Saturday, April 17
Akron, OH
1 p.m.
Ball State University
19-10, 13-0
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Akron
3-25, 2-12
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8
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Ball State
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5
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Akron
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Softball Scores Saturday DH Sweep at Akron
April 17, 2021 | Softball
AKRON, Ohio - - An extra-inning thriller, and a no doubter from the start. Chalk up two more wins for the Ball State softball team which swept a Mid-American Conference doubleheader at Akron Saturday by scores of 5-4 (8) and 7-1.
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With the two wins, the Cardinals (20-10; 14-0 MAC) extend their league-opening winning streak to 14 games. It's the longest single season MAC regular season winning streak in program history and the most consecutive wins Ball State has ever recorded versus MAC opponents.
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The Cardinals did end the 2012 season with seven consecutive regular season league wins and start the 2013 campaign with 12 straight for a 19-game winning streak in regular season action. However, the Cardinals lost two of three games in the MAC Tournament that season.
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Regardless, the Cardinals continued to show grit and determination under pressure Saturday with another come-from-behind win in the opener. Trailing 4-2, the Cardinals blasted solo home runs in the sixth and seventh innings to tie the score and force extra innings.
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Then, with two outs in the top of the eighth, cue the team's hottest batter junior left fielder Faith Hensley for what proved to be a game-winning home run. Hensley was the only Ball State player with multiple hits in the game, adding a single in the fourth.
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In the nightcap, Ball State scored three in the first and two in the second before pulling head 7-0 following the top of the fifth. Akron would get one run in the bottom of the inning, but never really threatened to get back into the game.
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Senior right fielder Haley Dominique paced the Cardinals in the second game by going 3-for-4 with a team-high three RBIs and a run scored.
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Overall, the Cardinals registered 15 hits over the two games, paced by three hits apiece from Dominique and sophomore third baseman Haley Wynn.
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In the circle, all four Ball State pitchers saw action over the two games and limited Akron to just 10 hits. Senior Alyssa Rothwell earned the opening game win after pitching the final 4.0 innings, while senior Darcie Huber picked up the win in the second game. Both improved to 3-3 on the year. Sophomore Deborah Jones was also credited with a save in the evening contest after pitching the final 3.0 innings.
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The Cardinals and Zips close their four-game series Sunday with an 11 a.m. first pitch back at the Lee R. Jackson Softball Field.
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GAME 1 RECAP: Ball State 5 - Akron 4 (8)
Longball was the name of the game for the Cardinals in Saturday's opener, as Ball State used four solo home runs to rally from down 3-1 for a 5-4 (8) victory.
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Similar to Friday's series opener, the Cardinals struck first with a run in the top of the third inning. Junior shortstop Amaia Daniel was credited with an RBI groundout after driving in freshman shortstop Kayla Lissy from third. Lissy reached via a walk, moved to second on a groundout and stole third to set up the RBI groundout.
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The Zips then countered with three two-out runs in the bottom of the inning, including a two-run home run.
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Ball State's bomb squad started heating up in the top of the fourth, as senior first baseman Janae Hogg blasted her 42nd career home run to center field to cut the gap to down to one.
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While Akron was able to reclaim the two-run lead with a solo shot of its own in the bottom of the fifth, the Cardinals used a one-out home run from senior catcher Stacy Payton in the sixth and a leadoff blast from senior center fielder Kennedy Wynn in the seventh to force extras.
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Ball State looked to go quietly in the top of the eighth, but the team's leading hitter on the season had other plans. Hensley was able to break the tie with a first-pitch rocket shot over the center field fence to give Ball State a 5-4 edge.
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Akron looked poised to counter, loading the bases with two outs, but Rothwell was able to get out of the jam and force a fly to K. Wynn in center field to end the game.
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Rothwell threw the final 4.0 innings to pick up the win, holding the Zips hitless and without a run during her time in the circle. While she did walk seven batters, she was able to keep Akron off the board and also tallied five strikeouts.
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Junior Tieghan Morio started the contest, allowing just five hits and four runs over her 4.0 innings of work, while striking out one.
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GAME 2 RECAP: Ball State 7 - Akron 1
The Cardinals started the second game hot, as H. Wynn opened the contest with a double to center field. Two batters later, Dominique drove her home with a RBI single up the middle.
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Payton would reach base on a fielder's choice in the next at bat, while Dominique would be called safe at second. Hogg took advantage of the runner in scoring position, driving a RBI double to the right-center field gap to push BSU's lead to 2-0.
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After an Akron pitching change, a wild pitch on the first throw allowed Payton to score from third.
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The Cardinals extended the lead to 5-0 with two more runs in the top of the second, courtesy of a two-out, two-run double from Dominique. Both Lissy and Daniel would score on the hit. Lissy reached on a one-out bunt single and then stole second with two outs, while Daniel walked after the stolen base.
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Ball State would go on to add single runs in both the fourth and fifth inning to take complete control of the game at 7-0. H. Wynn picked up the RBI in the fourth with a single to right plating senior pinch runner Katie Janiga.
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Senior pinch hitter Gabby Magnifico drove in the run in the fifth with an RBI single to left. Freshman pinch runner Brooke Ligacki scored on that play.
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Akron would capitalize on a two-out Ball State error in the bottom of the fifth, bringing home their only run moments later on a successful first and third double steal.
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That was all Ball State's pitching would allow, however, as senior starter Darcie Huber and sophomore reliever Deborah Jones combined to limit the Zips to five hits and one unearned run.
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Huber earned the win by allowing just two hits over the first 4.0 innings. She also struck out two on her way to improving to 3-3 on the year.Â
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Jones was credited with her third save of the season after pitching the final 3.0 innings and allowing just three hits and one unearned run. She also struck out a game-high three batters.
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With the two wins, the Cardinals (20-10; 14-0 MAC) extend their league-opening winning streak to 14 games. It's the longest single season MAC regular season winning streak in program history and the most consecutive wins Ball State has ever recorded versus MAC opponents.
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The Cardinals did end the 2012 season with seven consecutive regular season league wins and start the 2013 campaign with 12 straight for a 19-game winning streak in regular season action. However, the Cardinals lost two of three games in the MAC Tournament that season.
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Regardless, the Cardinals continued to show grit and determination under pressure Saturday with another come-from-behind win in the opener. Trailing 4-2, the Cardinals blasted solo home runs in the sixth and seventh innings to tie the score and force extra innings.
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Then, with two outs in the top of the eighth, cue the team's hottest batter junior left fielder Faith Hensley for what proved to be a game-winning home run. Hensley was the only Ball State player with multiple hits in the game, adding a single in the fourth.
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In the nightcap, Ball State scored three in the first and two in the second before pulling head 7-0 following the top of the fifth. Akron would get one run in the bottom of the inning, but never really threatened to get back into the game.
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Senior right fielder Haley Dominique paced the Cardinals in the second game by going 3-for-4 with a team-high three RBIs and a run scored.
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Overall, the Cardinals registered 15 hits over the two games, paced by three hits apiece from Dominique and sophomore third baseman Haley Wynn.
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In the circle, all four Ball State pitchers saw action over the two games and limited Akron to just 10 hits. Senior Alyssa Rothwell earned the opening game win after pitching the final 4.0 innings, while senior Darcie Huber picked up the win in the second game. Both improved to 3-3 on the year. Sophomore Deborah Jones was also credited with a save in the evening contest after pitching the final 3.0 innings.
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The Cardinals and Zips close their four-game series Sunday with an 11 a.m. first pitch back at the Lee R. Jackson Softball Field.
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GAME 1 RECAP: Ball State 5 - Akron 4 (8)
Longball was the name of the game for the Cardinals in Saturday's opener, as Ball State used four solo home runs to rally from down 3-1 for a 5-4 (8) victory.
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Similar to Friday's series opener, the Cardinals struck first with a run in the top of the third inning. Junior shortstop Amaia Daniel was credited with an RBI groundout after driving in freshman shortstop Kayla Lissy from third. Lissy reached via a walk, moved to second on a groundout and stole third to set up the RBI groundout.
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The Zips then countered with three two-out runs in the bottom of the inning, including a two-run home run.
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Ball State's bomb squad started heating up in the top of the fourth, as senior first baseman Janae Hogg blasted her 42nd career home run to center field to cut the gap to down to one.
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While Akron was able to reclaim the two-run lead with a solo shot of its own in the bottom of the fifth, the Cardinals used a one-out home run from senior catcher Stacy Payton in the sixth and a leadoff blast from senior center fielder Kennedy Wynn in the seventh to force extras.
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Ball State looked to go quietly in the top of the eighth, but the team's leading hitter on the season had other plans. Hensley was able to break the tie with a first-pitch rocket shot over the center field fence to give Ball State a 5-4 edge.
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Akron looked poised to counter, loading the bases with two outs, but Rothwell was able to get out of the jam and force a fly to K. Wynn in center field to end the game.
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Rothwell threw the final 4.0 innings to pick up the win, holding the Zips hitless and without a run during her time in the circle. While she did walk seven batters, she was able to keep Akron off the board and also tallied five strikeouts.
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Junior Tieghan Morio started the contest, allowing just five hits and four runs over her 4.0 innings of work, while striking out one.
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GAME 2 RECAP: Ball State 7 - Akron 1
The Cardinals started the second game hot, as H. Wynn opened the contest with a double to center field. Two batters later, Dominique drove her home with a RBI single up the middle.
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Payton would reach base on a fielder's choice in the next at bat, while Dominique would be called safe at second. Hogg took advantage of the runner in scoring position, driving a RBI double to the right-center field gap to push BSU's lead to 2-0.
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After an Akron pitching change, a wild pitch on the first throw allowed Payton to score from third.
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The Cardinals extended the lead to 5-0 with two more runs in the top of the second, courtesy of a two-out, two-run double from Dominique. Both Lissy and Daniel would score on the hit. Lissy reached on a one-out bunt single and then stole second with two outs, while Daniel walked after the stolen base.
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Ball State would go on to add single runs in both the fourth and fifth inning to take complete control of the game at 7-0. H. Wynn picked up the RBI in the fourth with a single to right plating senior pinch runner Katie Janiga.
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Senior pinch hitter Gabby Magnifico drove in the run in the fifth with an RBI single to left. Freshman pinch runner Brooke Ligacki scored on that play.
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Akron would capitalize on a two-out Ball State error in the bottom of the fifth, bringing home their only run moments later on a successful first and third double steal.
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That was all Ball State's pitching would allow, however, as senior starter Darcie Huber and sophomore reliever Deborah Jones combined to limit the Zips to five hits and one unearned run.
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Huber earned the win by allowing just two hits over the first 4.0 innings. She also struck out two on her way to improving to 3-3 on the year.Â
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Jones was credited with her third save of the season after pitching the final 3.0 innings and allowing just three hits and one unearned run. She also struck out a game-high three batters.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Rothwell, Alyssa (3-3)
L: PETROF, Lexie (0-6)
Batting:
HR: Payton, Stacy 1 ; Hogg, Janae 1 ; Hensley, Faith 1 ; Wynn, Kennedy 1
RBI: Daniel, Amaia 1 ; Payton, Stacy 1 ; Hogg, Janae 1 ; Hensley, Faith 1 ; Wynn, Kennedy 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Payton, Stacy 1 ; Hogg, Janae 1 ; Hensley, Faith 1 ; Wynn, Kennedy 1 ; Lissy, Kayla 1
SB: Hensley, Faith 2 ; Lissy, Kayla 1
CS: Wynn, Haley 1
HBP: Daniel, Amaia 1
Batting:
3B: DUDEK, Madison 1
HR: HOLZMAN, Jessie 1 ; BRYANT, Jaiden 1
RBI: DUDEK, Madison 1 ; HOLZMAN, Jessie 2 ; BRYANT, Jaiden 1
SH: McCHESNEY, Molly 1
Base Running:
RUNS: MITCHINER, Macky 1 ; DUDEK, Madison 1 ; HOLZMAN, Jessie 1 ; BRYANT, Jaiden 1
SB: DUDEK, Madison 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
Uti
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF/OF
/ Softball
RHP
/ SoftballC/INF
/ Softball
RHP
/ SoftballINF/OF
/ Softball
OF
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