Looking to stay hot in conference play, Ball State softball (21-10, 3-1 MAC) headed out for its second conference road match of the season against Akron (1-24, 0-4 MAC). The Zips kept the game close on the mound, but the Cardinals managed to walk away with a 5-2 win.
“It was a battle the entire game, and we fought till the end,” head coach Megan Ciolli Bartlett said. “Akron had a really strong pitcher, but we were able to make the hitting adjustments to get the win. “
Coming into this game, the Zips did not look like the strongest team with only one win on the season, but that was proved wrong once the first pitch was thrown. Senior Kooper Vertz kept the Zips in the game as she struck out six batters in the first three innings of the game.
“Vertz threw a great game today,” Bartlett said. “She threw a good screw and rise to our right-handed batters. They had good mound play today and did not look like a 1-23 team.”
While the Zips were able to build an early 2-0 lead, the Cardinals rallied in the fourth inning, which was highlighted by a two-run home run from junior Annie Robinson to give the Cardinals a two-run lead. Sophomore Hailey Dominique closed out the game in the seventh, scoring off a fly ball to extend the lead by three.
According to Bartlett, one of the factors that went into the Cardinals comeback was the adjustments made on offense, a factor that has proven to be a plus this season for the Cardinals in tight games.
“They know how to keep composure throughout games, not fall to pressure and not to swing at bad pitches,” Bartlett said. “The adjustments they have made on offense this season have proven that they are a mature, tough offense.”
As the Cardinals prepare for a doubleheader tomorrow with the Zips, and they know that these next two matchups are going to be very similar to today.
“We need to continue to battle the same way we did today,” Bartlett said. “Today was a heartbreaker for Akron, and they are going to be ready to battle tomorrow as well.”
Contact Jack Williams at jgwilliams@bsu.edu or on Twitter @JackWilliamsBSU.
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