Saturday, April 3
Mount Pleasant, MI
1 p.m.
Ball State University
12-9, 0
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Central Michigan
4-16, 0
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Ball State
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Central Michigan
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Softball Ups MAC Streak To 7 With DH Sweep at CMU
April 03, 2021 | Softball
MOUNT PLEASANT, MICH. - - While things may have gotten a little wild in the nightcap, it was an overall great day for the Ball State softball team which pulled out a doubleheader sweep of Central Michigan Saturday at Margo Jonker Stadium.
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The Cardinals (13-9, 7-0 Mid-American Conference) were able to up their league-opening winning streak to seven games with two very different wins over the Chippewas (4-17; 2-9 MAC).
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In the opener, Ball State rode the arm of sophomore Deborah Jones who stuck out eight and allowed just three hits in a 5-1 victory. A solo home run from senior outfielder Kennedy Wynn and a three-run blast from senior first baseman Janae Hogg provided the bulk of the offense.
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However, it was junior second baseman Amaia Daniel who would score what proved to be the game-winning run after walking, stealing second and coming around to score on a CMU error.
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In a wild nightcap, the Cardinals jumped out to a 7-2 lead, fell behind 10-8 after the Chippewas scored eight in the third, before rallying for six unanswered runs to win the game.
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One of the biggest heroes in the contest was senior pitcher Alyssa Rothwell who entered to pitch with two outs in the bottom of the third. She was able to end CMU's run in the inning with a popup to first, and went on to retire 12 of the final 15 CMU batters in the game.
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Offensively, senior outfielder Haley Dominique opened the top of the fourth with a solo home run to spark a four-run inning and the comeback. Junior outfielder Faith Hensley added a two-run triple, while a RBI groundout from senior designated player Delanie Johnson drove in what proved to be the game-winning run.
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Overall, the Cardinals managed six hits in the opener and 12 in the nightcap for 18 on the day. Dominique, Hogg and senior catcher Stacy Payton had three hits each, while Hensley, Hogg and Johnson tied for team-high honors with four RBI apiece.
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The Ball State softball team goes for its second MAC series sweep in as many weeks on Easter Sunday with a Noon first pitch at Margo Jonker Stadium.
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GAME 1: Ball State 5 - CMU 1
After a dominating win in Friday's game, the Cardinals found themselves in an early battle in Saturday's opening game. The good news, sophomore pitcher Deborah Jones was up to the task.
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Jones struck out a season-high eight batters in a dominating performance in which she limited the Chippewas to three hits and one run. In picking up her second complete game victory in MAC play, Jones also improved to 4-2 on the year.
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Offensively, it was senior outfielder Kennedy Wynn who jump started the Ball State offense with a leadoff home run in the top of the third.
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CMU was able to counter with a run of their own in the bottom of the fourth, their only one off Jones in the day, to tie the score at 1-1.
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The score wasn't tied for long, however, as the Cardinals rattled off four runs in the top of the fifth to take control of the game.
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Junior second baseman Amaia Daniel drew a walk to open the inning, and after stealing second, scored on a CMU error. K. Wynn reached on the error, while two batters later a single by sophomore third baseman Haley Wynn put runners on the corner.
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H. Wynn would proceed to steal second, but it proved to be unnecessary, as senior first baseman Janae Hogg launched the 39th home run of her career to move into sole possession of second on BSU's career home runs list. It was a two-out, three-run blast upping Ball State's advantage to 5-1.
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That was all the support Jones would need, as she retired nine of the final 10 CMU batters in the game.
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GAME 2: Ball State 13 - CMU 10
Saturday's nightcap started out with a bang, as the Cardinals jumped out to an early 4-0 lead with another huge first inning.
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H. Wynn started the game with a double to left-center field, while senior right fielder Haley Dominique registered an infield single to put runners on the corners. Hogg followed with an RBI groundout to drive in the first run of the game.
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Following another out and a walk to junior left fielder Faith Hensley, the Cardinals tallied three more two-out runs courtesy of a three-run blast to center field by senior designated player Delanie Johnson.
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CMU would counter with two runs in the bottom of the first, only to see Ball State respond with three more in the top of the second. Once again it was a two-out rally that would do the damage, sparked by a double from Dominique.
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Freshman pinch runner Brooke Ligacki would then take advantage of another CMU error, scoring from second. Hogg also moved to second after reaching on the error, setting up back-to-back RBI doubles from senior catcher Stacy Payton and Hensley.
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The Cardinals looked to be cruising, leading 7-2, but CMU had other plans. The Chippewas struck for eight runs in the bottom of the third to take their first lead of the series at 10-7.
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It proved to be a short-lived lead, however, as Dominique opened the top of the fourth with a solo blast and the Cardinals tacked on three more runs to reclaim the lead at 11-10.Â
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Hensley added a two-run triple in the frame, while Ball State's final run in the inning came on a RBI groundout by Johnson.
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After 21 runs over the first 3.5 innings, the pitchers finally found there groove over the final 3.5 with only two insurance runs coming from Ball State in the top of the seventh.Â
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Hogg scored the first after singling through the left side, moving to second on a wild pitch, advancing to third on a single from Payton and scoring on a passed ball. Senior pinch runner Katie Janiga scored the second, entering for Payton, going first-to-third on the passed ball and crossing the plate on a sac fly from Hensley.
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The win was made possible, however, thanks to the dominating pitching from senior Alyssa Rothwell. After CMU scored 10 runs and 11 hits over the first 2.2 innings, Rothwell entered and shut them down the rest of the way. She retired 13 of the 16 batters she faced, including three strikeouts and a double-play to end the game.
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The Cardinals (13-9, 7-0 Mid-American Conference) were able to up their league-opening winning streak to seven games with two very different wins over the Chippewas (4-17; 2-9 MAC).
Â
In the opener, Ball State rode the arm of sophomore Deborah Jones who stuck out eight and allowed just three hits in a 5-1 victory. A solo home run from senior outfielder Kennedy Wynn and a three-run blast from senior first baseman Janae Hogg provided the bulk of the offense.
Â
However, it was junior second baseman Amaia Daniel who would score what proved to be the game-winning run after walking, stealing second and coming around to score on a CMU error.
Â
In a wild nightcap, the Cardinals jumped out to a 7-2 lead, fell behind 10-8 after the Chippewas scored eight in the third, before rallying for six unanswered runs to win the game.
Â
One of the biggest heroes in the contest was senior pitcher Alyssa Rothwell who entered to pitch with two outs in the bottom of the third. She was able to end CMU's run in the inning with a popup to first, and went on to retire 12 of the final 15 CMU batters in the game.
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Offensively, senior outfielder Haley Dominique opened the top of the fourth with a solo home run to spark a four-run inning and the comeback. Junior outfielder Faith Hensley added a two-run triple, while a RBI groundout from senior designated player Delanie Johnson drove in what proved to be the game-winning run.
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Overall, the Cardinals managed six hits in the opener and 12 in the nightcap for 18 on the day. Dominique, Hogg and senior catcher Stacy Payton had three hits each, while Hensley, Hogg and Johnson tied for team-high honors with four RBI apiece.
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The Ball State softball team goes for its second MAC series sweep in as many weeks on Easter Sunday with a Noon first pitch at Margo Jonker Stadium.
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GAME 1: Ball State 5 - CMU 1
After a dominating win in Friday's game, the Cardinals found themselves in an early battle in Saturday's opening game. The good news, sophomore pitcher Deborah Jones was up to the task.
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Jones struck out a season-high eight batters in a dominating performance in which she limited the Chippewas to three hits and one run. In picking up her second complete game victory in MAC play, Jones also improved to 4-2 on the year.
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Offensively, it was senior outfielder Kennedy Wynn who jump started the Ball State offense with a leadoff home run in the top of the third.
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CMU was able to counter with a run of their own in the bottom of the fourth, their only one off Jones in the day, to tie the score at 1-1.
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The score wasn't tied for long, however, as the Cardinals rattled off four runs in the top of the fifth to take control of the game.
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Junior second baseman Amaia Daniel drew a walk to open the inning, and after stealing second, scored on a CMU error. K. Wynn reached on the error, while two batters later a single by sophomore third baseman Haley Wynn put runners on the corner.
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H. Wynn would proceed to steal second, but it proved to be unnecessary, as senior first baseman Janae Hogg launched the 39th home run of her career to move into sole possession of second on BSU's career home runs list. It was a two-out, three-run blast upping Ball State's advantage to 5-1.
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That was all the support Jones would need, as she retired nine of the final 10 CMU batters in the game.
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GAME 2: Ball State 13 - CMU 10
Saturday's nightcap started out with a bang, as the Cardinals jumped out to an early 4-0 lead with another huge first inning.
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H. Wynn started the game with a double to left-center field, while senior right fielder Haley Dominique registered an infield single to put runners on the corners. Hogg followed with an RBI groundout to drive in the first run of the game.
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Following another out and a walk to junior left fielder Faith Hensley, the Cardinals tallied three more two-out runs courtesy of a three-run blast to center field by senior designated player Delanie Johnson.
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CMU would counter with two runs in the bottom of the first, only to see Ball State respond with three more in the top of the second. Once again it was a two-out rally that would do the damage, sparked by a double from Dominique.
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Freshman pinch runner Brooke Ligacki would then take advantage of another CMU error, scoring from second. Hogg also moved to second after reaching on the error, setting up back-to-back RBI doubles from senior catcher Stacy Payton and Hensley.
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The Cardinals looked to be cruising, leading 7-2, but CMU had other plans. The Chippewas struck for eight runs in the bottom of the third to take their first lead of the series at 10-7.
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It proved to be a short-lived lead, however, as Dominique opened the top of the fourth with a solo blast and the Cardinals tacked on three more runs to reclaim the lead at 11-10.Â
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Hensley added a two-run triple in the frame, while Ball State's final run in the inning came on a RBI groundout by Johnson.
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After 21 runs over the first 3.5 innings, the pitchers finally found there groove over the final 3.5 with only two insurance runs coming from Ball State in the top of the seventh.Â
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Hogg scored the first after singling through the left side, moving to second on a wild pitch, advancing to third on a single from Payton and scoring on a passed ball. Senior pinch runner Katie Janiga scored the second, entering for Payton, going first-to-third on the passed ball and crossing the plate on a sac fly from Hensley.
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The win was made possible, however, thanks to the dominating pitching from senior Alyssa Rothwell. After CMU scored 10 runs and 11 hits over the first 2.2 innings, Rothwell entered and shut them down the rest of the way. She retired 13 of the 16 batters she faced, including three strikeouts and a double-play to end the game.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Jones, Deborah (4-2)
L: MALLORY, Cloe (1-2)
Batting:
2B: Payton, Stacy 1
3B: Wynn, Kennedy 1
HR: Hogg, Janae 1 ; Wynn, Kennedy 1
RBI: Hogg, Janae 3 ; Wynn, Kennedy 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Wynn, Haley 1 ; Hogg, Janae 1 ; Daniel, Amaia 1 ; Wynn, Kennedy 2
SB: Wynn, Haley 1 ; Daniel, Amaia 1 ; Lissy, Kayla 1
CS: Hensley, Faith 1
HBP: Hensley, Faith 1
Batting:
2B: BRACAMONTE, Emily 1
RBI: BRACAMONTE, Emily 1
SH: GARDNER, Morgan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: STEIN, Shannon 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
1b/dp
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
3
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
dp/1b
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
Uti
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
C/Uti
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballC/INF
/ Softball
RHP
/ SoftballINF/OF
/ SoftballOF
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