Tuesday, May 4
Muncie, IN
11 a.m.
Ball State University
27-17, 21-7
2
vs
7
Northern Illinois
18-27, 12-17
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Northern Illinois
0
0
3
2
0
2
0
7
8
1
Ball State
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
2
4
3
Softball Walks Off NIU in Tuesday's Finale
May 04, 2021 | Softball
MUNCIE, Ind. - - In the end, the force was with the Ball State softball team on a May 4, Tuesday afternoon at the Softball Field at First Merchants Ballpark Complex.
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After suffering a 7-2 setback in the opening game, the Cardinals (28-17; 22-7 Mid-American Conference) did what they have done a majority of the season, battling back to top Northern Illinois 5-4 in the nightcap.
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For the second time in three games, it was a single from junior left fielder Faith Hensley which would drive in the winning run, as she took advantage of bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh to help bring home two runs.
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Trailing 4-3 entering the inning, junior third baseman Trinity Eckerty singled to open the frame. Senior pitch runner Katie Janiga then moved to second when sophomore pinch runner Haley Wynn was hit by a pitch. Afterwards, a walk to senior pinch hitter Kennedy Wynn loaded the bases.
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Two batters later, Hensley dropped a blooper into shallow left field which drove in the tying run. The Huskies (18-28, 12-18 MAC) also misplayed the ball, and after initially stopping at third, H. Wynn was waved home for the winning run.
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The big offensive plays were set up by some solid relief work from senior Alyssa Rothwell, who struck out three of the eight batters she faced over the final two innings. In fact, NIU was able to put two in scoring position with no outs in the top of the seventh, but in true Rothwell form, she struck out the next two batters before forcing a foul pop to senior catcher Delaine Johnson to end the inning.
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The victory capped a season-long 12-game homestand for Ball State and also give it a program record 22nd MAC win. The previous best was a 21-14 mark by the 1993 squad.
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The Cardinals returns to action Friday, when they opens a 10-game road swing to end the 2021 regular season with a 3 p.m. first pitch at Western Michigan. The teams will also play a 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday and a single game Sunday at noon.
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Game 1 Recap: Ball State 2 - Northern Illinois 7
Tuesday's opening game saw the teams battle through a scoreless opening two innings before the Huskies were able to take advantage of some adverse field conditions and a pair of Ball State errors to pull ahead 3-0.
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Unfortunately, NIU would go on to added two more runs in the top of the fourth and sixth innings to extend its lead to 7-0.
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That left the Cardinals needing one of their patented big innings in the bottom of the seventh. For a moment, it looked like one was coming as senior catcher Stacy Payton drew a one-out walk and senior pinch hitter Kendall Fields doubled down the left field line.
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Unfortunately, a groundout on a check swing followed for the second out of the inning. Ball State was able to get on the board, however, thanks to a two-out, two-run double by redshirt sophomore second baseman Jazmyne Armendariz.
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Those were BSU's only runs of the game though, as a strikeout gave NIU the 7-2 victory.
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Game 2 Recap: Ball State 5 - Northern Illinois 4
Much like the opening game, the Cardinals found themselves in an early hole as the Huskies scored two in the second and two in the fourth to pull ahead 4-0.
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Ball State would not be swept without a fight, however, as it countered with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Senior designated player Kendall Fields started the rally with a single to right field opening the inning, while an Eckerty single moved freshman pinch runner Brooke Ligacki to third. Eckerty also advanced to second courtesy of some heads up base running.
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In the next at bat, Armendariz logged an RBI fielder's choice to drive in Ball State's first run of the game. Freshman center fielder Hannah Dukeman followed with a single through the left side, putting runners on the corners.
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Freshman shortstop Kayla Lissy would take advantage of the situation, blasting an RBI single into center field. Hensley followed with her first RBI hit of the game, making it a one run game.
Â
Cue Rothwell and some more walk-off magic from Hensley, and the Cardinals earned a hard fought 5-4 win to split the day.Â
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After suffering a 7-2 setback in the opening game, the Cardinals (28-17; 22-7 Mid-American Conference) did what they have done a majority of the season, battling back to top Northern Illinois 5-4 in the nightcap.
Â
For the second time in three games, it was a single from junior left fielder Faith Hensley which would drive in the winning run, as she took advantage of bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh to help bring home two runs.
Â
Trailing 4-3 entering the inning, junior third baseman Trinity Eckerty singled to open the frame. Senior pitch runner Katie Janiga then moved to second when sophomore pinch runner Haley Wynn was hit by a pitch. Afterwards, a walk to senior pinch hitter Kennedy Wynn loaded the bases.
Â
Two batters later, Hensley dropped a blooper into shallow left field which drove in the tying run. The Huskies (18-28, 12-18 MAC) also misplayed the ball, and after initially stopping at third, H. Wynn was waved home for the winning run.
Â
The big offensive plays were set up by some solid relief work from senior Alyssa Rothwell, who struck out three of the eight batters she faced over the final two innings. In fact, NIU was able to put two in scoring position with no outs in the top of the seventh, but in true Rothwell form, she struck out the next two batters before forcing a foul pop to senior catcher Delaine Johnson to end the inning.
Â
The victory capped a season-long 12-game homestand for Ball State and also give it a program record 22nd MAC win. The previous best was a 21-14 mark by the 1993 squad.
Â
The Cardinals returns to action Friday, when they opens a 10-game road swing to end the 2021 regular season with a 3 p.m. first pitch at Western Michigan. The teams will also play a 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday and a single game Sunday at noon.
Â
Game 1 Recap: Ball State 2 - Northern Illinois 7
Tuesday's opening game saw the teams battle through a scoreless opening two innings before the Huskies were able to take advantage of some adverse field conditions and a pair of Ball State errors to pull ahead 3-0.
Â
Unfortunately, NIU would go on to added two more runs in the top of the fourth and sixth innings to extend its lead to 7-0.
Â
That left the Cardinals needing one of their patented big innings in the bottom of the seventh. For a moment, it looked like one was coming as senior catcher Stacy Payton drew a one-out walk and senior pinch hitter Kendall Fields doubled down the left field line.
Â
Unfortunately, a groundout on a check swing followed for the second out of the inning. Ball State was able to get on the board, however, thanks to a two-out, two-run double by redshirt sophomore second baseman Jazmyne Armendariz.
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Those were BSU's only runs of the game though, as a strikeout gave NIU the 7-2 victory.
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Game 2 Recap: Ball State 5 - Northern Illinois 4
Much like the opening game, the Cardinals found themselves in an early hole as the Huskies scored two in the second and two in the fourth to pull ahead 4-0.
Â
Ball State would not be swept without a fight, however, as it countered with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Senior designated player Kendall Fields started the rally with a single to right field opening the inning, while an Eckerty single moved freshman pinch runner Brooke Ligacki to third. Eckerty also advanced to second courtesy of some heads up base running.
Â
In the next at bat, Armendariz logged an RBI fielder's choice to drive in Ball State's first run of the game. Freshman center fielder Hannah Dukeman followed with a single through the left side, putting runners on the corners.
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Freshman shortstop Kayla Lissy would take advantage of the situation, blasting an RBI single into center field. Hensley followed with her first RBI hit of the game, making it a one run game.
Â
Cue Rothwell and some more walk-off magic from Hensley, and the Cardinals earned a hard fought 5-4 win to split the day.Â
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: BRYAN, Mackenzie (5-4)
L: Morio, Tieghan (9-4)
Batting:
RBI: WALINSKI, Kelly 4
SH: APATO, Kira 1
Base Running:
RUNS: JAMES, Courtney 2 ; RODRIGUEZ, Amberly 2 ; KELLER, Katie 3
SB: JAMES, Courtney 1 ; KELLER, Katie 1 ; MALLINDER, Sam 1
CS: WALINSKI, Kelly 1
HBP: MICKELSON, Kira 1
Batting:
2B: Fields, Kendall 1 ; Armendariz, Jazmyne 1
RBI: Armendariz, Jazmyne 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Dukeman, Hannah 1 ; Fields, Kendall 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
1
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
C/Uti
/ Softball
OF/C
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
C/INF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
INF/OF
/ Softball
OF
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