NIL
Ball State University – Official Athletics Site
AKRON, Ohio – – After opening the day with a hard-fought 5-4 victory over fifth-seeded Akron, the Ball State softball team saw its 2025 season come to an end with an 8-0 (5) loss to top-seeded Miami in the final elimination bracket game of the 2025 MAC Softball Championship. Despite the setback to the […]
AKRON, Ohio – – After opening the day with a hard-fought 5-4 victory over fifth-seeded Akron, the Ball State softball team saw its 2025 season come to an end with an 8-0 (5) loss to top-seeded Miami in the final elimination bracket game of the 2025 MAC Softball Championship.
Despite the setback to the six-time defending MAC regular season champions, it was another solid season for the Cardinals who closed the year with a 33-18 overall record. It was the 17th time in program history Ball State reached the 30-win mark, with the 33 wins tying as the 12th-most in a season in program history.
Ball State ranked among the nation’s leaders in runs per game for a majority of the season, led by the efforts of redshirt senior catcher McKayla Timmons and sophomore shortstop Maia Pietrzak. Pietrzak led the MAC with 60 runs scored on the year, while Timmons was a close second with 57.
GAME ONE RECAP: Ball State 5 – Akron 4
While the Zips struck early in Friday’s opener, putting two runs up in the top of the first, the Cardinals answered call in the bottom of the frame starting with a one-out single by Timmons.
Senior left fielder Kara Gunter cut the lead in half with an RBI double in the next at bat, while a two-out triple from junior center fielder Ashlee Lovett tied the score. The Cardinals were not done there, however, as redshirt junior second baseman McKenna Mulholland followed with a double to right center to give BSU a 3-2 edge.
After a scoreless second inning, the Zips managed to tie the score on a one-out RBI single with runners at first and second. After a fly out put runners on the corners with two outs, the Cardinals were able to keep the score tied at three catching the trail runner trying to steal on a failed squeeze bunt attempt.
The score remained tied until the bottom of the fourth when redshirt junior right fielder Hayley Urban started a mini two-out rally with a single to left. Pietrzak followed with a triple to right center, giving the hosts in the game a 4-3 edge.
Ball State’s lead would not last long, however, as back-to-back one-out singles helped Akron tie the score at 4-4 in the top of the fourth.
The Cardinals would take the lead for good two at bats later, starting with a leadoff walk to redshirt freshman pinch runner Payton Fox. Fox would move to third on a single from redshirt junior third baseman Katie Van Der Mark and an error on the play, before scoring on a single from Pietrzak.
After another brilliant start from junior Ella Whitney, who celebrated her 21st birthday by picking up her 20th win of the season, sophomore Brinkley Kita entered for the final inning. Kita would retire the first two batters she faced, before one last single gave the Zips a glimmer of hope. However, she forced a pop up to second to end the game and earn her first save of the season.
Over the game’s first six innings, Whitney would scatter seven hits while allowing four runs, only two of which were earned.
GAME TWO RECAP: Ball State 0 – Miami 8 (5)
Unfortunately, Ball State could not carry over the momentum from the Akron win into the nightcap versus the Miami who entered the contest having suffered its first tournament loss since the 2019 campaign earlier in the day.
The RedHawks opened the game with a two-run home run in the first and added another in the second to take an early 4-0 lead. They then took complete control of the game with a four-run fourth inning, pulling ahead 8-0.
Ball State’s lone two base runners in the game were Timmons and senior designated player Kaitlyn Gibson who were hit by pitches in the first and second innings, respectively. Ball State finished the season leading the nation with 91 hit batters on the year.
Despite the setback to the six-time defending MAC regular season champions, it was another solid season for the Cardinals who closed the year with a 33-18 overall record. It was the 17th time in program history Ball State reached the 30-win mark, with the 33 wins tying as the 12th-most in a season in program history.
Ball State ranked among the nation’s leaders in runs per game for a majority of the season, led by the efforts of redshirt senior catcher McKayla Timmons and sophomore shortstop Maia Pietrzak. Pietrzak led the MAC with 60 runs scored on the year, while Timmons was a close second with 57.
GAME ONE RECAP: Ball State 5 – Akron 4
While the Zips struck early in Friday’s opener, putting two runs up in the top of the first, the Cardinals answered call in the bottom of the frame starting with a one-out single by Timmons.
Senior left fielder Kara Gunter cut the lead in half with an RBI double in the next at bat, while a two-out triple from junior center fielder Ashlee Lovett tied the score. The Cardinals were not done there, however, as redshirt junior second baseman McKenna Mulholland followed with a double to right center to give BSU a 3-2 edge.
After a scoreless second inning, the Zips managed to tie the score on a one-out RBI single with runners at first and second. After a fly out put runners on the corners with two outs, the Cardinals were able to keep the score tied at three catching the trail runner trying to steal on a failed squeeze bunt attempt.
The score remained tied until the bottom of the fourth when redshirt junior right fielder Hayley Urban started a mini two-out rally with a single to left. Pietrzak followed with a triple to right center, giving the hosts in the game a 4-3 edge.
Ball State’s lead would not last long, however, as back-to-back one-out singles helped Akron tie the score at 4-4 in the top of the fourth.
The Cardinals would take the lead for good two at bats later, starting with a leadoff walk to redshirt freshman pinch runner Payton Fox. Fox would move to third on a single from redshirt junior third baseman Katie Van Der Mark and an error on the play, before scoring on a single from Pietrzak.
After another brilliant start from junior Ella Whitney, who celebrated her 21st birthday by picking up her 20th win of the season, sophomore Brinkley Kita entered for the final inning. Kita would retire the first two batters she faced, before one last single gave the Zips a glimmer of hope. However, she forced a pop up to second to end the game and earn her first save of the season.
Over the game’s first six innings, Whitney would scatter seven hits while allowing four runs, only two of which were earned.
GAME TWO RECAP: Ball State 0 – Miami 8 (5)
Unfortunately, Ball State could not carry over the momentum from the Akron win into the nightcap versus the Miami who entered the contest having suffered its first tournament loss since the 2019 campaign earlier in the day.
The RedHawks opened the game with a two-run home run in the first and added another in the second to take an early 4-0 lead. They then took complete control of the game with a four-run fourth inning, pulling ahead 8-0.
Ball State’s lone two base runners in the game were Timmons and senior designated player Kaitlyn Gibson who were hit by pitches in the first and second innings, respectively. Ball State finished the season leading the nation with 91 hit batters on the year.