She had done it before, but just not in this fashion.
A late clutch hit against Miami during the first game of a twinbill was nothing out of the ordinary for Ball State senior softball shortstop Katie Shea. But, the way in which she did it was significant. Shea's game-winning two-run shot over the left field fence in the bottom of the sixth was her first long ball ever at home.
Ball State had struggled offensively throughout most of the game as Miami freshman Courtney Salmon had only allowed three hits until junior Kris Burdine stepped up to the plate in the sixth. One batter later Shea made history leading her team from behind to win 3-2.
"It's always what you want," Shea said about the clinch hit. "I'd rather do it then (in a tight game) than in a 8-0 ball game when we're down."
Miami sophomore Jackie Poggendorf pitched a gem through the first three innings of the second game. She had a perfect game going into the bottom of the fourth until Katie Shea broke it up with a solo home run. It was her second of the day and third career shot.
Poggendorf got in trouble again in the sixth when the Cards mounted a late inning rally. Ruth Hjelmeland took advantage of a bases-loaded situation by nailing a three-run blast over the right field fence, giving the team a 5-4 lead.
The heroics would be short-lived, however, as Quincy Duran blew a save opportunity in the seventh. Miami came from behind to steal it 6-5.
"We were not going up there looking to attack," head coach, Terri Laux said. "We have to get back to doing what made us successful against Ohio and Eastern Michigan."
The RedHawks were led by Poggendorf's 4-4 hitting performance and two runs scored. Freshman Courtney Salmon retired the side in the seventh to notch her first save of the season for Miami.
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