Tuesday, April 19
Muncie, Ind.
3 p.m.
Ball State University
16-23, 9-6
4
vs
3
.png&width=60&height=60&type=webp)
Western Michigan
16-25, 6-9
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Western Michigan
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
3
8
0
Ball State
0
0
0
0
0
1
3
4
6
0
Three-Run Seventh Leads Softball Past WMU in Series Opener
April 19, 2022 | Softball
MUNCIE, Ind. - - There are four words that should strike fear in the hearts of every pitcher in the Mid-American Conference: now batting Faith Hensley.
Â
With the Ball State softball team trailing 3-2 and down to its final out, Hensley continued to show why she is one of the nation's toughest batters and the league's leader in nearly every offensive statistical category.
Â
Entering the game's final at bat 0-for-2 with a walk, Hensley battled to her fourth full count before blasting a two-run, walk-off bomb to give the Ball State softball team a 4-3 come-from-behind victory over Western Michigan Tuesday afternoon at the Softball Field at First Merchants Ballpark Complex.
Â
While it was a great ending sparked by Hensley's 16th home run of the season, which is tied as the fourth-most in a single season in program history, it was just one of several key performances down the stretch which gave the Cardinals (16-23; 9-6 MAC) another patented come-from-behind win.
Â
Trailing 3-0 after the Broncos (16-25; 6-9 MAC) scored single runs in each of the first three innings, Ball State turned to freshman Angelina Russo in the circle. Russo did not disappoint, limiting WMU to three hits over the final 4.0 innings while striking out five batters.
Â
She was even able to work out of a huge seventh-inning jam after Western Michigan opened the inning with a single and double to put a pair in scoring position. After striking out the next batter, she got WMU's Reily Galloway to chase a bad pitch on a hit and run attempt, which led to a rundown and the lead runner being tagged out. A soft popup to junior Haley Wynn at second base then ended the threat.
Â
On offense, the Cardinals were able to get their first run of the game in the bottom of the sixth, courtesy of an RBI groundout from freshman third baseman Emma Richards. Wynn opened the inning with a double, and after moving to third on a groundout, scored on Richards' shot which went off the pitcher's glove and rolled to second.
Â
Then cue the seventh-inning heroics which started with a one-out solo blast from sophomore transfer first baseman Samantha-Jo Mata. It was her fifth home run of the season and cut the WMU lead 3-2. Sophomore Hannah Dukeman followed with a blooper which landed between three Broncos infielders to put the tying run on base.
Â
Two batters later, Hensley worked the count full before working her walk-off magic.
Â
While the Cardinals were limited to just six hits in the game, they made the most out of what they were able to produce with four in the final two innings.
Â
Ball State and Western Michigan will meet again Wednesday afternoon with a 1 p.m. doubleheader back at the Softball Field at First Merchants Ballpark Complex.
Â
With the Ball State softball team trailing 3-2 and down to its final out, Hensley continued to show why she is one of the nation's toughest batters and the league's leader in nearly every offensive statistical category.
Â
Entering the game's final at bat 0-for-2 with a walk, Hensley battled to her fourth full count before blasting a two-run, walk-off bomb to give the Ball State softball team a 4-3 come-from-behind victory over Western Michigan Tuesday afternoon at the Softball Field at First Merchants Ballpark Complex.
Â
While it was a great ending sparked by Hensley's 16th home run of the season, which is tied as the fourth-most in a single season in program history, it was just one of several key performances down the stretch which gave the Cardinals (16-23; 9-6 MAC) another patented come-from-behind win.
Â
Trailing 3-0 after the Broncos (16-25; 6-9 MAC) scored single runs in each of the first three innings, Ball State turned to freshman Angelina Russo in the circle. Russo did not disappoint, limiting WMU to three hits over the final 4.0 innings while striking out five batters.
Â
She was even able to work out of a huge seventh-inning jam after Western Michigan opened the inning with a single and double to put a pair in scoring position. After striking out the next batter, she got WMU's Reily Galloway to chase a bad pitch on a hit and run attempt, which led to a rundown and the lead runner being tagged out. A soft popup to junior Haley Wynn at second base then ended the threat.
Â
On offense, the Cardinals were able to get their first run of the game in the bottom of the sixth, courtesy of an RBI groundout from freshman third baseman Emma Richards. Wynn opened the inning with a double, and after moving to third on a groundout, scored on Richards' shot which went off the pitcher's glove and rolled to second.
Â
Then cue the seventh-inning heroics which started with a one-out solo blast from sophomore transfer first baseman Samantha-Jo Mata. It was her fifth home run of the season and cut the WMU lead 3-2. Sophomore Hannah Dukeman followed with a blooper which landed between three Broncos infielders to put the tying run on base.
Â
Two batters later, Hensley worked the count full before working her walk-off magic.
Â
While the Cardinals were limited to just six hits in the game, they made the most out of what they were able to produce with four in the final two innings.
Â
Ball State and Western Michigan will meet again Wednesday afternoon with a 1 p.m. doubleheader back at the Softball Field at First Merchants Ballpark Complex.
.png&width=84&height=84&quality=100&type=webp)
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Russo, Angelina (8-8)
L: Reily Galloway (10-14)
.png&width=32&height=32&type=webp)
Batting:
2B: Jordyn Swinehart 1
RBI: Reily Galloway 1 ; Courtney Farrish 1 ; Rissa Bajusz 1
SH: Alyssa Kramer 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jordyn Swinehart 1 ; Cassidy Brendtke 1 ; Darcy Barkauskas 1
HBP: Natalie Shuey 1
Batting:
2B: Wynn, Haley 1
HR: Hensley, Faith 1 ; Mata, Samantha-Jo 1
RBI: Hensley, Faith 2 ; Richards, Emma 1 ; Mata, Samantha-Jo 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Hensley, Faith 1 ; Wynn, Haley 1 ; Mata, Samantha-Jo 1 ; Dukeman, Hannah 1
SB: Hensley, Faith 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF/C
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
INF/OF
/ SoftballSoftball // Workouts
Wednesday, September 17
Ball State Director of Athletics Jeff Mitchell discusses the NCAA vs. House Settlement
Tuesday, July 01
Director of Athletics Jeff Mitchell discusses NCAA vs. House Settlement & Bill Richards Thank You
Friday, June 27
Sports Link: Katie Van Der Mark (Softball)
Wednesday, May 21