
Softball Splits Saturday Doubleheader With Akron
May 07, 2022 | Softball
MUNCIE, Ind. - - The Ball State softball team opened its final home weekend of 2022 season with a doubleheader split versus Akron Saturday at the Softball Field at First Merchants Ballpark Complex.
After suffering a 6-0 setback in the opening game, the Cardinals (21-31; 14-14 Mid-American Conference) rallied for a 6-3 victory over the Zips (18-31; 13-15 MAC) in the nightcap.
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With the loss, as well as a doubleheader sweep of Miami by Central Michigan, Ball State has been eliminated from contention for the 2022 MAC Softball Championship and will end the season with a Noon first pitch versus the Zips on Sunday.
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After being held scoreless in Saturday's opener, the Cardinals came out firing in the second game starting with a leadoff double from senior left fielder Faith Hensley. Junior second baseman Haley Wynn followed up with a double down the left field line to give BSU the 1-0 lead.
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That helped freshman pitcher Angelina Russo play from ahead, as she was perfect through the first three innings on the way to picking up her 11th victory of the year. Overall, she allowed just five hits and a pair of runs over her 6.0 innings of work, striking out two.
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The offense added two more runs in the bottom of the third thanks to three walks, a hit batter, and an Akron error. Sophomore right fielder Kaitlyn Mathews drew the first while, while senior catcher Delanie Johnson was hit by a pitch and redshirt junior Jazmyne Armendariz walked to load the bases.
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Ball State's first run came next when sophomore center fielder Hannah Dukeman hit a grounder to first which was misplayed, keeping the inning alive and allowing Mathews to score. A bases loaded walk to Hensley brought home the second run.
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Freshman third baseman Emma Richards, who also had an active day on defense with 12 assists over the two games, started another two-run rally with an infield single. Sophomore first baseman Samantha-Jo Mata and followed with a bunt single and used some heads up baserunning to move to second giving the Cardinals a pair of runners in scoring position.
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After the Zips cut the lead to 5-2 with single runs in the fifth and sixth, the Cardinals added another insurance run in the bottom of the sixth on another sac fly, this time from Johnson. Daniel walked to open the inning and pinch runner sophomore Remington Ross followed with her 21st stolen base of the season. A sac bunt from Mathews pushed Ross to third, setting up Johnson's sac fly.
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Akron would get one more run in the top of the seventh and bring the tying run to the plate with two outs, before a fly to Dukeman in center ended the game.
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After suffering a 6-0 setback in the opening game, the Cardinals (21-31; 14-14 Mid-American Conference) rallied for a 6-3 victory over the Zips (18-31; 13-15 MAC) in the nightcap.
Â
With the loss, as well as a doubleheader sweep of Miami by Central Michigan, Ball State has been eliminated from contention for the 2022 MAC Softball Championship and will end the season with a Noon first pitch versus the Zips on Sunday.
Â
After being held scoreless in Saturday's opener, the Cardinals came out firing in the second game starting with a leadoff double from senior left fielder Faith Hensley. Junior second baseman Haley Wynn followed up with a double down the left field line to give BSU the 1-0 lead.
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That helped freshman pitcher Angelina Russo play from ahead, as she was perfect through the first three innings on the way to picking up her 11th victory of the year. Overall, she allowed just five hits and a pair of runs over her 6.0 innings of work, striking out two.
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The offense added two more runs in the bottom of the third thanks to three walks, a hit batter, and an Akron error. Sophomore right fielder Kaitlyn Mathews drew the first while, while senior catcher Delanie Johnson was hit by a pitch and redshirt junior Jazmyne Armendariz walked to load the bases.
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Ball State's first run came next when sophomore center fielder Hannah Dukeman hit a grounder to first which was misplayed, keeping the inning alive and allowing Mathews to score. A bases loaded walk to Hensley brought home the second run.
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Freshman third baseman Emma Richards, who also had an active day on defense with 12 assists over the two games, started another two-run rally with an infield single. Sophomore first baseman Samantha-Jo Mata and followed with a bunt single and used some heads up baserunning to move to second giving the Cardinals a pair of runners in scoring position.
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After the Zips cut the lead to 5-2 with single runs in the fifth and sixth, the Cardinals added another insurance run in the bottom of the sixth on another sac fly, this time from Johnson. Daniel walked to open the inning and pinch runner sophomore Remington Ross followed with her 21st stolen base of the season. A sac bunt from Mathews pushed Ross to third, setting up Johnson's sac fly.
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Akron would get one more run in the top of the seventh and bring the tying run to the plate with two outs, before a fly to Dukeman in center ended the game.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Petrof, Lexie (6-12)
L: Jones, Deborah (6-8)
Batting:
2B: Bryant, Jaiden 1 ; Macintosh-Houlder, K 1
RBI: Campbell, Lexi 1 ; Macintosh-Houlder, K 1 ; DeVoe, Laurel 1 ; Dudek, Madison 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Cirone, Angela 1 ; Bryant, Jaiden 1 ; Bailey, Autumn 1 ; Reynolds, Katelyn 2 ; Macintosh-Houlder, K 1
SB: Cirone, Angela 1

Base Running:
SB: Mathews, Kaitlyn 1
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
Softball // 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