Central Michigan University
Ball State
Softball Drops 2 At Ball State
4/21/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
MUNCIE, Ind. - Ball State took advantage of Central Michigan miscues in the opener and made the most of its four hits in the nightcap on Saturday in sweeping the Chippewas in a Mid-American Conference softball doubleheader at the Cardinals' BSU Softball Complex.
Both games ended 2-1 as the Cardinals took the series, two games to one. CMU won Friday's opener, also by a 2-1 count.
The Chippewas are 19-20, 9-8 MAC. Ball State is 29-16, 11-6. CMU goes to Michigan State on Wednesday for a nonconference game, and then entertains Toledo in a MAC series next weekend. The Toledo series is CMU's final home stand of the season.
GAME 1
Ball State scored both of its runs - both unearned - in the second inning and then made them stand up behind pitchers Carolyn Wilmes and Alyssa Rothwell.
The Cardinals opened the second with back-to-back walks and then the Chippewas played a bunt into an error, allowing the first run to score. Ball State got its second run on the Chippewas' second error of the inning.
CMU scored its lone run when Sara Hansen drew a bases-loaded walk in the fourth.
The Chippewas stranded 11 base runners. CMU finished with four hits, two of them by Lacy Tolfree.
CMU starter Hanna Warren (6-7) took the loss. She allowed two runs on five hits, walked four and struck out two over five innings. Taylor Weaver pitched the sixth, striking out one and walking one.
Rothwell (5-2) earned the win in relief of Wilmes.
GAME 2
Maddy Labrador's one-out solo home run in the third was the difference as the Cardinals completed the sweep.
The Chippewas out-hit the Cardinals, 7-4, but stranded seven base runners.
Maison Kalina singled and doubled to lead the Chippewas at the plate.
Ball State got a run in the first, scoring on a CMU throwing error. Labrador's homer, her ninth of the season, made it 2-0.
CMU scored a run in the sixth when Shaidan Knapp doubled, moved to third on a groundout, and scored on a Rachel Vieira single. The Chippewas stranded two runners in scoring position in the inning.
Laura Vaccaro (5-4) took the loss. She surrendered two runs on four hits and struck out three over five innings. Weaver pitched the sixth.
Aeshia Miles (15-8) started for Ball State and picked up the victory. She went 5 2/3 innings, allowing one run on six hits, while walking one and striking out three. Rothwell went the final 1 1/3 innings for the save, her eighth.
