Friday, February 17
Birmingham, AL
5 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. CT
Ball State University
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Samford
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Ball State
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Samford
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Softball Splits Friday Twinbill at Samford
February 18, 2023 | Softball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - - Senior second baseman Haley Wynn made sure her birthday was a special one, blasting a solo home run for Ball State softball's first hit of the season to help pick of a doubleheader split with Samford Friday evening at the Samford Softball Stadium.
The birthday blast was part of a 3-for-4 effort from Wynn in the opener, who fell a double shy of the cycle after singling in the fifth and tripling to lead off the seventh. Overall, Wynn would account for three runs in the Cardinals' (1-1) 5-3 opening-game victory over the Bulldogs (2-3).
In the nightcap, Ball State jumped out to a 4-0 lead early, thanks in part to a two-run blast from redshirt sophomore McKayla Timmons in the top of the third. However, Samford answered with four runs in the bottom of the inning, and after BSU took the lead again in the fourth, forced extra innings with a two-out solo home run in the seventh.
After a 19-minute delay in the bottom of the eighth after the stadium lights, the Cardinals took advantage of the tiebreaker rule in the top of the ninth with a pair of runs. Unfortunately, Samford countered with three in the bottom of the frame to earn an 8-7 (9) victory and salvage a split on the day.
HIGHLIGHTS:
SCORING SUMMARY – GAME 1
SCORING SUMMARY – GAME 2
UP NEXT
The Ball State softball team continues play in the Blazer Bash Saturday afternoon with a doubleheader at UAB. First pitch for game one is set for 1 p.m. ET / Noon CT, with game two following approximately 30 minutes later.
The birthday blast was part of a 3-for-4 effort from Wynn in the opener, who fell a double shy of the cycle after singling in the fifth and tripling to lead off the seventh. Overall, Wynn would account for three runs in the Cardinals' (1-1) 5-3 opening-game victory over the Bulldogs (2-3).
In the nightcap, Ball State jumped out to a 4-0 lead early, thanks in part to a two-run blast from redshirt sophomore McKayla Timmons in the top of the third. However, Samford answered with four runs in the bottom of the inning, and after BSU took the lead again in the fourth, forced extra innings with a two-out solo home run in the seventh.
After a 19-minute delay in the bottom of the eighth after the stadium lights, the Cardinals took advantage of the tiebreaker rule in the top of the ninth with a pair of runs. Unfortunately, Samford countered with three in the bottom of the frame to earn an 8-7 (9) victory and salvage a split on the day.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Wynn finished the day going 6-for-8 from the plate with a walk, scoring four runs and driving in a pair of RBI.
- Sophomore Angelina Russo picked up the win in her 2023 debut, limiting Samford to four hits and no runs over 4.0 innings in Friday's opener … She also struck out two batters.
- Junior transfer Francys King was credited with her first save, allowing five hits and three runs over the final 3.0 innings … She also struck out two batters.
- Freshman Bridie Murphy turned in a solid start in her collegiate debut, limiting Samford to six hits and four runs over 4.0 innings of work … She also struck out three batters.
- Ball State's defense, which ranked sixth nationally last season turning 0.55 double plays per game, picked up three over Friday's doubleheader.
- Junior Remington Ross picked up right where she left off last season, stealing three total bases on the day … Ross ranked third in the Mid-American Conference and 72nd nationally with 22 stolen bases last season.
- Overall, the Cardinals stole eight bases over the course of the doubleheader, including two from freshman Ashlee Lovett in the nightcap.
SCORING SUMMARY – GAME 1
- T3 | Ball State's first hit of the 2023 season was a big one, as Wynn homered to center field (1-0)
- T4 | After redshirt senior Jazmyne Armendariz doubled to open the inning, pinch runner Lovett came around to score her first collegiate run on a Samford error. (2-0)
- T5 | A sac fly from fifth-year senior shortstop Amaia Daniel drove in Ross who reached on an error, stole second, and advanced to third on Wynn's single (3-0)
- T5 | After Wynn advanced to third on a wild pitch, Armendariz drove her home with a single to center (4-0)
- B6 | Samford scored its first run of the game courtesy of a leadoff home run from Logan Champion (4-1)
- T7 | Ball State was able to get the run back after Wynn opened the inning with a triple and scored on an RBI double from Daniel (5-1)
- B7 | A leadoff single and a home run from Grier Bruce drove in the game's final two runs (5-3)
SCORING SUMMARY – GAME 2
- T2 | Junior oufielder Kaitlyn Mathews sparked a mini two-out rally with a single up the middle, before advancing to second on a passed ball, stealing third, and scoring on an error (1-0)
- T3 | A two-out, two-run home run from Timmons opened the scoring in the inning (3-0)
- T3 | Sophomore third baseman Emma Richards reached and advanced to second on an error, before scoring on a double to left field by Mathews (4-0)
- B3 | A leadoff double and a one-out single by Bruce gave Samford its first run (4-1)
- B3 | Two batters later a three-run home run from Champion tied the score (4-4)
- T4 | Ross showed some more speed, leading off with a single, stealing second, and scoring on a Wynn single up the middle (5-4)
- B7 | A two-out, solo home run by Bruce sent the game into extra innings (5-5)
- T9 | After being placed at second to open the inning, and moving to third on a single from Wynn, Ross scored on a wild pitch (6-5)
- T9 | Wynn scores on an RBI single from Daniel (7-5)
- B9 | Samford loaded the bases with one out, setting up a game-winning three-run double from Merritt Cahoon (7-8)
UP NEXT
The Ball State softball team continues play in the Blazer Bash Saturday afternoon with a doubleheader at UAB. First pitch for game one is set for 1 p.m. ET / Noon CT, with game two following approximately 30 minutes later.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Russo, Angelina (1-0)
L: Sara Bond (0-1)
S: King, Francys (1)
Batting:
2B: Armendariz, Jazmyne 1
3B: Wynn, Haley 1
HR: Wynn, Haley 1
RBI: Wynn, Haley 1 ; Daniel, Amaia 2 ; Armendariz, Jazmyne 1 ; Mata, Samantha-Jo 1
SF: Daniel, Amaia 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Wynn, Haley 3 ; Lovett, Ashlee 1 ; Ross, Remington 1
SB: Timmons, McKayla 1 ; Ross, Remington 1
Batting:
2B: Logan Champion 1
HR: Grier Bruce 1 ; Logan Champion 1
RBI: Grier Bruce 2 ; Logan Champion 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sarah Squillace 1 ; Grier Bruce 1 ; Logan Champion 1
HBP: Ansley Yantis 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
3
H
3
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
c/dh
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
C/Uti
/ Softball
Uti
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
UT
/ Softball
INF/OF
/ SoftballSoftball // Workouts
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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