Sunday, May 16
Buffalo, NY
12 p.m.
Ball State University
37-18, 0
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18-35, 0
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A Fitting Ending; Softball Rallies Past Buffalo in Season Finale
May 16, 2021 | Softball
BUFFALO - - It was a fitting ending to a great season for the Ball State softball team Sunday, as senior second baseman Gabby Magnifico blasted a seventh-inning grand slam to lift the Cardinals (37-18; 31-8 Mid-American Conference) to an 11-8 come-from-behind victory over Buffalo at Nan Harvey Field.
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Trailing 8-5 heading into the final inning, Ball State needed a little magic from its senior-filled starting lineup to keep the game going. The upperclassmen did not disappoint, producing six runs in the inning to help the Cardinals earn their 22nd come-from-behind win of the season.
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The seventh-inning rally was actually started by the lone non-senior in the starting lineup, as junior third baseman Trinity Eckerty smashed a ball at the Buffalo shortstop which was misplayed allowing her to reach base.
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Senior first baseman Janae Hogg and senior center fielder Kennedy Wynn followed with back-to-back singles, loading the bases with no outs. Following an infield fly to second, it was Magnifico's turn in the box. She did not disappoint, blasting the ball over the fence in center for her 15th collegiate home run and first career grand slam.
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That was all the run support the NCAA's greatest closer of all-time would need, as senior Alyssa Rothwell closed out the game with a strikeout to secure the victory. Rothwell entered the game in the bottom of the sixth, striking out three of the eight batters she faced to earn her seventh win of the season, and the 29th of her career.
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Janiga had an impressive outing in her final collegiate game, going 4-for-5 at the plate with one RBI and two runs scored. She also had a moment-saving diving catch to start the bottom of the seventh, helping stamp down Buffalo's come-back bid. Johnson and Magnifico added four RBI each, while Wynn added two.
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It was a special ending for a team that will go down as one of the greatest in program history. The 2021 Cardinals set the program record with 31 MAC wins, produced the longest single season MAC winning streak in program history at 16 games, and tied a program record with an 11-game winning streak.
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With senior Delanie Johnson's RBI double in the top of the second today, which gave the Cardinals a 4-3 lead, the team broke the program's single season doubles record with its 101 of the year.
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Ball State also finished the campaign with single season program records for batting average (.329) and on base percentage (.415).
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The 2021 season also saw Rothwell become the greatest closer in NCAA Division I history with her 33rd career save in Friday's 6-3 win over the Bulls. In all, Ball State's pitchers finished 2021 ranked in the top 10 nationally with 10 total saves.
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In all, a year to be proud of, and a career to be proud of for Ball State's seniors who dominated a special end-of-the year lineup card.
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The special senior lineup got the ball rolling early in the game, striking for two runs in the top of the first. Janiga sparked the rally with a one-out single, while Johnson followed with a walk. Two batters later, Wynn smashed a two-run single into left-center, giving the Cardinals a 2-0 edge.
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Unfortunately, the Bulls struck back in the bottom of the second, smashing a three-run home run to pull ahead 3-2.
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That lead was short-lived, however, as Ball State's seniors answered with two more runs in the top of the second. Magnifico and senior shortstop Hailey Demnianiuk were hit by pitches to open the inning, while Dominique reached on a fielder choice and then stole second to give BSU two in scoring position.
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Janiga followed with an RBI groundout, while Johnson added the program-record breaking double to drive in the second run of the inning.
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The score remained 4-3 until the bottom of the third, when Buffalo struck for its second three-run blast of the game to pull ahead 6-4.
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Ball State was able to cut the Bulls lead in half in the top of the fourth, loading the bases with no outs, setting up an RBI hit by pitch from Hogg. Demnianiuk scored on the play after singling to open the inning.Â
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Unfortunately, the rally was cut short as a strikeout and a lineout double play ended the inning. The Bulls then added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth to pull ahead 8-5.
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After being limited to just one base runner over the fifth and sixth innings, the Cardinals offense exploded for six runs in the seventh to win the game.
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Trailing 8-5 heading into the final inning, Ball State needed a little magic from its senior-filled starting lineup to keep the game going. The upperclassmen did not disappoint, producing six runs in the inning to help the Cardinals earn their 22nd come-from-behind win of the season.
It was also the 29th time Ball State has scored four-or-more runs in an inning this year, and the second time this weekend the Cardinals have used a monster seventh inning to rally past the Bulls (18-35; 16-22 MAC).SUNDAY AT BUFFALO THREAD:
— Ball State Softball (@BallStateSB) May 16, 2021
… and now, here's your first look at a special senior-filled starting lineup for today's season finale at Buffalo#ThankYou Seniors!!! pic.twitter.com/5XMgkAy1Ok
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The seventh-inning rally was actually started by the lone non-senior in the starting lineup, as junior third baseman Trinity Eckerty smashed a ball at the Buffalo shortstop which was misplayed allowing her to reach base.
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Senior first baseman Janae Hogg and senior center fielder Kennedy Wynn followed with back-to-back singles, loading the bases with no outs. Following an infield fly to second, it was Magnifico's turn in the box. She did not disappoint, blasting the ball over the fence in center for her 15th collegiate home run and first career grand slam.
The Cardinals were not satisfied with the one-run lead, however, as senior right fielder Haley Dominique and senior left fielder Katie Janiga followed with back-to-back two-out singles. After a wild pitch advanced both BSU runners, with freshman speedster Kayla Lissy running for Dominique, senior catcher Delanie Johnson smashed the ball off the second baseman's glove to drive in a pair of insurance runs.?? BIG PLAY ALERT ??
— Ball State Softball (@BallStateSB) May 16, 2021
T7: Ball State 9 - Buffalo 8
OMG ... ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
GRAND SLAM @gab5377!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
9-8 Cardinals Lead!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/x6dm2Vct0J
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That was all the run support the NCAA's greatest closer of all-time would need, as senior Alyssa Rothwell closed out the game with a strikeout to secure the victory. Rothwell entered the game in the bottom of the sixth, striking out three of the eight batters she faced to earn her seventh win of the season, and the 29th of her career.
Â
Janiga had an impressive outing in her final collegiate game, going 4-for-5 at the plate with one RBI and two runs scored. She also had a moment-saving diving catch to start the bottom of the seventh, helping stamp down Buffalo's come-back bid. Johnson and Magnifico added four RBI each, while Wynn added two.
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It was a special ending for a team that will go down as one of the greatest in program history. The 2021 Cardinals set the program record with 31 MAC wins, produced the longest single season MAC winning streak in program history at 16 games, and tied a program record with an 11-game winning streak.
Â
With senior Delanie Johnson's RBI double in the top of the second today, which gave the Cardinals a 4-3 lead, the team broke the program's single season doubles record with its 101 of the year.
Â
Ball State also finished the campaign with single season program records for batting average (.329) and on base percentage (.415).
Â
The 2021 season also saw Rothwell become the greatest closer in NCAA Division I history with her 33rd career save in Friday's 6-3 win over the Bulls. In all, Ball State's pitchers finished 2021 ranked in the top 10 nationally with 10 total saves.
Â
In all, a year to be proud of, and a career to be proud of for Ball State's seniors who dominated a special end-of-the year lineup card.
Â
The special senior lineup got the ball rolling early in the game, striking for two runs in the top of the first. Janiga sparked the rally with a one-out single, while Johnson followed with a walk. Two batters later, Wynn smashed a two-run single into left-center, giving the Cardinals a 2-0 edge.
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Unfortunately, the Bulls struck back in the bottom of the second, smashing a three-run home run to pull ahead 3-2.
Â
That lead was short-lived, however, as Ball State's seniors answered with two more runs in the top of the second. Magnifico and senior shortstop Hailey Demnianiuk were hit by pitches to open the inning, while Dominique reached on a fielder choice and then stole second to give BSU two in scoring position.
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Janiga followed with an RBI groundout, while Johnson added the program-record breaking double to drive in the second run of the inning.
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The score remained 4-3 until the bottom of the third, when Buffalo struck for its second three-run blast of the game to pull ahead 6-4.
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Ball State was able to cut the Bulls lead in half in the top of the fourth, loading the bases with no outs, setting up an RBI hit by pitch from Hogg. Demnianiuk scored on the play after singling to open the inning.Â
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Unfortunately, the rally was cut short as a strikeout and a lineout double play ended the inning. The Bulls then added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth to pull ahead 8-5.
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After being limited to just one base runner over the fifth and sixth innings, the Cardinals offense exploded for six runs in the seventh to win the game.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Rothwell, Alyssa (7-4)
L: Lucyshyn, Alexis (6-10)
Batting:
2B: Johnson, Delanie 1
HR: Magnifico, Gabby 1
RBI: Janiga, Katie 1 ; Johnson, Delanie 4 ; Wynn, Kennedy 2 ; Magnifico, Gabby 4
Base Running:
RUNS: Dominique, Haley 1 ; Lissy, Kayla 1 ; Janiga, Katie 2 ; Johnson, Delanie 1 ; Eckerty, Trinity 1 ; Hensley, Faith 1 ; Wynn, Kennedy 1 ; Magnifico, Gabby 2 ; Demnianiuk, Hailey 1
SB: Dominique, Haley 1
HBP: Johnson, Delanie 1 ; Magnifico, Gabby 1 ; Demnianiuk, Hailey 1
Batting:
2B: Aguon, Anna 1 ; Matheney, Alexis 1
HR: Matheney, Alexis 1 ; Lucyshyn, Alexis 1
RBI: Steffan, Rachel 1 ; Matheney, Alexis 4 ; Lucyshyn, Alexis 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Aguon, Anna 2 ; Peters, Alicia 1 ; Steffan, Rachel 2 ; Matheney, Alexis 2 ; Lucyshyn, Alexis 1
SB: Steffan, Rachel 1
HBP: Steffan, Rachel 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
5
R
2
H
4
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
4
Players Mentioned
INF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballC/Uti
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF/OF
/ Softball
RHP
/ SoftballOF
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