Ball State University
34-18, 0
Buffalo
18-32, 0
Make it 33: Alyssa Rothwell Sets NCAA Career Saves Record
May 14, 2021 | Softball
??RECORD BROKEN??
— NCAA Softball (@NCAAsoftball) May 14, 2021
Congratulations to @BallStateSB's @arothwell23 on breaking the DI career saves record with 3??3???? She breaks Kellie Wilkerson's record that has stood since 2002.#NCAASoftball pic.twitter.com/uqMvn03fmF
Ball State softball senior closer Alyssa Rothwell struck out five batters, including the final one of the game looking, to register her NCAA-record breaking 33rd career save in Friday's 6-3 victory at Buffalo.
"Alyssa has worked so hard for this moment," head coach Lacy Wood said. "She has overcome so much in her career, and continues to comeback fighting harder. I am so proud of her commitment to not only her craft, but her commitment to this program as well."
In picking up her fifth save of the season, Rothwell moved past Mississippi State's Kellie Willkerson (1999-2002) for the NCAA's all-time saves mark after tying the record in last Saturday's 17-11 win over Western Michigan (May 8).
We take it down to field level for this view of @arothwell23's record-breaking 33rd career save!!!#ChirpChirp | #WeFly | #NCAASoftball | #MACtion
— Ball State Softball (@BallStateSB) May 14, 2021
?? by @theycallmemac_3 pic.twitter.com/TObAd0p89V
"I can't put into words what it means or feels like to be an NCAA record holder, because the feeling and moment is just too good to explain," Rothwell said. "Having a team and coaches who trust you to get out of the stickiest situations has always been a great feeling.
"When I first started closing, I never really thought about breaking any records along the way. My main focus was helping my team as best as I could, and thankfully a record came with it. I couldn't have asked for better teammates over the past five years to share in this moment. They all played a special part in getting me to this record."
In striking out five of the seven batters she faced, it was another dominating performance for "The Closer" who ranks first in program history with a 7.72 strikeouts-per-seven-innings average. Over 294.2 career innings of work, Rothwell has amassed 325 career strikeouts. It's a total that ranks seventh in BSU annals.
"I am so happy I could break the record with an amazing performance," Rothwell added. "The game I tied the record with was not the prettiest, but that's how sports work. You can't always have your best game, but it doesn't matter as long as you get the job done. I just happened to have one of my better games today to beat the record."
Nothing says you set an @NCAAsoftball Division I record quite like a @Gatorade bath!!!
— Ball State Softball (@BallStateSB) May 14, 2021
Enjoy @arothwell23!!! You've earned it!!!#ChirpChirp | #WeFly | #MACtion pic.twitter.com/ReKB9SKbEJ
To get to the record-breaking moment, however, the Cardinals (34-18, 28-8 Mid-American Conference) once again turned to two very familiar situations; a 20th come-from-behind win of the year and a 26th inning with four-or-more runs.
After a scoreless opening inning, Ball State jumped on the board first thanks to a leadoff home run from senior catcher Stacy Payton to lead off the second. It was the 26th bomb of her career and was followed four batters later by an RBI single up the middle from senior center fielder Kennedy Wynn.
However, the Bulls (18-32, 16-19 MAC) followed with three runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 3-2 lead.
The score remained 3-2 until the top of the fifth, when Ball State exploded for four runs. Over the last three games, the Cardinals have scored 19 runs in the fifth inning, including a 10-spot in the opening game of Wednesday's doubleheader at Northern Illinois.
Senior right fielder Haley Dominique started the rally with a single up the middle, while Payton drew a walk and junior second baseman Amaia Daniel singled up the middle to load the bases.
After senior first baseman Janae Hogg was hit by a pitch to bring in the tying run, senior designated player Delanie Johnson smashed an RBI single through the right side to drive in what proved to be the game-winning run. A sac fly from K. Wynn and a RBI groundout from sophomore third baseman Haley Wynn drove in a pair of insurance runs.
That was all the run support Ball State's pitching staff would need as sophomore Deborah Jones and Rothwell combined to shut out the Bulls over the final five innings.
Jones was credited with the win after entering the game in relief with one out in the second inning. Over her 3.2 innings of work, she allowed just one hit and three total base runners while striking out five to improve to 11-7 on the year.
Rothwell would enter in the top of the sixth, fanning five of the seven batters she faced to earn the record-breaking save.
That was not the only good news for the Ball State softball program this week, however, as it also learned alumna and former coach Jennifer Gilbert was one of 15 softball athletes selected to participate in the Olympics for Team Canada.
One of our own will be making her Olympic debut THIS SUMMER!
— Ball State Softball (@BallStateSB) May 13, 2021
Congrats to alumna Jennifer Gilbert who was 1 of 15 softball athletes selected to represent @TeamCanada at @Tokyo2020
Story: https://t.co/WituZWETUd#ChirpChirp | #WeFly | #Tokyo2020
?? courtesy of @SoftballCanada pic.twitter.com/bOKZJcO3HE
"It's been a great week to be a Cardinal," Wood said. "This program has an amazing history, but with an Olympian and now a NCAA record holder, this week reminds us of where we are and where we are going. The future of our program is bright."
The Ball State softball team returns to action Saturday afternoon at Nan Harvey Field when it battles Buffalo in a 1 p.m. doubleheader.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Jones, Deborah (11-7)
L: Marcano, Ally (9-12)
S: Rothwell, Alyssa (5)
Batting:
2B: Hogg, Janae 1
HR: Payton, Stacy 1
RBI: Wynn, Haley 1 ; Payton, Stacy 1 ; Hogg, Janae 1 ; Johnson, Delanie 1 ; Wynn, Kennedy 2
SF: Wynn, Kennedy 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Dukeman, Hannah 1 ; Payton, Stacy 2 ; Daniel, Amaia 2 ; Ligacki, Brooke 1
HBP: Lissy, Kayla 1 ; Hogg, Janae 1 ; Johnson, Delanie 1 ; Wynn, Kennedy 1
Batting:
2B: Aguon, Anna 1
RBI: Aguon, Anna 1 ; Peters, Alicia 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Aguon, Anna 1 ; Richmond, Jenna 1 ; Kincanon, Olivia 1
