in what proved to be the game-winning run with a two-out RBI single to center field. Hensley scored on the play after a single through the left side with one out and moving to second on a Johnson single to nearly the identical spot.
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Combined, K. Wynn and Lissy helped account for Ball State's final five runs. Each tallied two RBI, while Wynn also scored on the wild pitch.
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Overall, Hensley led the way on offense for Ball State by going 3-for-3 with two runs scored and a walk. Johnson was 2-for-3, while K. Wynn and Lissy each added a hit as the bottom four in the order accounted for seven of Ball State's 10 hits.
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In the circle, sophomore Deborah Jones improved to 8-2 on the year after throwing the first 5.0 innings. After a rough opening two innings, Jones responded by retiring 10 of the final 11 batters she faced.
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Junior pitcher Tieghan Morio took the mound for the final two innings, and picked up right were Jones left off by retiring six of the seven batters she faced. She ended the game by getting a batter looking to secure her second career save.
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Ball State and Akron will battle again Saturday, this time for a 1 p.m. doubleheader at Lee R. Jackson Softball Field.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Jones, Deborah (8-2)
L: PETROF, Lexie (0-5)
S: Morio, Tieghan (1)
Batting:
2B: Daniel, Amaia 1 ; Wynn, Kennedy 1
RBI: Hogg, Janae 1 ; Wynn, Kennedy 2 ; Lissy, Kayla 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Dominique, Haley 1 ; Payton, Stacy 1 ; Hensley, Faith 2 ; Johnson, Delanie 1 ; Wynn, Kennedy 1
HBP: Daniel, Amaia 1
Batting:
2B: SONS, Maggie 1 ; STEVENS, Tiffany 1
HR: DEVOE, Laurel 1
RBI: McCHESNEY, Molly 1 ; DEVOE, Laurel 3
SH: McCHESNEY, Molly 1 ; HOLZMAN, Jessie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: McCHESNEY, Molly 1 ; DUDEK, Madison 1 ; DEVOE, Laurel 1 ; CADMUS, Morgan 1 ; STEVENS, Tiffany 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
2
H
3
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
C/INF
/ Softball
OF
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