Sunday, February 23
Bowling Green, KY
2:30 p.m. ET
Ball State University
10-5
7
vs
5
Indiana State University
5-9
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Indiana State
0
0
2
0
1
0
2
5
7
1
Ball State
0
0
0
0
1
0
6
7
11
1
Photo by: Brad Caudill - Ball State Athletics
Wynn’s Walk-Off Lifts Softball to Hilltopper Classic Championship
February 23, 2020 | Softball
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - - The Ball State softball team has blasted 19 home runs over the first 15 games this season. It's safe to say, however, that the latest was the biggest.
Trailing 5-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh in the championship game of the Hilltopper Classic, the Cardinals (10-5) managed to post six runs on the scoreboard and cap an already impressive weekend with a three-run walk-off home run from senior center fielder Kennedy Wynn for a 7-5 victory over in-state rival Indiana State.
"Indiana State is a tough match up for us," head coach Megan Ciolli Bartlett said after the win. "They play a fast style of softball and apply consistent pressure at the plate. I thought we did a nice job of staying disciplined at the plate and executing our offensive game plan, even when we didn't get results right away. We showed a lot of maturity. The pitchers did a nice job of moving the ball around and keeping their hitters off balance."
It was not the only home run of the inning at the Western Kentucky Softball Complex, however, as junior catcher Stacy Payton got the bombardment started with her team-leading sixth blast of the season which also scored sophomore shortstop Amaia Daniel who reached on an error.
The Sycamores (5-9) took control of the game early, scoring two runs in the third and another in the fifth to pull ahead 3-0.
The Cardinals were able to cut the lead to two with a single tally in the bottom of the fifth, courtesy of an RBI single from Daniel, her team-leading third hit of the game.
Things began to look bleak for Ball State after ISU was able to cushion its lead with two more runs in the top of the seventh. While Payton's home run in the bottom of the frame looked to give the Cardinals momentum, a pair of ground outs following the blast looked to give control back to the Sycamores.
Ball State would not relent, however, as senior first baseman Janae Hogg singled through the left side to keep the Cardinals alive. With freshman pinch runner Shelby Westbrook at first, junior right fielder Kendall Fields was hit by the next pitch to give Ball State a pair of two-out baserunners.
Enter sophomore pinch hitter Trinity Eckerty who punched a double down the left field line which allowed the speedy Westbrook to score and cut the ISU lead to 5-4. Wynn then ended the game with her first home run of the season, taking a 2-1 pitch over the fence in right-center field.
Overall, eight different Cardinals tallied a hit in the game, including a 2-for-2 effort from Fields to go along with being hit by two pitches. In addition, seven different players accounted for Ball State's seven runs in the game.
"The girls believe in one another," Ciolli Bartlett said about another great team effort. "Teams win championships, not one or two players. And we have had so many different players come up in clutch moments!"
In the circle, freshman Deborah Jones threw the final 4.0 innings to pick up the win and improve to 4-1 on the year. She allowed just three hits and three runs, only two of which were earned, while striking out one. Senior Alyssa Rothwell pitched the first 3.0 innings, allowing four hits and two runs, while striking out a pair.
SUNDAY NOTES:
- Ball State extended its current winning streak to seven games … It is the program's longest winning streak since the 2017 season when BSU won eight straight starting with a 2-1 (8) victory at Indiana State (March 29) and ending after a 3-2 (8) win at Ohio (April 8) … The Cardinals also won seven straight games last season, starting with a 10-4 win over South Dakota (March 15) and ending following a 9-1 (6) victory at Akron (March 23).
- In its run to the Hilltopper Classic championship title, the Cardinals produced a .351 batting average on the weekend, with eight doubles and 10 home runs … Five different players went yard for Ball State, with Payton and Hogg recording three bombs each.
- With the addition of Wynn this afternoon, seven different Cardinals have hit a home run so far this season … Last year, 14 different Ball State players hit at least one home run ... Only one team in the nation had more players with a least one home run last year, Virginia Tech at 16.
UP NEXT:
The Ball State softball team returns to the state of Florida for its annual Spring Break trip. The Cardinals start the 12-game, 10-day swing at the UCF Invitational on Friday, Feb. 28, with games versus Drexel (9:30 a.m.) and Longwood (11:30 a.m.).
FOR MORE INFO:
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State softball, follow the team on Twitter: @BallStateSB, @CoachCBartlett & @BallStateSports / Instagram: ballstatesb / Facebook: BallStateSB.
Trailing 5-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh in the championship game of the Hilltopper Classic, the Cardinals (10-5) managed to post six runs on the scoreboard and cap an already impressive weekend with a three-run walk-off home run from senior center fielder Kennedy Wynn for a 7-5 victory over in-state rival Indiana State.
?? BIG PLAY ALERT ??#VICTORY??@KWynn05 with a WALK-OFF 3-RUN ??!!!!!!!
— Ball State Softball (@BallStateSB) February 23, 2020
CARDINALS WIN!!! CARDINALS WIN!!!#ChirpChirp #WeFly pic.twitter.com/EYr6c5QPrh
"Indiana State is a tough match up for us," head coach Megan Ciolli Bartlett said after the win. "They play a fast style of softball and apply consistent pressure at the plate. I thought we did a nice job of staying disciplined at the plate and executing our offensive game plan, even when we didn't get results right away. We showed a lot of maturity. The pitchers did a nice job of moving the ball around and keeping their hitters off balance."
It was not the only home run of the inning at the Western Kentucky Softball Complex, however, as junior catcher Stacy Payton got the bombardment started with her team-leading sixth blast of the season which also scored sophomore shortstop Amaia Daniel who reached on an error.
The Sycamores (5-9) took control of the game early, scoring two runs in the third and another in the fifth to pull ahead 3-0.
The Cardinals were able to cut the lead to two with a single tally in the bottom of the fifth, courtesy of an RBI single from Daniel, her team-leading third hit of the game.
Things began to look bleak for Ball State after ISU was able to cushion its lead with two more runs in the top of the seventh. While Payton's home run in the bottom of the frame looked to give the Cardinals momentum, a pair of ground outs following the blast looked to give control back to the Sycamores.
Ball State would not relent, however, as senior first baseman Janae Hogg singled through the left side to keep the Cardinals alive. With freshman pinch runner Shelby Westbrook at first, junior right fielder Kendall Fields was hit by the next pitch to give Ball State a pair of two-out baserunners.
Enter sophomore pinch hitter Trinity Eckerty who punched a double down the left field line which allowed the speedy Westbrook to score and cut the ISU lead to 5-4. Wynn then ended the game with her first home run of the season, taking a 2-1 pitch over the fence in right-center field.
Overall, eight different Cardinals tallied a hit in the game, including a 2-for-2 effort from Fields to go along with being hit by two pitches. In addition, seven different players accounted for Ball State's seven runs in the game.
"The girls believe in one another," Ciolli Bartlett said about another great team effort. "Teams win championships, not one or two players. And we have had so many different players come up in clutch moments!"
In the circle, freshman Deborah Jones threw the final 4.0 innings to pick up the win and improve to 4-1 on the year. She allowed just three hits and three runs, only two of which were earned, while striking out one. Senior Alyssa Rothwell pitched the first 3.0 innings, allowing four hits and two runs, while striking out a pair.
SUNDAY NOTES:
- Ball State extended its current winning streak to seven games … It is the program's longest winning streak since the 2017 season when BSU won eight straight starting with a 2-1 (8) victory at Indiana State (March 29) and ending after a 3-2 (8) win at Ohio (April 8) … The Cardinals also won seven straight games last season, starting with a 10-4 win over South Dakota (March 15) and ending following a 9-1 (6) victory at Akron (March 23).
- In its run to the Hilltopper Classic championship title, the Cardinals produced a .351 batting average on the weekend, with eight doubles and 10 home runs … Five different players went yard for Ball State, with Payton and Hogg recording three bombs each.
- With the addition of Wynn this afternoon, seven different Cardinals have hit a home run so far this season … Last year, 14 different Ball State players hit at least one home run ... Only one team in the nation had more players with a least one home run last year, Virginia Tech at 16.
UP NEXT:
The Ball State softball team returns to the state of Florida for its annual Spring Break trip. The Cardinals start the 12-game, 10-day swing at the UCF Invitational on Friday, Feb. 28, with games versus Drexel (9:30 a.m.) and Longwood (11:30 a.m.).
FOR MORE INFO:
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State softball, follow the team on Twitter: @BallStateSB, @CoachCBartlett & @BallStateSports / Instagram: ballstatesb / Facebook: BallStateSB.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Jones, Deborah (4-1)
L: Arielle Blankenship (0-3)
Batting:
2B: Amanda Guercio 1 ; TeAnn Bringle 1
HR: TeAnn Bringle 1
RBI: Amanda Guercio 1 ; Mallory Marsicek 2 ; TeAnn Bringle 1
SH: Mallory Marsicek 1
SF: Mallory Marsicek 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Leslie Sims 1 ; Becky Malchow 2 ; Amanda Guercio 1 ; TeAnn Bringle 1
Batting:
2B: Eckerty, Trinity 1
HR: Payton, Stacy 1 ; Wynn, Kennedy 1
RBI: Daniel, Amaia 1 ; Payton, Stacy 2 ; Eckerty, Trinity 1 ; Wynn, Kennedy 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Daniel, Amaia 1 ; Payton, Stacy 1 ; Westbrook, Shelby 1 ; Fields, Kendall 1 ; Eckerty, Trinity 1 ; Wynn, Kennedy 1 ; Wynn, Haley 1
HBP: Fields, Kendall 2
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
1
H
3
RBI
1
AB
2
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
Uti
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
RHP
/ SoftballC/INF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
LHP/OF
/ Softball
INF/OF
/ SoftballSoftball // Workouts
Wednesday, September 17
Ball State Director of Athletics Jeff Mitchell discusses the NCAA vs. House Settlement
Tuesday, July 01
Director of Athletics Jeff Mitchell discusses NCAA vs. House Settlement & Bill Richards Thank You
Friday, June 27
Sports Link: Katie Van Der Mark (Softball)
Wednesday, May 21