NASHVILLE, TENN. - - It was a great day for Ball State softball's offense, which scored 29 runs and recorded a .565 batting average to close the Belmont/Tennessee State Invitational with five-inning wins over Tennessee State, 14-4, and St. Bonaventure, 15-0, Saturday afternoon at Tiger Field.
The Cardinals (18-9) opened the day with a dominating 14-4 (5) victory over the tournament co-host Tigers (3-23), scoring a then-season-high 14 runs and pounding out a then-season-best 16 hits. Ball State scored in all five innings versus Tennessee State, starting with a five-run first inning.
Freshman third baseman Stacy Payton powered Ball State's offense in the opener, blasting the first two home runs of her career and finishing the game with four RBIs and a pair of runs scored.