Ball State University Athletics
Player and Freshman Pitcher of the Year Honors Highlight Softball MAC Awards
May 11, 2022 | Softball
CLEVELAND - - For their strong play over the course of the 2022 Mid-American Conference season, five members of the Ball State softball program were honored by the MAC's 11 head coaches Wednesday (May 11) with the release of the league's postseason honors.
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Much as she did for the Cardinals all season, senior left fielder Faith Hensley led the charge, becoming just the sixth different player in program history to be named the MAC Player of the Year. Hensley also earned a spot on the All-MAC First Team for the second consecutive season.
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Ball State picked up another specialty award as well, with Angelina Russo being named the program's first MAC Freshman Pitcher of the Year in just the second season of the award. Russo also earned a spot on the MAC All-Freshman Team.
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In addition, senior infielder Amaia Daniel was named to the All-MAC First Team, junior pitcher Deborah Jones earned All-MAC Second Team honors for the second straight season, and freshman infielder Emma Richards was named to the MAC All-Freshman Team.
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With Hensley and Daniel both earning All-MAC First Team accolades in 2022, the Cardinals have now had 32 first team selections since the 2009 season, the most of any league school. Miami is second during the span at 26, while Northern Illinois is third at 24.
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The Ball State softball team ended the 2022 season this past Sunday with a 2-0 victory over Akron at the Softball Field at First Merchants Ballpark Complex. The Cardinals went 22-31 on the year and just missed out on the four-team MAC Softball Championships, placing fifth in the league with a 15-14 mark.
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FAITH HENSLEY: MAC Player of the Year / First Team All-MAC
Senior left fielder Faith Hensley is the sixth player in program history, and first since three-time winner Jennifer Gilbert (2012, 2013 and 2014), to earn MAC Player of the Year honors. A two-time First Team All-MAC selection, Hensley led all MAC players with a 1.423 OPS in league play, powered by MAC-highs in slugging percentage (.876) and on base percentage (.547).
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Hensley also finished third in the MAC in batting average during league play, at .404, and reached base safely in 27 of BSU's 29 MAC games, including tallying at least one hit in 23 games. Hensley has walked a league-high 26 times and was hit by a pitch twice in conference play.
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Despite the league continually showing respect for her ability, Hensley made a tremendous impact in nearly every game, leading the league with 37 runs scored and adding 25 RBI. She also ranked second among all MAC players in both triples (3) and home runs (10). In addition, Hensley tallied multiple hits in 13 league games, while driving in multiple RBI in seven. She also directly factored in five of BSU's 15 league wins, with three game-winning runs scored and a pair of game-winning RBI, including a walk-off two-run home run in a 4-3 win over Western Michigan (April 19).
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ANGELINA RUSSO: MAC Freshman Pitcher of the Year / MAC All-Freshman Team
Angelina Russo led all MAC freshman pitchers, and ranked seventh overall, with a 3.08 ERA in league play. Over 17 conference appearances, Russo held opponents to a .227 batting average. She threw the first perfect game in program history in Ball State's 5-0 win over Western Michigan (April 20), finishing the contest with a career-high 10 strikeouts.
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Overall, Russo tallied a team-high 62 strikeouts over 84.0 innings of work in MAC play. She also earned an 8-6 league record, including two wins over both WMU and Akron, as well as one victory each against Bowling Green, Kent State, Northern Illinois, and Toledo.
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AMAIA DANIEL: First Team All-MAC
Senior infielder Amaia Daniel earned First Team All-MAC honors for the first time in her career after ranking second on the squad with a .344 batting average in MAC play. She strung together Ball State's longest hitting streak of the season down the stretch with a career-best 11-game hitting streak from April 20 versus Western Michigan through the May 5 game at Miami.
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Daniel started all 29 of BSU's league games, including the first 11 at second base. She became the team's starting shortstop for the final 18 MAC games after injuries depleted the Ball State infield. Overall, Daniel tallied 32 hits in MAC play, including four doubles, a triple, and a pair of home runs. She also reached base safely in 27 of BSU's 29 MAC games, while scoring 15 runs and driving in 20 RBIs.
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DEBORAH JONES: Second Team All-MAC
Junior pitcher Deborah Jones earned All-MAC Second Team honors for the second straight season after ranking third in the league with a 2.21 ERA over 15 MAC appearances. Over 69.2 innings of work, Jones limited opposing batters to a .220 average and allowed just 22 earned runs. She also registered a 5-4 record in MAC games, while striking out 54 batters.
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Jones threw three complete game shutout victories in MAC play, starting with her 2022 league debut in an 11-0 (5) victory at Northern Illinois (April 6). She added seven-inning complete game shutout wins versus Western Michigan (April 20) and at Buffalo (April 24), while throwing the final 2.0 innings to earn the save in a combined shutout versus Akron (May 8) in the season finale.
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EMMA RICHARDS: MAC All-Freshman Team
Emma Richards was one of the league's top offensive rookies, finishing the season ranked third on the squad with a .288 batting average. After seeing limited action in BSU's first three league series, Richards played all three games in the outfield versus Ohio, including a pair of starts. Then injuries ravaged the Ball State infield in a non-conference game versus IUPUI on April 12 to give her the starting spot at third base.
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She did not disappointed over the last 18 games of the season, producing a .310 batting average. In fact, she reached base safely 14 of the last 18 games for the Cardinals, including three-hit performances at Buffalo and versus Bowling Green. Richards was also a solid contributor on defense in league play, registering 15 putouts and 43 assists, while having a hand in one of BSU's 15 MAC double plays.
All-MAC First Team
Amaia Daniel, Shortstop, Ball State
Faith Hensley, Outfield, Ball State
Greta L'Esperance, Outfield, Bowling Green
Payton Gottshall, Pitcher, Bowling Green
Caitlyn Britton, Util-F, Central Michigan
Shannon Stein, First Base, Central Michigan
Allie Cummins, Catcher, Miami*
Brianna Pratt, Pitcher, Miami*
Karli Spaid, Third Base, Miami
Courtney Vierstra, Pitcher, Miami
Katie Keller, Catcher, Northern Illinois
Sam Mallinder, Second Base, Northern Illinois
Allie Englant, Outfield, Ohio
Annalia Paoli, Third Base, Ohio*
Reily Galloway, Util-Pitcher, Western Michigan
* At Large Selections
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All-MAC Second TeamÂ
Lexi Campbell, Third Base, Akron
Deborah Jones, Pitcher, Ball State
Alexis Lucyshyn, Util-Pitcher, Buffalo*
Grace Lehto, Pitcher, Central Michigan*
Abbey Tolmie, Outfield, Central Michigan
Madison Hershberger, Util-Fielder, Kent State
Jessica LeBeau, Util-Pitcher, Kent State
Andrea Scali, Pitcher, Kent State
Holly Blaska, First Base, Miami
Kate Kobayashi, Outfield, Miami
Maggie Murphy, Outfield, Miami
Chloe Parks, Second Base, Miami
Megan McMenemy, Shortstop, Ohio
Brooke Rice, Catcher, Ohio
Dayna Denner, Third Base, Toledo*
*At Large Selections
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All-MAC Freshman Team
Lexi Campbell, Akron
Angela Cirone, Akron
Emma Richards, Ball State
Angelina Russo, Ball State
Kylie Ringler, Kent State
Savannah Wing, Kent State
Maggie Murphy, Miami
Chloe Parks, Miami
Shelby Kunkel, Miami
Avery Carnahan, Northern Illinois
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Coach of the Year
McCall Salmon, Central MichiganÂ
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Freshman Pitcher of the Year
Angelina Russo, Ball State
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Freshman Player of the Year
Maggie Murphy, MiamiÂ
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Nan Harvey Sportsmanship Award
Andrea Scali, Kent State
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Pitcher of the Year
Payton Gottshall, Bowling Green
Player of the Year
Faith Hensley, Ball State
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Much as she did for the Cardinals all season, senior left fielder Faith Hensley led the charge, becoming just the sixth different player in program history to be named the MAC Player of the Year. Hensley also earned a spot on the All-MAC First Team for the second consecutive season.
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Ball State picked up another specialty award as well, with Angelina Russo being named the program's first MAC Freshman Pitcher of the Year in just the second season of the award. Russo also earned a spot on the MAC All-Freshman Team.
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In addition, senior infielder Amaia Daniel was named to the All-MAC First Team, junior pitcher Deborah Jones earned All-MAC Second Team honors for the second straight season, and freshman infielder Emma Richards was named to the MAC All-Freshman Team.
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With Hensley and Daniel both earning All-MAC First Team accolades in 2022, the Cardinals have now had 32 first team selections since the 2009 season, the most of any league school. Miami is second during the span at 26, while Northern Illinois is third at 24.
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The Ball State softball team ended the 2022 season this past Sunday with a 2-0 victory over Akron at the Softball Field at First Merchants Ballpark Complex. The Cardinals went 22-31 on the year and just missed out on the four-team MAC Softball Championships, placing fifth in the league with a 15-14 mark.
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 FAITH HENSLEY: MAC Player of the Year / First Team All-MAC
Senior left fielder Faith Hensley is the sixth player in program history, and first since three-time winner Jennifer Gilbert (2012, 2013 and 2014), to earn MAC Player of the Year honors. A two-time First Team All-MAC selection, Hensley led all MAC players with a 1.423 OPS in league play, powered by MAC-highs in slugging percentage (.876) and on base percentage (.547).
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Hensley also finished third in the MAC in batting average during league play, at .404, and reached base safely in 27 of BSU's 29 MAC games, including tallying at least one hit in 23 games. Hensley has walked a league-high 26 times and was hit by a pitch twice in conference play.
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Despite the league continually showing respect for her ability, Hensley made a tremendous impact in nearly every game, leading the league with 37 runs scored and adding 25 RBI. She also ranked second among all MAC players in both triples (3) and home runs (10). In addition, Hensley tallied multiple hits in 13 league games, while driving in multiple RBI in seven. She also directly factored in five of BSU's 15 league wins, with three game-winning runs scored and a pair of game-winning RBI, including a walk-off two-run home run in a 4-3 win over Western Michigan (April 19).
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ANGELINA RUSSO: MAC Freshman Pitcher of the Year / MAC All-Freshman Team
Angelina Russo led all MAC freshman pitchers, and ranked seventh overall, with a 3.08 ERA in league play. Over 17 conference appearances, Russo held opponents to a .227 batting average. She threw the first perfect game in program history in Ball State's 5-0 win over Western Michigan (April 20), finishing the contest with a career-high 10 strikeouts.
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Overall, Russo tallied a team-high 62 strikeouts over 84.0 innings of work in MAC play. She also earned an 8-6 league record, including two wins over both WMU and Akron, as well as one victory each against Bowling Green, Kent State, Northern Illinois, and Toledo.
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AMAIA DANIEL: First Team All-MAC
Senior infielder Amaia Daniel earned First Team All-MAC honors for the first time in her career after ranking second on the squad with a .344 batting average in MAC play. She strung together Ball State's longest hitting streak of the season down the stretch with a career-best 11-game hitting streak from April 20 versus Western Michigan through the May 5 game at Miami.
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Daniel started all 29 of BSU's league games, including the first 11 at second base. She became the team's starting shortstop for the final 18 MAC games after injuries depleted the Ball State infield. Overall, Daniel tallied 32 hits in MAC play, including four doubles, a triple, and a pair of home runs. She also reached base safely in 27 of BSU's 29 MAC games, while scoring 15 runs and driving in 20 RBIs.
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DEBORAH JONES: Second Team All-MAC
Junior pitcher Deborah Jones earned All-MAC Second Team honors for the second straight season after ranking third in the league with a 2.21 ERA over 15 MAC appearances. Over 69.2 innings of work, Jones limited opposing batters to a .220 average and allowed just 22 earned runs. She also registered a 5-4 record in MAC games, while striking out 54 batters.
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Jones threw three complete game shutout victories in MAC play, starting with her 2022 league debut in an 11-0 (5) victory at Northern Illinois (April 6). She added seven-inning complete game shutout wins versus Western Michigan (April 20) and at Buffalo (April 24), while throwing the final 2.0 innings to earn the save in a combined shutout versus Akron (May 8) in the season finale.
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EMMA RICHARDS: MAC All-Freshman Team
Emma Richards was one of the league's top offensive rookies, finishing the season ranked third on the squad with a .288 batting average. After seeing limited action in BSU's first three league series, Richards played all three games in the outfield versus Ohio, including a pair of starts. Then injuries ravaged the Ball State infield in a non-conference game versus IUPUI on April 12 to give her the starting spot at third base.
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She did not disappointed over the last 18 games of the season, producing a .310 batting average. In fact, she reached base safely 14 of the last 18 games for the Cardinals, including three-hit performances at Buffalo and versus Bowling Green. Richards was also a solid contributor on defense in league play, registering 15 putouts and 43 assists, while having a hand in one of BSU's 15 MAC double plays.
All-MAC First Team
Amaia Daniel, Shortstop, Ball State
Faith Hensley, Outfield, Ball State
Greta L'Esperance, Outfield, Bowling Green
Payton Gottshall, Pitcher, Bowling Green
Caitlyn Britton, Util-F, Central Michigan
Shannon Stein, First Base, Central Michigan
Allie Cummins, Catcher, Miami*
Brianna Pratt, Pitcher, Miami*
Karli Spaid, Third Base, Miami
Courtney Vierstra, Pitcher, Miami
Katie Keller, Catcher, Northern Illinois
Sam Mallinder, Second Base, Northern Illinois
Allie Englant, Outfield, Ohio
Annalia Paoli, Third Base, Ohio*
Reily Galloway, Util-Pitcher, Western Michigan
* At Large Selections
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All-MAC Second TeamÂ
Lexi Campbell, Third Base, Akron
Deborah Jones, Pitcher, Ball State
Alexis Lucyshyn, Util-Pitcher, Buffalo*
Grace Lehto, Pitcher, Central Michigan*
Abbey Tolmie, Outfield, Central Michigan
Madison Hershberger, Util-Fielder, Kent State
Jessica LeBeau, Util-Pitcher, Kent State
Andrea Scali, Pitcher, Kent State
Holly Blaska, First Base, Miami
Kate Kobayashi, Outfield, Miami
Maggie Murphy, Outfield, Miami
Chloe Parks, Second Base, Miami
Megan McMenemy, Shortstop, Ohio
Brooke Rice, Catcher, Ohio
Dayna Denner, Third Base, Toledo*
*At Large Selections
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All-MAC Freshman Team
Lexi Campbell, Akron
Angela Cirone, Akron
Emma Richards, Ball State
Angelina Russo, Ball State
Kylie Ringler, Kent State
Savannah Wing, Kent State
Maggie Murphy, Miami
Chloe Parks, Miami
Shelby Kunkel, Miami
Avery Carnahan, Northern Illinois
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Coach of the Year
McCall Salmon, Central MichiganÂ
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Freshman Pitcher of the Year
Angelina Russo, Ball State
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Freshman Player of the Year
Maggie Murphy, MiamiÂ
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Nan Harvey Sportsmanship Award
Andrea Scali, Kent State
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Pitcher of the Year
Payton Gottshall, Bowling Green
Player of the Year
Faith Hensley, Ball State
Players Mentioned
Uti
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