Softball Shuts Out Buffalo in Series Finale

Sunday, April 24

Buffalo, N.Y.

12 p.m.

Ball State University

19-25, 0

Buffalo

17-20, 0

Ball State

Buffalo

April 24, 2022 | Softball

Box Score Box Score: Ball State 4 - Buffalo 0

BUFFALO - - Junior pitcher Deborah Jones was nearly flawless Sunday afternoon, picking up her second complete game shutout of the week to lead the Ball State softball team to a 4-0 win over Buffalo at Nan Harvey Field.

Jones stuck out nine of the 24 batters she faced, while allowing just two hits and one walk to help the Cardinals (19-25; 12-8 Mid-American Conference) salvage a win in the series finale.

After losing both ends of Saturday's doubleheader to the Bulls (17-20; 8-11 MAC), Ball State came out determined to flip the script and started with another strong first inning.

Senior left fielder Faith Hensley opened the game with a single to left, before moving to second on a sacrifice bunt from junior second baseman Haley Wynn. After a single from senior shortstop Amaia Daniel put runners on the corners, back-to-back walks to redshirt freshman third baseman Emma Richards and sophomore right fielder Kaitlyn Mathews brought home the first run of the game.

That proved to be all the run support Jones would need, as she retired the first eight batters she faced in another dominating performance.

Ball State would add to its run total, however, starting with a two-run home run from Daniel in the top of the third. Wynn opened the inning with her team-leading 11th double of the season, setting up the two-run blast in the next at bat which was Daniel's third bomb of the year.

Hensley tallied the final run of the game in the top of the fourth, blasting her team-leading 17th home run of the season with two outs in the frame. The 17 home runs are the fourth best in a single season in program history and trail only Jennifer Gilbert's totals of 23 in 2013, 19 in 2014 and 18 in 2012.

Overall, the Cardinals pounded out seven hits in the game, led by a 3-for-4 effort from Daniel. Hensley was 2-for-2 on the day and scored two of BSU's four runs.

The Ball State softball team returns to action Friday, when it welcomes Bowling Green to the Softball Field at First Merchants Ballpark Complex for a 3 p.m. first pitch on what will be senior day for the Cardinals.