Indiana Tops Ball State, 7-1

Wednesday, April 20

6:00 PM

Indiana University

24-19

Ball State University

18-27

Ball State

Indiana

4/20/2016 9:56:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana Softball scored seven unanswered runs to defeat Ball State in the final non-conference game of the season on Wednesday evening, 7-1.

The Hoosiers (24-19) were led by another impressive outing from sophomore Emily Kirk, who has now earned a victory in her last three starts. Kirk went 6.0 innings, allowing just one run and one walk while striking out four Cardinals.

Kirk was given plenty of run support as Indiana saw multi-hit efforts from four Hoosiers, led by a 3-for-4 outing by sophomore Rebecca Blitz, who also stole a pair of bases. Additionally, sophomore Rachel O'Malley scored three runs with two hits, both tying career highs.

Ball State (18-27) took an early lead in the first as Leigh McAnally doubled with one out and was then brought in on an RBI single by Amanda Arnett.

The Hoosiers didn't wait to respond as they loaded the bags with no outs to start the home portion of the inning. Sophomore Rebecca Blitz singled to left field, followed by junior Erin Lehman and senior Michelle Huber reaching after getting hit by pitches. Senior Kelsey Dotson then singled through the left side to plate Blitz and tie the game.

After O'Malley led off the second with a single to right field, she advanced into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Sarah Galovich. Next batter, O'Malley scored as the ball was overthrown to first base on an attempt to get Blitz out on a bunt single.

The trio of O'Malley, Galovich and Blitz came up big again in the fourth as the Hoosiers plated two more runs. After O'Malley and Galovich singled, Blitz reached on another bunt single, plating O'Malley from third base. Galovich was then brought in as Lehman hit a grounder up the middle to make it 4-1.

Indiana plated three more runs in the following frame to push the advantage to 7-1. After a pair of hit batters and a walk, the Hoosiers had bases loaded with no outs. Galovich knocked her second hit of the game on a single through the right side to plate sophomore Sarah Thompson. Sophomore Aimilia McDonough was brought in on a Ball State fielding error on a ground ball from Blitz. The final run of the contest game on a groundout from Lehman, once again plating O'Malley.

Up next, the Hoosiers return to Big Ten action as they hit the road for Piscataway, N.J. for a three-game series against Rutgers. First pitch is Friday at 3 p.m. A live radio broadcast will be available on IUHoosiers.com for all three games.