Russo Delivers Perfection as Softball Sweeps WMU

MUNCIE, Ind. - - Ball State softball freshman pitcher Angelina Russo was on fire Wednesday afternoon at the Softball Field at First Merchants Ballpark Complex.

She struck out eight of the first nine Western Michigan batters she faced, including three looking, in what turned out to be a historic afternoon in Muncie.

Historic because Russo would retire all 21 batters she faced to complete the first perfect game in program history and give the Cardinals (18-23; 11-6 MAC) a 5-0 victory the series finale. That effort followed a 5-0 Ball State win in the day's opener to give BSU the series sweep of the Broncos (16-27; 6-11 MAC).

If you thought yesterday's walk-off win had the perfect ending, wait until you see the history we had today.#ChirpChirp l #WeFly l @NCAASoftball pic.twitter.com/FI1nhP54WP
— Ball State Softball (@BallStateSB) April 20, 2022

"I can't say enough about Angelina," second-year head coach Lacy Schurr said. "She has that in her every time she steps into pitch. Today, she hit her spots and looked really good. It was a pretty special performance, that's for sure."

In improving to 9-8 on the year, and to 5-2 in Mid-American Conference play, Russo finished Wednesday's nightcap with a career-high 10 total strikeouts and did not see a ball leave the infield. Like any perfect game, however, her defense was there to back her up, including a pair of spectacular late-inning plays.

The first came from senior shortstop Amaia Daniel for the second out in the sixth. On a solid comebacker that bounced just over the glove of a leaping Russo, Daniel was able to track the ball down in front of the second base bag and complete the throw to first in time for the out.

Then, in the top of the seventh, sophomore first baseman Samantha-Jo Mata got into the defensive action. On WMU's hardest-hit ball of the afternoon, Mata was able to get a glove on a hard liner at her feet, pick the ball up, and tag first for the first out of the inning.

A soft grounder back to Russo followed for the second out, while junior second baseman Haley Wynn collected a third straight grounder to complete perfection.

Mata and Wynn were also the offensive heroes of the opening game, with Mata smashing a three-run home run in the fourth inning and Wynn adding a two-run blast in the sixth.

In addition to Wednesday's perfect effort by Russo, junior pitcher Deborah Jones was nearly as solid in the opener, picking up her sixth career complete game shutout. She fanned six batters on the day to raise her career strikeout total to 202, making her just the 15th pitcher in program history to hurl over 200 Ks.

With her 4th strikeout of the game and the first out in the T5 ... @deborahljones21 became the 15th player in PROGRAM HISTORY to reach 200 Career Ks

?? Congrats Deb ??#ChirpChirp | #WeFly pic.twitter.com/V6diuGmHXE
— Ball State Softball (@BallStateSB) April 20, 2022

"Deborah didn't have her best outing yesterday, but came back and threw solid today," Schurr said. "It's a tribute to her working on the little things and constantly driving to be better."

Jones also limited the Broncos to just three hits in the game to improve to 5-5 on the year, and to 4-1 in MAC action.

On the offensive side in game one, the Cardinals scored their first of five runs on a two-out solo home run from Daniel in the bottom of the third. It was her second long ball of the season.

BSU's second run came in the bottom of the fourth with a two-out single from freshman designated player/center fielder Emma Niece starting a rally. Sophomore right fielder Kaitlyn Mathews followed with a single to center, while a walk to senior left fielder Faith Hensley loaded the bases. A wild pitch followed, allowing Niece to score and give BSU a 2-0 edge.

The Cardinals then added three insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth, which started with a walk to Daniel. Redshirt freshman third baseman Emma Richards singled in the next at bat, while Mata loaded the bases with no outs following a walk.

Two batters later senior catcher Delanie Johnson, who also caught Russo's perfect game, was hit by a pitch to drive in the first run. Following the second out of the inning, Mathews smashed a two-run single through the right side to give the game its finals score of 5-0.

The Ball State softball team returns to action Saturday when it travels to Buffalo for a 1 p.m. doubleheader at Nan Harvey Field.

Players Mentioned

Amaia Daniel

Faith Hensley

Delanie Johnson

Deborah Jones

Samantha-Jo Mata

Kaitlyn Mathews

Emma Niece

Emma Richards

Angelina Russo

Haley Wynn