Saturday, March 12
Tempe, Ariz.
2:00 PM
Ball State University
15-6
5
vs
14
Brigham Young University
5-12
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
BYU
0
6
0
0
2
0
6
14
11
1
Ball State
0
0
0
1
1
0
3
5
8
1
Softball Earns Saturday Split at GCU Softball Stadium
March 12, 2022 | Softball
PHOENIX - - Trailing by 12 in the bottom of the seventh in Saturday's opener, the Ball State softball team never quit, scoring three runs in a 14-5 setback to BYU at the GCU Softball Stadium.
While the Cardinals (6-12) still lost the game, they carried the momentum over into their nightcap to earn a 5-1 victory over host Grand Canyon. The win avenged a Wednesday night loss to the 'Lopes (17-7) and gave BSU its first victory of the ASU/GCU Classic.
While BSU's offense came up big, it was the pitching for freshman Angelina Russo which would keep GCU off balance the entire game. After yielding one run in the opening inning, Russo settled in and held the 'Lopes off the board the final six frames.
In fact, Russo retired 16 of the final 17 batters she faced, with the lone blemish being a one-out walk in the fifth. Overall, she allowed just four hits and one run over her 7.0 innings of work, while striking out a pair.
On offense, the Cardinals scored the game's first run when junior third baseman Haley Wynn reached base on a fielder's choice in the top of the first and came around to score on an error two batters later.
After GCU tied the score in the bottom of the first, the Cardinals regained control in the top of the third courtesy of a three-run, two-out rally. Sophomore shortstop Kayla Lissy started the rally with a single and scored on an RBI double from redshirt freshman first baseman McKayla Timmons.
Senior catcher Delaine Johnson followed with a two-run bomb, her second of the season, to give the Cardinals a 4-1 edge. With Russo dealing in the circle, the BSU added another insurance run in the top of the fifth thanks to Timmons' third blast of the year.
After a scoreless first inning, the Cardinals found themselves in an early 6-0 hole as BYU posted a six-spot in the second.
Ball State would get one run back in the bottom of the fourth, when Timmons scored from third on a steal from freshman pitch runner Kaitlyn Gibson.
After BSU tallied two in the top of the fifth, Ball State used an RBI groundout from Wynn to pull back within six, at 8-2, in the bottom of the frame.
Unfortunately, the Cougars (15-6) would score six more runs in the top of the seventh to put the game out of reach.
However, Ball State would not give up, scoring three runs of their own in the bottom of the inning to build momentum for the nightcap.
Senior first baseman Mackenzie McCarty opened the inning with a single and was replaced by sophomore pinch runner Hannah Dukeman. After Dukeman stole second, a bunt single from sophomore transfer center fielder Remington Ross gave BSU runners on the corners with one out.
Ross then swiped second to set up an RBI groundout from senior left fielder Faith Hensley. After Ross crossed the plate on a wild pitch, a solo home run from Wynn capped the scoring. It was Wynn's second home run of the season.
The Ball State softball team closes play in the ASU/GCU Classic Sunday with a 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. MST first pitch at No. 23 Arizona State.
While the Cardinals (6-12) still lost the game, they carried the momentum over into their nightcap to earn a 5-1 victory over host Grand Canyon. The win avenged a Wednesday night loss to the 'Lopes (17-7) and gave BSU its first victory of the ASU/GCU Classic.
While BSU's offense came up big, it was the pitching for freshman Angelina Russo which would keep GCU off balance the entire game. After yielding one run in the opening inning, Russo settled in and held the 'Lopes off the board the final six frames.
In fact, Russo retired 16 of the final 17 batters she faced, with the lone blemish being a one-out walk in the fifth. Overall, she allowed just four hits and one run over her 7.0 innings of work, while striking out a pair.
On offense, the Cardinals scored the game's first run when junior third baseman Haley Wynn reached base on a fielder's choice in the top of the first and came around to score on an error two batters later.
After GCU tied the score in the bottom of the first, the Cardinals regained control in the top of the third courtesy of a three-run, two-out rally. Sophomore shortstop Kayla Lissy started the rally with a single and scored on an RBI double from redshirt freshman first baseman McKayla Timmons.
Senior catcher Delaine Johnson followed with a two-run bomb, her second of the season, to give the Cardinals a 4-1 edge. With Russo dealing in the circle, the BSU added another insurance run in the top of the fifth thanks to Timmons' third blast of the year.
After a scoreless first inning, the Cardinals found themselves in an early 6-0 hole as BYU posted a six-spot in the second.
Ball State would get one run back in the bottom of the fourth, when Timmons scored from third on a steal from freshman pitch runner Kaitlyn Gibson.
After BSU tallied two in the top of the fifth, Ball State used an RBI groundout from Wynn to pull back within six, at 8-2, in the bottom of the frame.
Unfortunately, the Cougars (15-6) would score six more runs in the top of the seventh to put the game out of reach.
However, Ball State would not give up, scoring three runs of their own in the bottom of the inning to build momentum for the nightcap.
Senior first baseman Mackenzie McCarty opened the inning with a single and was replaced by sophomore pinch runner Hannah Dukeman. After Dukeman stole second, a bunt single from sophomore transfer center fielder Remington Ross gave BSU runners on the corners with one out.
Ross then swiped second to set up an RBI groundout from senior left fielder Faith Hensley. After Ross crossed the plate on a wild pitch, a solo home run from Wynn capped the scoring. It was Wynn's second home run of the season.
The Ball State softball team closes play in the ASU/GCU Classic Sunday with a 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. MST first pitch at No. 23 Arizona State.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: BROWN, Carley (5-0)
L: Eubank, Emma (1-2)
Batting:
2B: EPENESA, Martha 1 ; ZAVODNIK, Violet 2 ; AVA, Huntyr 1
HR: ZAVODNIK, Violet 1
RBI: EPENESA, Martha 3 ; WILLIAMS, Taylei 1 ; ZAVODNIK, Violet 4 ; PODHURACK, Alyssa 1 ; AVA, Huntyr 2 ; BARRINGTON, Brooke 1
SH: AVA, Huntyr 1
Base Running:
RUNS: EPENESA, Martha 2 ; WILLIAMS, Taylei 2 ; ZAVODNIK, Violet 1 ; PODHURACK, Alyssa 1 ; FLANDERS, Lauren 1 ; SALCEDO, Lo 1 ; CHAVEZ, Marissa 1 ; BARBER, Mallory 1 ; BARRINGTON, Brooke 2 ; LENNON, Taryn 1 ; MILLS, HannahJo 1
SB: WILLIAMS, Taylei 1
Batting:
HR: Wynn, Haley 1
RBI: Hensley, Faith 1 ; Wynn, Haley 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Wynn, Haley 1 ; Timmons, McKayla 1 ; Dukeman, Hannah 1 ; Ross, Remington 2
SB: Hensley, Faith 1 ; Timmons, McKayla 1 ; Gibson, Kaitlyn 1 ; Dukeman, Hannah 1 ; Ross, Remington 2
HBP: Timmons, McKayla 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF/C
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
C/Uti
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
UT
/ 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