Wednesday, May 12
DeKalb, IL
2 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. CT
Ball State University
32-18, 26-8
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Northern Illinois
19-32, 13-22
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Ball State
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Northern Illinois
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Photo by: Scott Walstrom - NIU Photography
Big Innings Lead Softball to Doubleheader Sweep at NIU
May 12, 2021 | Softball
DEKALB, Ill. - - A 10-run inning in the opener, five and eight-run innings in the nightcap. The Ball State softball team was up to its old tricks Wednesday afternoon at Northern Illinois' Mary M. Bell Field, using big innings to earn a pair of come-from-behind wins.
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In sweeping the doubleheader by scores of 13-4 (5) and 13-1 (6), the Cardinals (33-18, 27-8 Mid-American Conference) earned their sixth series win of the season, taking 3-of-4 from the Huskies (19-33, 13-23 MAC) over a pair of midweek doubleheaders.
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The opening game saw NIU score a pair of third-inning runs to take a 2-0 advantage. It was a short-lived lead, however, as Ball State countered with three in the top of the fourth. The Cardinals were not done there, striking for 10 more runs in the top of the fifth to take complete control of the game.
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For a team that has now scored four-or-more runs in an inning 25 times this year, the 10-run fifth was the largest single-inning output of the season. The previous best was a nine-run onslaught in the third inning of the 14-5 (5) come-from-behind win over Toledo.
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In fact, the 10 runs in the fifth inning of the opening game were the most runs in a single inning for the Cardinals since the 2019 squad struck for 11 in the first inning of a 13-1 (5) win over Akron on March 23.
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Overall, seven different Cardinals recorded a hit in the opener, led by 3-for-3 efforts from senior center fielder Kennedy Wynn and junior left fielder Faith Hensley. Wynn also tied for team-high honor with three RBIs, including a two-run home run in the top of the fourth which drive in what proved to be the game-winning run.
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Senior catcher Stacy Payton also finished the game with three RBIs, including a two-run home run of her own in the top of the fifth. Overall, seven different Ball State players had at least one RBI, while nine scored at least one run.
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While NIU did manage to score two more runs in the bottom of the fifth, making the final score 13-4 (5), all four Huskies runs in the game were unearned. Junior Tieghan Morio was credited with the victory, improving to 12-4 after allowing just three hits and a pair of unearned runs over the first 4.0 innings.
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The nightcap saw Northern Illinois strike for a single run in the top of the first, and cling to the lead until the top of the fifth. After scoring 10 fifth-inning runs in the opener, the Cardinals had to settle for a five-run fifth in the nightcap.Â
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However, Ball State's bats continued to stay hot as they moved into the sixth, adding eight more runs to give the game its final score of 13-1 (6).
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Junior third baseman Trinity Eckerty was one of the big heroes in the nightcap, opening the 13-run barrage with an RBI double to right field in the top of the fifth. She also opened the sixth inning with her first home run of the season, while adding a sacrifice fly in her second at bat in the frame.
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Sophomore designated player Haley Wynn led Ball State's offense with three hits in the second game, while also driving in a pair of RBIs and scoring two runs. In all, nine different Cardinals recorded at least one hit in the win, while seven drove in at least one RBI and nine scored at least one run.
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Senior Darcie Huber earned the pitching win in the nightcap, limiting the Huskies to three hits and one unearned run over the first 4.0 innings. She improved to 6-3 on the year and also logged three strikeouts.
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For a moment, it also looked like it might be a record-setting night for senior closer Alyssa Rothwell who entered the game in the bottom of the fifth with an opportunity to pick up a three-inning save and take over sole possession of the NCAA career saves record.
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Unfortunately, Ball State's offense had other plans, as the eight-run sixth lead to a run-rule victory, eliminating the save opportunity. Regardless, Rothwell has a strong showing, holding NIU hitless while striking out four of the eight batters she faced.
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Since Rothwell entered the game with Ball State leading 5-1, according to NCAA rules she would have needed to pitch at least three innings to get the save.
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To be credited with a save in NCAA softball, a pitcher must meet all three of the following conditions:
1. She is the last pitcher in the win.
2. She is not the winning pitcher.
3. She meets one of the following conditions:
   a. She enters or reenters the game to pitch with a lead of not more than three runs and pitches for at least one inning.
   b. She pitches effectively for at least three innings.
   c. She enters or reenters the game to pitch with the potential tying run on base, at bat or on-deck.
The Ball State softball team returns to action Friday, when it travels to Buffalo for a 3 p.m. first pitch in the first of a four-game series to close the 2021 regular season.
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In sweeping the doubleheader by scores of 13-4 (5) and 13-1 (6), the Cardinals (33-18, 27-8 Mid-American Conference) earned their sixth series win of the season, taking 3-of-4 from the Huskies (19-33, 13-23 MAC) over a pair of midweek doubleheaders.
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The opening game saw NIU score a pair of third-inning runs to take a 2-0 advantage. It was a short-lived lead, however, as Ball State countered with three in the top of the fourth. The Cardinals were not done there, striking for 10 more runs in the top of the fifth to take complete control of the game.
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For a team that has now scored four-or-more runs in an inning 25 times this year, the 10-run fifth was the largest single-inning output of the season. The previous best was a nine-run onslaught in the third inning of the 14-5 (5) come-from-behind win over Toledo.
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In fact, the 10 runs in the fifth inning of the opening game were the most runs in a single inning for the Cardinals since the 2019 squad struck for 11 in the first inning of a 13-1 (5) win over Akron on March 23.
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Overall, seven different Cardinals recorded a hit in the opener, led by 3-for-3 efforts from senior center fielder Kennedy Wynn and junior left fielder Faith Hensley. Wynn also tied for team-high honor with three RBIs, including a two-run home run in the top of the fourth which drive in what proved to be the game-winning run.
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Senior catcher Stacy Payton also finished the game with three RBIs, including a two-run home run of her own in the top of the fifth. Overall, seven different Ball State players had at least one RBI, while nine scored at least one run.
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While NIU did manage to score two more runs in the bottom of the fifth, making the final score 13-4 (5), all four Huskies runs in the game were unearned. Junior Tieghan Morio was credited with the victory, improving to 12-4 after allowing just three hits and a pair of unearned runs over the first 4.0 innings.
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The nightcap saw Northern Illinois strike for a single run in the top of the first, and cling to the lead until the top of the fifth. After scoring 10 fifth-inning runs in the opener, the Cardinals had to settle for a five-run fifth in the nightcap.Â
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However, Ball State's bats continued to stay hot as they moved into the sixth, adding eight more runs to give the game its final score of 13-1 (6).
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Junior third baseman Trinity Eckerty was one of the big heroes in the nightcap, opening the 13-run barrage with an RBI double to right field in the top of the fifth. She also opened the sixth inning with her first home run of the season, while adding a sacrifice fly in her second at bat in the frame.
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Sophomore designated player Haley Wynn led Ball State's offense with three hits in the second game, while also driving in a pair of RBIs and scoring two runs. In all, nine different Cardinals recorded at least one hit in the win, while seven drove in at least one RBI and nine scored at least one run.
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Senior Darcie Huber earned the pitching win in the nightcap, limiting the Huskies to three hits and one unearned run over the first 4.0 innings. She improved to 6-3 on the year and also logged three strikeouts.
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For a moment, it also looked like it might be a record-setting night for senior closer Alyssa Rothwell who entered the game in the bottom of the fifth with an opportunity to pick up a three-inning save and take over sole possession of the NCAA career saves record.
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Unfortunately, Ball State's offense had other plans, as the eight-run sixth lead to a run-rule victory, eliminating the save opportunity. Regardless, Rothwell has a strong showing, holding NIU hitless while striking out four of the eight batters she faced.
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Since Rothwell entered the game with Ball State leading 5-1, according to NCAA rules she would have needed to pitch at least three innings to get the save.
Â
To be credited with a save in NCAA softball, a pitcher must meet all three of the following conditions:
1. She is the last pitcher in the win.
2. She is not the winning pitcher.
3. She meets one of the following conditions:
   a. She enters or reenters the game to pitch with a lead of not more than three runs and pitches for at least one inning.
   b. She pitches effectively for at least three innings.
   c. She enters or reenters the game to pitch with the potential tying run on base, at bat or on-deck.
The Ball State softball team returns to action Friday, when it travels to Buffalo for a 3 p.m. first pitch in the first of a four-game series to close the 2021 regular season.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Morio, Tieghan (12-4)
L: NORRED, Claire (8-16)
Batting:
2B: Hensley, Faith 1 ; Payton, Stacy 1 ; Johnson, Delanie 1
HR: Payton, Stacy 1 ; Wynn, Kennedy 1
RBI: Lissy, Kayla 1 ; Hensley, Faith 1 ; Dominique, Haley 1 ; Ligacki, Brooke 1 ; Payton, Stacy 3 ; Johnson, Delanie 2 ; Wynn, Kennedy 3
SF: Payton, Stacy 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Wynn, Haley 1 ; Lissy, Kayla 1 ; Hensley, Faith 2 ; Dominique, Haley 1 ; Payton, Stacy 2 ; Demnianiuk, Hailey 1 ; Hogg, Janae 1 ; Johnson, Delanie 2 ; Wynn, Kennedy 2
HBP: Wynn, Haley 1 ; Hogg, Janae 1
Batting:
SH: APATO, Kira 1
Base Running:
RUNS: JAMES, Courtney 1 ; RODRIGUEZ, Amberly 1 ; KELLER, Katie 1 ; GOETSCHIUS, Carley 1
CS: MALLINDER, Sam 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
2
H
3
RBI
1
AB
3
R
2
H
3
RBI
3
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
3
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
INF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
RHP
/ SoftballC/INF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
INF/OF
/ SoftballOF
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