EMU Drops Two at Ball State

Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score

MUNCIE, Ind. – The Eastern Michigan University softball team dropped a doubleheader to Mid-American Conference opponent Ball State University here Friday, April 25 at the BSU Softball Complex. The Cardinals won the first game, 7-0, before recording a comeback 5-4 win in the second game.

EMU is now 12-25 (4-8 MAC), while Ball State improves to 33-27 (9-7 MAC).

The Eagles dropped the first game of the twinbill, 7-0. Freshman pitcher Jaclyn Caro (Chino, Calif.-St. Lucy’s Priory) was charged with the loss, dropping to 7-11 on the season. She pitched a complete game, going 6.0 innings while allowing five earned runs on 10 hits, and striking out three. Offensively, EMU totaled five hits in the first game, with five different Eagles recording a hit.

BSU put two runs on the board in the first inning, jumping out to an early 2-0 lead. The Cardinals then took advantage of two Eagle errors in the second frame, increasing the score to 3-0.

With the Cardinals leading 5-0, EMU had its best chance to cut into the lead in the fifth inning. The Eagles loaded the bases, with only one out. Sophomore Jenny Scherer (Stow, Ohio-Stow-Munroe) struck out swinging and freshman Lauren Delapaz (Plymouth, Mich.-Canton) popped up to the first baseman to end the Eagles’ threat.

In the sixth, senior Ashley Strauss (Trenton, Mich.-Trenton) led off with a double to left center, but the Eagles were not able to bring her home. With that double, Strauss now has 37 career doubles, tying her with Val Canfield for fourth on the all-time list. After allowing another two runs in the sixth inning, the Eagles were not able to mount a comeback in the seventh, dropping the first contest, 7-0.

EMU fell again in the second game, 5-4. Freshman Kari Chambers (Woodstock, Ga.-Woodstock) picked up the loss, going 4.2 innings while allowing five earned runs on nine hits. Offensively, EMU had seven hits, with two coming on home runs by Strauss and Delapaz.

The Eagles started strong in the second game, with Scherer drawing a walk to start the game. Strauss, the reigning MAC Player of the Week, hit a homer to center to put EMU up 2-0. A great snag at third by Senior Lindsay Ritz (Garden City, Mich.-Garden City) doubled up the Cardinals to end the first with the Eagles still up, 2-0.

After two innings of scoreless play, BSU was able to put a run on the board in the third. A rundown between second and third allowed a runner to reach home, bringing the Cardinals within one. The Eagles responded in the fifth inning, when Delapaz hit her first career home run, a shot to left field, increasing the Eagle lead to 3-1.

Ball State took the lead in the fifth inning, scoring four runs to go up, 5-3. The Cards first knotted the game at 3-3, when a single to center was misplayed, allowing two runs to score. After BSU scored another run to take its first lead of the game, Caro came on in relief of Chambers. An illegal pitch allowed the Cards to put another run on the board before ending the inning on a shallow fly to right field.

The Eagles closed the gap in the sixth inning, scoring one run. Freshman Stacie Skodinski (South Bend, Ind.-Washington) led off the inning with a double down the third base line, scoring when freshman Brooke Carpenter (Three Rivers, Mich.-Three Rivers) singled, .bringing EMU within one, 5-4.

EMU was not able to rally in the seventh inning, dropping the second game to the Cards, 5-4.

The Eagles will continue their weekend road trip when they travel to Oxford, Ohio to take on Miami University in two single games. The Eagles and RedHawks will face off Saturday, April 26 at 5 p.m. and then again Sunday, April 27 at 1 p.m.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

Related News

Next Event

Related Videos