After four consecutive cancellations, the Ball State University softball team began to make up for the lost time by playing two extra-inning games at Valparaiso University Monday.
The Cardinals (17-13) and Crusaders (13-7) split the doubleheader, with Valparaiso winning the first game 1-0 in eight innings and Ball State winning game two 4-3 in nine.
"We played two very competitive ball games," Ball State coach Craig Nicholson said. "They were well played games."
Elizabeth Milian picked up the loss in game one, to drop her record to 8-5 on the season. She pitched seven-plus innings and allowed one unearned run on four hits, three strikeouts and no walks.
"It's a classic pitchers' duel," Nicholson said. "It's one of those games where if you didn't play an actual tie breaker, it possibly could have gone 14 innings."
Valparaiso got its run in the bottom of the eighth after a throwing error by Kamilah Holle, who plays second base. With a runner placed on second to start the inning, the Crusaders advanced her to third on a fielder's choice sacrifice. The throwing error allowed the runner to advance and score the one run of the game.
"It's always frustrating to lose on an error, especially in such a tight game," Milian said. "I was upset after the game, but you just have to get over it."
Valparaiso's Andrea Zappia pitched eight innings and allowed no runs on two hits, one walk and nine strikeouts to get the win.
Shortstop Alicia Barkley picked up the Cardinals' first hit in the seventh inning and Milian added the second hit in the eighth.
Milian returned to the mound in relief in game two to pick up the win. She allowed no runs on one hit and two strikeouts in 3.2 innings of work to improve her record to 9-5.
Milian said it was nice to get back on the mound in the second game after the tough loss earlier in the day.
"I was pretty excited about it," Milian said. "I just went out there with a lot of confidence that coach put me back in."
Milian relieved the starter, Tiffany Garofano, with one runner on second in the sixth inning. Garofano allowed all three of the Crusaders' runs in the sixth inning off four hits.
Valparaiso began the inning with a double to center field and then a single to left field that drove in the runner. The Crusaders added another base runner with a single to left center, to put runners at first and second. Garofano got the first out of the inning on a foul out bunt attempt to first base. The Crusaders then responded with a two-RBI double to center field and Garofano was removed from the game.
In 5.1 innings, Garofano allowed three earned runs on eight hits, two walks and seven strikeouts.
The Cardinals got four unearned runs off eight hits, one walk and eight strikeouts against Valparaiso's Stephanie Kelly. Ball State got three unearned runs on one error in the sixth.
Milian and Kathryn Wilczynski, who plays third base, led the Cardinals with two hits each in the game. Wilczynski accounted for all four of the Cardinals' runs, as her double in the sixth drove in three runs and her single in the ninth added the winning run.
Wilczynski said she was looking for a first pitch strike in the ninth because Kelly threw them throughout the game.
"I just kind of went out there and looked for that perfect pitch," Wilczynski said. "I just had to get the job done for the team."
Abby Gross, Amanda Pick, Alyssa Collins and Holle each added a hit in the win.
Ball State plays today in its home opener, a doubleheader against Butler University at 2 p.m. at the BSU Softball Complex. The games were scheduled for Thursday but were postponed because of rain.
Milian said she is really excited because she loves home openers, despite the expected subpar playing conditions.
"We'll see who our real fans are," Milian said, "the ones who stick with us in the cold weather."
In actionBall State vs. Butler
Time: 2 p.m.
Venue: BSU Softball Complex
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
