Late Run Propels Ball State Past Akron, 6-5

Friday, April 16

Akron, Ohio

3:00 PM

University of Akron

3-23, 2-10

Ball State

18-10, 12-0

Ball State

Akron

April 16 | Softball

Box Score

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BOXSCORE (PDF)

AKRON, Ohio - The University of Akron women's softball team battled Mid-American Conference leader Ball State (18-10, 12-0 MAC) down to their final at-bat before the Cardinals secured a 6-5 triumph over the Zips (3-23, 2-10 MAC) in the series opener between the two schools on Friday, April 16 at Lee R. Jackson Field.

Early offense for each side highlighted the opening innings of the tilt before pitching and defense shined over the final four frames in a one-run decision for Ball State.

Four different Zips recorded a base hit in the affair, with the big blow coming off the bat of redshirt freshman C Laurel DeVoe (North Canton, Ohio), who blasted her team-leading fourth home run of the campaign, a three-run shot, in the bottom of the first inning.

Redshirt sophomore P Lexie Petrof (Ligonier, Pa.) turned in a solid outing in relief for Akron allowing one run on five hits, while striking out one in 4.2 innings out of the bullpen.

The Cardinals plated the game's first run on a one-out single in the top of the first inning. Freshman P Olivia Stefanoni (Hudson, Ohio) was able to work out of a bases-loaded jam to end the scoring threat for the Cardinals.

Redshirt freshman CF Molly McChesney (Verona, Wis.) opened the Zips' half of the frame with a lead-off walk before advancing to second base on a field error that allowed freshman SS Madison Dudek (Uniontown, Ohio) to reach first base. A sacrifice bunt by senior DP Jessie Holzman (Medina, Ohio) moved both runners into scoring position. DeVoe then hammered a 1-1 offering over the wall in left-center field to give Akron a 3-1 lead.

With one down in the bottom of the second inning, Stefanoni singled through the left side before moving over to third base on a double to center field by redshirt freshman RF Tiffany Stevens (Toledo, Ohio). After redshirt sophomore Morgan Cadmus (Tecumseh, Mich.) pinch ran for Stefanoni, McChesney laid down a sacrifice bunt and reached first base after the throw to the plate was late allowing Cadmus to slide in safely. McChesney was able to round base at first and get in a rundown long enough to allow Stevens to come across the dish as well.

The Cardinals answered with a four-run performance in the top of the third inning to knot the score at five.

Ball State pushed across what proved to be the game-winning tally with a two-out single in the top of the fifth inning.

The series continues on Saturday, April 17 as the Zips and Cardinals hit the Lee R. Jackson Field for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.