MUNCIE, Ind. – Toledo softball split a pair of games with Ball State on Saturday afternoon in Muncie, Ind., with the Rockets grabbing a 17-14 victory in eight innings in a game that had been suspended on Friday before falling in the series finale, 9-8. Friday's suspended game resumed in the top of the eighth inning tied 14-14.
In the resumed game, the Rockets (7-18, 2-4 MAC) tied their season-high with 18 hits, led by
Eli Enriquez and
Kendra VanderLugt with three each.
Madison McKay blasted a grand slam, her first career home run, in the fifth inning. McKay also led the team with a career-best five RBIs. Toledo's 17 runs is the most in a game this season and is tied for second-most runs in a game in program history. The record is 18 against Eastern Michigan (5/2/15) and Charleston Southern (2/11/22).
In the second game, home runs by sophomore
Jenna Bloomfield (pinch hit three-run homer) and freshman
Audrey Miller (grand slam, her third of the season and fifth home run) were not enough. Miller's grand slam in the top of the seventh brought UT to within one but the Rockets were not able to push across the tying run.
Hitting Highlights
Includes both games
- Eli Enriquez – 5-for-10, 3 RBI, 2B, 4 R
- Kendra VanderLugt – 4-for-9, 4 RBI, HR, 2B, 3 R, BB
- Madison McKay – 3-for-8, 5 RBI, HR, 4 R, BB
- Audrey Miller – 3-for-9, 4 RBI, HR, 1 R
- Jenna Bloomfield – 1-for-1, 3 RBI, HR, 1 R
Pitching Highlights
- Kylee Graham (1st game – W, 3-6) – 7.1 IP, 7 H, 10 R, 8 ER, 2 K, 10 BB
- Sophia Knight (1st game) – 0.2 IP, 1 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 1 K
- Kylee Graham (2nd game – L, 3-7) – 3.1 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 5 BB, 1 K
- Mady Yackee (2nd game) – 2.1 IP, 1 H, 3 BB, 4 K
How It Happened
Game One - Continued from FridayÂ
- The Rockets held a 9-1 advantage going into the fifth inning thanks to home runs from Samantha Bolding and Kendra VanderLugt.
- The Cardinals scored 12 runs in the fifth inning to take the lead, 13-9.
- A grand slam by Madison McKay put Toledo back in control during the sixth, 14-13. Ball State then evened the game, 14-14, in the bottom of the frame.
- Sidney Griffith knocked an RBI double to left center that put Toledo in front 17-14 in the eighth. The Rockets held the Cardinals at bay during the bottom of the inning to claim the win.
Game Two
- Ball State had a 9-0 lead after four innings after scoring three runs in the third and fourth frames.
- A pinch-hit three-run homer by Jenna Bloomfield and an RBI single from VanderLugt got Toledo on the board in the fifth, 9-4.
- Audrey Miller crushed a grand slam to right field to get Toledo within one in the seventh, 9-8, but the Rockets were unable to score any more runs.
Up Next
Toledo will return to Scott Park to host Akron on Friday, March 28-Saturday, March 29. The series will begin at 3:00 p.m. on Friday. All three games will be streamed on ESPN+.
Follow the Rockets
Instagram:Â
ToledoSoftball
Twitter/X:Â
ToledoSoftball
Facebook:Â
Toledo Softball