Box Score

Game 1 Box Score (PDF)

Game 2 Box Score (PDF)

MUNCIE, Ind. -- On a tough offensive day, Miami University's softball team dropped both games of a doubleheader to Ball State University Saturday afternoon at the BSU Softball Complex.

The RedHawks (17-13) opened the first matchup with five runs in the first two innings, but were unable to overcome the Cardinals' (20-17) strong pitching. In the second game, the RedHawks' offense was stifled again, but they held the lead entering the seventh before Ball State walked-off for a second-straight time.

Game 1 -- Ball State 6, Miami 5

Sophomore shortstop Michaela Schlattman led off the first with a single up the middle, followed by junior designated player Megan Wurts beating out a bunt for a single. After a sac bunt moved the pair over, sophomore first baseman Johniann Wahl put Miami on the board with a RBI single through the left side. Two batters later, junior third baseman Kat Lee extended the lead to 2-0 with a RBI single to left, bringing in Wurts.

After sophomore starter Shannon Hohman sat the Cardinals down in order, Schlattman extended the top of the second with a hit-by-pitch, moving to second on a single by Wurts. With two on and one out, senior catcher Lauren Anderson added to Miami's lead with a three-run home run to right that made the score 5-0.

Ball State threatened for the first time in the bottom of the third with a leadoff double and subsequent walk, leading to runners at first and third with one out. Junior second baseman Maddy Labrador capitalized by homering to right center on her first pitch, narrowing the margin to 5-3 Miami. After a two out walk and single, the Cardinals added another run on a fielding error to make it 5-4.

Following the first two innings, Ball State starter Carolyn Wilmes proceeded to dominate the Miami offense, retiring 14 consecutive batters over four innings.

In the bottom of the fifth, senior Kelsey Fredericks relieved Hohman and stranded the potential tying runner at third. The Cardinals' scoring threat succeeded in the sixth as a two-out RBI single knotted the contest at 5.

Schlattman led off the seventh with a single through the left side, but was thrown out on a fielder's choice, ending the Miami rally. In the bottom half, Ball State led off with a walk by Labrador, eventually moving her pinch runner to second with a sac bunt. In the next at-bat, a Miami throwing error placed two in scoring position, allowing freshman third baseman Janae Hogg to win the game with a RBI single to right-center.

With the result, Fredericks' record dropped to 6-6, while Hohman picked up a no decision.

Game 2 -- Ball State 3, Miami 1

After a quiet first inning for Miami, Ball State placed two runners in the first against freshman starter Jaime Scher, but a fielder's choice ended the frame without scoring.

In the top of the third, junior catcher Rylee Whispel picked up Miami's first hit of the game, but freshman pinch runner Hannah Obrey was thrown out at second on a fielder's choice. In the bottom half, a single and fielding error gave the Cardinals two on with no outs, but three straights outs for Scher ended the threat.

In the top of the fourth, Anderson reached on a walk and Wahl reached on a fielder's choice, with both then moving into scoring position. In the next at-bat, Lee singled up the middle to bring homer Anderson for the game's first run. A walk to Whispel loaded the bases, but a force play at third ended the inning.

With two outs in the fifth, Wurts tripled to right field, but a strikeout stranded her at third. Following a one-out walk in the bottom half, senior center fielder Rachel Houck doubled to center to put two in scoring position, but Scher induced two outs to keep the game at 1-0.

After Miami went down in order in the top of the seventh, Ball State once again rallied in the seventh, using a pair of doubles to tie the game at 1. In the next at-bat, Houck homered to right, clinching a series victory with a 3-1 win.

Despite striking out seven Cardinal batters over 6.1 innings, Scher earned the loss, dropping her mark to 2-3 on the season.

Looking Ahead

Miami and Ball State will close their series tomorrow afternoon at noon. Live stats and a game stream will be available on MiamiRedHawks.com.