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Ball State University – Official Athletics Site
MUNCIE, Ind. – – Powered by a two-run blast from redshirt senior catcher McKayla Timmons, the Ball State softball team closed the weekend with a 3-2 victory over Buffalo Sunday afternoon at the Ball State Softball Stadium. With the win, the Cardinals improve to 29-14 on the season and move to 14-7 in Mid-American Conference […]
MUNCIE, Ind. – – Powered by a two-run blast from redshirt senior catcher McKayla Timmons, the Ball State softball team closed the weekend with a 3-2 victory over Buffalo Sunday afternoon at the Ball State Softball Stadium.
With the win, the Cardinals improve to 29-14 on the season and move to 14-7 in Mid-American Conference play. With two MAC series left in the regular season, Ball State is currently fourth in the league standings with its .667 winning percentage.
The Cardinals are scheduled to play two games at league-leading Ohio (16-5 MAC) Tuesday, before hosting second-place Central Michigan (16-7) for a three-game set this coming weekend.
After dropping both ends of Saturday’s doubleheader to the Bulls (16-29; 9-13 MAC), Ball State was able to capitalize on a third-inning UB error to score the game’s first run. With leadoff batter Maia Pietrzak at second following a single and advancing on an out at home, Timmons dropped a dribbler off the tip of the bat back at the Bulls’ pitcher. However, her throw went over the first baseman’s head and Pietrzak was able to cross the plate.
The Bulls would counter with two runs in the top of the fifth, taking a one-run lead of its own. However, Pietrzak and Timmons would team up again in the bottom of the frame to turn the tide. Pietrzak started with a two-out bunt single, setting up a two-run blast from Timmons to drive in what proved to be the game-winning run.
From there, junior pitcher Ella Whitney and the Ball State defense went to work and shut down the Bulls. Whitney would ultimately get the pitching win, her 18th of the season, by holding Buffalo to six hits and two runs over her 7.0 innings of work. She also struck out a pair of batters.
Redshirt junior second baseman McKenna Mulholland also make a pair of spectacular plays over the final two innings, part of an all-around solid day backing up Whitney. Over the course of day, she collected three putouts and five assists capped by a diving stop and flip to second for the final out of the game.
She also tracked down a pair of foul balls down the first base line, made a spectacular relay throw to get a runner out at the plate and started an inning-ending double play in the third.
NOTES:
– Along with her solid defensive play, Mulholland walked and was hit by a pitch in Sunday’s contest … She has now been hit by a pitch a league-leading 15 times this season which ties the program’s single season record.
– Timmons’ fifth-inning home run was her second of the series, 15th of the season and 56th of her Ball State career … It was also her 199th career hit.
UP NEXT:
The Ball State softball team travels to Ohio Tuesday for a 1 p.m. doubleheader against the league-leading Bobcats. Ohio currently has a two-game lead over the Cardinals in the league standings with a 16-5 league mark.
With the win, the Cardinals improve to 29-14 on the season and move to 14-7 in Mid-American Conference play. With two MAC series left in the regular season, Ball State is currently fourth in the league standings with its .667 winning percentage.
The Cardinals are scheduled to play two games at league-leading Ohio (16-5 MAC) Tuesday, before hosting second-place Central Michigan (16-7) for a three-game set this coming weekend.
After dropping both ends of Saturday’s doubleheader to the Bulls (16-29; 9-13 MAC), Ball State was able to capitalize on a third-inning UB error to score the game’s first run. With leadoff batter Maia Pietrzak at second following a single and advancing on an out at home, Timmons dropped a dribbler off the tip of the bat back at the Bulls’ pitcher. However, her throw went over the first baseman’s head and Pietrzak was able to cross the plate.
The Bulls would counter with two runs in the top of the fifth, taking a one-run lead of its own. However, Pietrzak and Timmons would team up again in the bottom of the frame to turn the tide. Pietrzak started with a two-out bunt single, setting up a two-run blast from Timmons to drive in what proved to be the game-winning run.
From there, junior pitcher Ella Whitney and the Ball State defense went to work and shut down the Bulls. Whitney would ultimately get the pitching win, her 18th of the season, by holding Buffalo to six hits and two runs over her 7.0 innings of work. She also struck out a pair of batters.
Redshirt junior second baseman McKenna Mulholland also make a pair of spectacular plays over the final two innings, part of an all-around solid day backing up Whitney. Over the course of day, she collected three putouts and five assists capped by a diving stop and flip to second for the final out of the game.
She also tracked down a pair of foul balls down the first base line, made a spectacular relay throw to get a runner out at the plate and started an inning-ending double play in the third.
NOTES:
– Along with her solid defensive play, Mulholland walked and was hit by a pitch in Sunday’s contest … She has now been hit by a pitch a league-leading 15 times this season which ties the program’s single season record.
– Timmons’ fifth-inning home run was her second of the series, 15th of the season and 56th of her Ball State career … It was also her 199th career hit.
UP NEXT:
The Ball State softball team travels to Ohio Tuesday for a 1 p.m. doubleheader against the league-leading Bobcats. Ohio currently has a two-game lead over the Cardinals in the league standings with a 16-5 league mark.