Long Ball Lifts Softball Past ETSU In Nightcap

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - - The Ball State softball team answered a 3-2 opening-game setback with an 9-3 victory over East Tennessee State in the nightcap of Wednesday's doubleheader at Betty Basler Field.

The Cardinals (9-8) struck first in the opener thanks to a two-run home run from redshirt freshman right fielder McKenna Mulholland in the top of the sixth. Unfortunately, the Buccaneers (4-13) answered with a three-run shot in the bottom of the inning.

In the nightcap, Ball State started with a pair of manufactured runs in the top of the second. After ETSU cut the lead to one in the bottom of the inning, a solo home run from fifth-year senior shortstop Amaia Daniel and a three-run blast from sophomore third baseman Emma Richards in the third gave BSU all the momentum.

HIGHLIGHTS

Redshirt freshman right fielder McKenna Mulholland has a strong day, including a 3-for-3 effort with a two-run home run in the opener … It was the second home run of Mulholland's career … She also drew a pair of walks and scored a run in the nightcap.
Sophomore pitcher Angelina Russo threw the first four innings of the opener, limiting ETSU to one hit and a walk, while striking out three batters
In her first collegiate appearance, freshman Jessica Hoffman pitched the fifth inning of game one, allowing a walk to open the inning before inducing a double play and groundout to Daniel at short to end the inning.
Sophomore third baseman Emma Richards smashed her third home run of the season in the nightcap, a three-run shot in the top of the third … It was the fifth home run of her career and her first career home run with runners on base.
Fifth-year senior shortstop Amaia Daniel blasted solo home runs in the third and fourth innings of the nightcap, upping her career total to 16 … It is the first multi-homer game of her collegiate career.
Freshman pitcher Bridie Murphy threw the first four innings in the second game, limiting ETSU to one hit and one run while striking out three to earn the win.
Junior transfer pitcher Alyssa Stramaglia closed the second game, earning her first Ball State save after limiting ETSU to four hits and two runs over the final 3.0 innings … She also struck out a pair of batters.
After registering a hit in the opener, senior second baseman Haley Wynn saw her 12-game hitting streak and 16-game streak of reaching base safely snapped in the nightcap.

SCORING SUMMARY GAME 1 – Ball State 2 – ETSU 3

T6 | A two-run home run from Mulholland opened the scoring in the game and also drove in freshman pinch runner Grace Spencer (2-0)
B6 | The Bucs answered with a three-run blast from Faith Adams in the bottom of the inning to secure the win (2-3)

SCORING SUMMARY GAME 2 – Ball State 9 – ETSU 3

T2 | Richards reached on a fielder's choice and eventually scores on a wild pitch (1-0)
T2 | An RBI double brings home Mulholland (2-0)
B2 | ETSU gets a run back courtesy of a sac fly from Kaylee Higgins (2-1)
T3 | Daniel's first home run of the season pushes the lead back to two (3-1)
T3 | Three batters later, Richards followed with a three-run blast to center field (6-1)
T4 | Daniel's second home run of the game extends the lead (7-1)
T5 | Pinch runner Ashley Lovett stole second, advanced to third on a passed ball, and then stole home (8-1)
T7 | Redshirt freshman catcher Aislinn Morris picked up her second career RBI with her first career double to left-center field (9-1)
B7 | A two-out, bases loaded infield single from Riley Nayadley cuts the BSU lead back to seven (9-2)
B7 | Kasidy Dunn is hit by a pitch to bring with bases loaded (9-3)

UP NEXT
The Ball State softball team returns to action tomorrow at 5 p.m. when it battles Liberty in its first of five games at the Flames Classic. With wet weather anticipated for Friday, the schedule was adjusted earlier this week.

Players Mentioned

Amaia Daniel

Jessica Hoffman

Aislinn Morris

McKenna Mulholland

Bridie Murphy

Emma Richards

Angelina Russo

Grace Spencer

Alyssa Stramaglia

Haley Wynn