Softball Drops Both Ends of Doubleheader at Buffalo

BUFFALO - - The Ball State softball team jumped out to early leads in both games of Saturday's doubleheader at Buffalo only to suffer 11-8 and 9-4 setbacks at Nan Harvey Field.

Despite the losses, it was a spectacular day for Cardinals (18-25; 11-8 MAC) redshirt freshman Emma Richards who went 5-for-7 over the two games, including her first two career home runs and a team-high four runs scored.

Richards became the 12th active member of the Ball State softball bomb squad with a leadoff home run in the second inning of Saturday's opener. It sparked a three-run inning to give BSU a 3-1 edge.

The other two runs came off the bat of sophomore right fielder Kaitlyn Mathews who added her second career home run later in the inning.

Unfortunately, the Bulls (17-19; 8-10 MAC) rallied to score two in the bottom of the frame to tie the score at 3-3.

Richards would break the tie in the top of the third with an RBI single to center, plating junior second baseman Haley Wynn who opened the frame with a double. Sophomore first baseman Samantha-Jo Mata preceded the RBI single with a walk, while a three-run homer from senior catcher Delaine Johnson put the Cardinals ahead 7-3.

It was a short-lived lead, however, as Buffalo counted with six runs in the bottom of the frame and two more in the fourth to pull ahead 11-7. Ball State would manage one more run in the top of the sixth, after Mathews opened the inning with a single and eventually scored on a fielder's choice from senior shortstop Amaia Daniel.

Ball State looked poised to avenge the loss early in the second game, scoring three first inning runs. Mata drove in the first with an RBI single, while sophomore center fielder Remington Ross and Johnson drove in the other two.

The Bulls would not be deterred on their home field, however, answering with four runs in the bottom of the frame.

While Richards' second leadoff home run of the day tied the score in the top of the fourth, Buffalo scored two in the fifth and three in the sixth to win the game 9-4.

Ball State and Buffalo will close the three-game series Sunday with a Noon first pitch back at Nan Harvey Field.

Softball Drops Both Ends of Doubleheader at Buffalo

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Team Stats

Emma Richards

Kaitlyn Mathews

Faith Hensley

Haley Wynn

Players Mentioned

Amaia Daniel

Samantha-Jo Mata

Kaitlyn Mathews

Emma Richards

Remington Ross

Haley Wynn

Players Mentioned

Amaia Daniel

Samantha-Jo Mata

Kaitlyn Mathews

Emma Richards

Remington Ross

Haley Wynn