Eastern Michigan Athletics
Wednesday, May 11
Akron, Ohio
11 a.m.
Eastern Michigan University
1
vs
2
Ball State
McKenna Russ
Softball Drops 2-1 Heartbreaker in Game One of MAC Tournament
5/11/2011 2:26:33 PM | Softball
A Ball State walk-off homerun dealt the Eagles a 2-1 loss in the opening round of the 2011 Mid-American Conference Tournament
Box Score.
Re-Listen to the Game.
AKRON, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University softball team suffered a 2-1 setback in game one of the 2011 Mid-American Conference Softball Tournament this afternoon, May 11, falling to the No. 4 seeded Ball State Cardinals in eight innings.
An extra-inning, walk-off solo shot in the bottom of the eighth by Ball State's Jennifer Gilbert ended the contest after the Eagles went eight innings in a hard fought pitcher's duel here at Firestone Stadium.
The Eagles tallied just four hits and left six runners stranded in the contest, dropping to 26-17 on the season. McKenna Russ (North Canton, Ohio-Hoover) led the Green and White offense and drove in the Eagles' lone run on her RBI single in the first.
Ball State improves to 34-22 on the year after posting eight hits against the EMU pitching staff. BSU's Audra Sanders (18-14) went the distance, throwing all eight innings while striking out nine.
Jaclyn Caro (Chino, Calif.-St. Lucy's Priory) got the start, but it would be freshman Lauren Wells (Lowell, Ind.-Lowell) who picked up the loss in 4.2 solid innings in the circle to drop her record to a 9-5 mark on the season. The lefty gave up just one run on six hits while striking out two.
Both teams struggled to produce key hits through a majority of the contest, as the score remained deadlocked through six innings of play.
EMU would strike first in the top of the opening frame with one run on two hits. Richards led off the game with a single to shortstop and advanced to second base on her 24th stolen base of the season. A Russ single to left waved Richards around to give the Eagles' an early 1-0 lead.
The Cardinals would respond in the bottom half of the inning with two hits to tie the game at one apiece.
BSU's Amanda Montalto recorded the first of her four hits in the contest on a high-hopping single to second base, and a Gilbert single to left would bring in the tying run from second base.
Ball State threatened again in the third inning with runners at second and third, but Wells would get her team out of the jam after getting BSU's Gilbert to chase a 1-2 pitch for her first strikeout of the game.
After both teams failed to plate runs through the seventh, the game ventured into extra-innings with Richards due up at the plate.
The speedy Canton, Ohio native was hit by a pitch and swiped her second base of the contest to give the Green and White a runner at second with no outs, but BSU's Sanders coaxed a ground ball and two fly ball outs to retire the side.
In the bottom of the eighth, Ball State's Gilbert would connect on the game-winning hit over the centerfield fence to steal away a 2-1 win from EMU.
The Eagles will return to action tomorrow against the No. 8 Kent State Golden Flashes. First pitch is slated for an 11 a.m. start.
Re-Listen to the Game.
AKRON, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University softball team suffered a 2-1 setback in game one of the 2011 Mid-American Conference Softball Tournament this afternoon, May 11, falling to the No. 4 seeded Ball State Cardinals in eight innings.
An extra-inning, walk-off solo shot in the bottom of the eighth by Ball State's Jennifer Gilbert ended the contest after the Eagles went eight innings in a hard fought pitcher's duel here at Firestone Stadium.
The Eagles tallied just four hits and left six runners stranded in the contest, dropping to 26-17 on the season. McKenna Russ (North Canton, Ohio-Hoover) led the Green and White offense and drove in the Eagles' lone run on her RBI single in the first.
Ball State improves to 34-22 on the year after posting eight hits against the EMU pitching staff. BSU's Audra Sanders (18-14) went the distance, throwing all eight innings while striking out nine.
Jaclyn Caro (Chino, Calif.-St. Lucy's Priory) got the start, but it would be freshman Lauren Wells (Lowell, Ind.-Lowell) who picked up the loss in 4.2 solid innings in the circle to drop her record to a 9-5 mark on the season. The lefty gave up just one run on six hits while striking out two.
Both teams struggled to produce key hits through a majority of the contest, as the score remained deadlocked through six innings of play.
EMU would strike first in the top of the opening frame with one run on two hits. Richards led off the game with a single to shortstop and advanced to second base on her 24th stolen base of the season. A Russ single to left waved Richards around to give the Eagles' an early 1-0 lead.
The Cardinals would respond in the bottom half of the inning with two hits to tie the game at one apiece.
BSU's Amanda Montalto recorded the first of her four hits in the contest on a high-hopping single to second base, and a Gilbert single to left would bring in the tying run from second base.
Ball State threatened again in the third inning with runners at second and third, but Wells would get her team out of the jam after getting BSU's Gilbert to chase a 1-2 pitch for her first strikeout of the game.
After both teams failed to plate runs through the seventh, the game ventured into extra-innings with Richards due up at the plate.
The speedy Canton, Ohio native was hit by a pitch and swiped her second base of the contest to give the Green and White a runner at second with no outs, but BSU's Sanders coaxed a ground ball and two fly ball outs to retire the side.
In the bottom of the eighth, Ball State's Gilbert would connect on the game-winning hit over the centerfield fence to steal away a 2-1 win from EMU.
The Eagles will return to action tomorrow against the No. 8 Kent State Golden Flashes. First pitch is slated for an 11 a.m. start.
Thank You, Team 38
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