Against the top Mid-American Conference East Division team Kent State, the Ball State softball team almost came away with an upset in game one of a doubleheader.
After six scoreless innings, the Cardinals found themselves in position to steal one from the Golden Flashes with the beginning of the order scheduled to bat in the top of the seventh inning. The offense came through, but unfortunately the defense couldn't hang onto the lead.
Kris Burdine led off the seventh inning with a double and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Mandy Snyder. From there, Burdine scored on Britni Clark's single to left field.
Kent State responded in the bottom half of the inning with two runs, giving them their eighth win in a row. After the Flashes loaded the bases, pinch runner Abby Molnar tied the game when pinch hitter Katie Baker walked, and Carrie Eneix drove in the game-winning run with a single.
Ball State (14-33 overall, 6-11 MAC) finished with three hits to Kent State's six. Alyssa Huffman added the third hit. Randi Freese suffered her 14th loss of the season, but struck out seven in the process.
In the nightcap, the Golden Flashes took the game in a flash when they exploded for five runs in the first inning, including a three-run home run by pitcher Tracie Logar. Ball State responded with two runs in the third when Jessie Hilton scored on a fielding error and Burdine scored on Snyder's single.
Kent State again took control of the game by scoring three runs in the fifth, including the second homerun of the day -- this one by pitcher Brittney Robinson -- as the Golden Flashes came away with an 8-2 victory.
Ball State finished with five hits for the game, and Quincy Duran took her sixth loss of the year. She was relieved by Amy Brownfield and Nicki Hellem.
The Cardinals square off with the top West Division team Central Michigan over the weekend in a three game series. Central visits Muncie on Friday for a single game, then takes on the Cardinals in a doubleheader on Saturday at the BSU softball complex.
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