Sunday, May 9
Kalamazoo, MI
3 p.m.
Ball State University
31-18, 25-8
3
at
4
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Western Michigan
12-32, 8-22
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
R
H
E
Ball State
2
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
3
6
1
Western Michigan
0
0
0
1
2
0
0
1
4
8
0
Softball Falls in Extra Innings Sunday at WMU
May 09, 2021 | Softball
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - - The Ball State softball team saw its four-game winning streak come to an end Sunday afternoon at Ebert Field, suffering a 4-3 (8) setback to Western Michigan.
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After a three-hour rain delay, the Cardinals (31-18; 25-8 Mid-American Conference) got the ball rolling early, scoring a pair of two-out runs in the top of the first. It was the fourth time in the series Ball State scored in the opening inning against the Broncos (12-32, 8-22 MAC), giving the Cardinals 11 first-inning runs over the four-game set.
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Junior left fielder Faith Hensley started the two-out rally with a walk, and moved to third on a single to left from senior right fielder Haley Dominique. Thanks to some heads up baserunning, Dominique would move to second on the throw in, setting up a two-run single from senior catcher Stacy Payton.
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Ball State senior pitcher Darcie Huber took control in the circle early, retiring the first nine batters she faced. She did give up a one-out hit in the bottom of the first, only to have the defense come up with an inning-ending double play in the next at bat. It was the 22nd double play of the season for the Cardinals.
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The score remained 2-0 until the bottom of the fourth, when the Broncos loaded the bases with one out. A RBI groundout to second on the next play cut Ball State's lead in half, but Huber was able to force a groundout to first by the next batter to limit the damage to one run.
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Looking to reclaim the two-run lead, sophomore third baseman Haley Wynn opened the top of the fifth with a double down the right field line. After H. Wynn moved to third on a groundout by freshman shortstop Kayla Lissy, she scored on a grounder to first by Hensley.
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Ball State's two-run lead did not last long, however, as Western Michigan tied the score with two runs in the bottom of the fifth.
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The score remained 3-3 until two outs in the bottom of the eighth, when a double to right field and a Ball State error on a ball hit to second allowed the game-winning run to cross the plate.
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Overall, the Ball State offense struck for six hits, with two coming from H. Wynn. Payton led the Cardinals with two RBI, both coming on her first-inning single.
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Despite a strong performance in her first outing since April 30 vs. Toledo, sophomore Deborah Jones suffered the loss in relief. She pitched the final 3.2 innings, surrendering just two hits and the one unearned run, while striking out three.
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Huber threw the first 4.0 innings, allowing six hits and three runs, while striking out two of the 17 batters she faced.
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The Ball State softball team returns to action Wednesday, when it travels to Northern Illinois for a 2 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. CT doubleheader.
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After a three-hour rain delay, the Cardinals (31-18; 25-8 Mid-American Conference) got the ball rolling early, scoring a pair of two-out runs in the top of the first. It was the fourth time in the series Ball State scored in the opening inning against the Broncos (12-32, 8-22 MAC), giving the Cardinals 11 first-inning runs over the four-game set.
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Junior left fielder Faith Hensley started the two-out rally with a walk, and moved to third on a single to left from senior right fielder Haley Dominique. Thanks to some heads up baserunning, Dominique would move to second on the throw in, setting up a two-run single from senior catcher Stacy Payton.
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Ball State senior pitcher Darcie Huber took control in the circle early, retiring the first nine batters she faced. She did give up a one-out hit in the bottom of the first, only to have the defense come up with an inning-ending double play in the next at bat. It was the 22nd double play of the season for the Cardinals.
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The score remained 2-0 until the bottom of the fourth, when the Broncos loaded the bases with one out. A RBI groundout to second on the next play cut Ball State's lead in half, but Huber was able to force a groundout to first by the next batter to limit the damage to one run.
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Looking to reclaim the two-run lead, sophomore third baseman Haley Wynn opened the top of the fifth with a double down the right field line. After H. Wynn moved to third on a groundout by freshman shortstop Kayla Lissy, she scored on a grounder to first by Hensley.
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Ball State's two-run lead did not last long, however, as Western Michigan tied the score with two runs in the bottom of the fifth.
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The score remained 3-3 until two outs in the bottom of the eighth, when a double to right field and a Ball State error on a ball hit to second allowed the game-winning run to cross the plate.
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Overall, the Ball State offense struck for six hits, with two coming from H. Wynn. Payton led the Cardinals with two RBI, both coming on her first-inning single.
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Despite a strong performance in her first outing since April 30 vs. Toledo, sophomore Deborah Jones suffered the loss in relief. She pitched the final 3.2 innings, surrendering just two hits and the one unearned run, while striking out three.
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Huber threw the first 4.0 innings, allowing six hits and three runs, while striking out two of the 17 batters she faced.
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The Ball State softball team returns to action Wednesday, when it travels to Northern Illinois for a 2 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. CT doubleheader.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Sydney Stefanick (4-6)
L: Jones, Deborah (10-7)
Batting:
2B: Wynn, Haley 1 ; Hogg, Janae 1
RBI: Hensley, Faith 1 ; Payton, Stacy 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Wynn, Haley 1 ; Hensley, Faith 1 ; Dominique, Haley 1
CS: Lissy, Kayla 1
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Batting:
2B: Logan Carter 1 ; Madison Duell 2
RBI: Mackenzie Swinehart 1 ; Alyssa Kramer 1 ; Madison Duell 1
SH: Jordyn Swinehart 1
SF: Mackenzie Swinehart 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Mackenzie Swinehart 1 ; Logan Carter 1 ; Sophia Ehlers 1 ; Madison Duell 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
RHP
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballC/INF
/ SoftballINF/OF
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