Sunday, March 26
Muncie, IN
12 p.m.
Ball State University
13-12, 3-1
2
vs
1
Central Michigan (Game 1)
10-15, 0-2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
R
H
E
Central Michigan
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
5
0
Ball State
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
2
7
1
Photo by: Samantha Blankenship (Ball State Creative Services)
Softball Completes Series Sweep of Central Michigan
March 26, 2023 | Softball
MUNCIE, Ind. - - The Ball State softball team completed a weekend sweep of Central Michigan with a pair of walk-off victories, by scores of 2-1 (8) and 10-2 (6), Sunday afternoon at the Softball Field at First Merchants Ballpark Complex.
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"There is something special about this team when we are playing at home," head coach Lacy Schurr said. "You can never count us out. If we have strikes and outs left on the board, we are still in the game."
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Trailing 1-0 with two outs in the bottom of the seventh in the opening game, the Cardinals (14-12; 4-1 Mid-American Conference) received a clutch solo home run from junior left fielder Kaitlyn Mathews to force extra innings.
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Senior shortstop Amaia Daniel made sure the game ended in eight innings, following a pair of walks with a walk-off RBI single through the right side for the 2-1 (8) victory.
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On the pitching front, junior transfer Francys King struck out five of the first six batters she faced to set the tone. She allowed just four hits and one unearned run in the game, while striking out a season-high six batters.
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"Francys gave us a really good game today," Schurr said. "I am proud of her. She's worked hard the past couple weeks and she performed well under pressure. We needed her to throw a good game today and she did."
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While the Chippewas (10-16; 0-3 MAC) jumped out to another lead in the top of the first in the second game, redshirt junior first baseman Samantha-Jo Mata smashed a three-run shot in the bottom of the inning to give Ball State the momentum.
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After CMU cut the lead to 3-2 in the top of the fourth, the Cardinals scored seven unanswered runs to win the game on a two-out, walk-off, two-run home run from redshirt sophomore first baseman McKayla Timmons in the bottom of the sixth.
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Bridie Murphy was credited with the pitching victory in both games, throwing the final inning in the opener and the third and fourth frames in the nightcap. Combined, she held CMU to just three hits and one run, while striking out three. With the two wins, she improved to 5-0 on the year.
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"This weekend's results set the table for us to ultimately reach the goals we have for ourselves," Schurr added. "Every game in this conference matters and every game could be the difference of you hosting the MAC Tournament or not."
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HIGHLIGHTS
SCORING SUMMARY - GAME 1: Ball State 2 – Central Michigan 1 (8)
SCORING SUMMARY - GAME 2: Ball State 10 – Central Michigan 2 (6)
UP NEXT
It will be a quick turnaround for the Ball State softball team, which opens a midweek league series versus Northern Illinois with a 1 p.m. doubleheader Tuesday. The Cardinals and Huskies will also play a single game Wednesday at 1 p.m.
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"There is something special about this team when we are playing at home," head coach Lacy Schurr said. "You can never count us out. If we have strikes and outs left on the board, we are still in the game."
Â
Trailing 1-0 with two outs in the bottom of the seventh in the opening game, the Cardinals (14-12; 4-1 Mid-American Conference) received a clutch solo home run from junior left fielder Kaitlyn Mathews to force extra innings.
Â
Senior shortstop Amaia Daniel made sure the game ended in eight innings, following a pair of walks with a walk-off RBI single through the right side for the 2-1 (8) victory.
Â
On the pitching front, junior transfer Francys King struck out five of the first six batters she faced to set the tone. She allowed just four hits and one unearned run in the game, while striking out a season-high six batters.
Â
"Francys gave us a really good game today," Schurr said. "I am proud of her. She's worked hard the past couple weeks and she performed well under pressure. We needed her to throw a good game today and she did."
Â
While the Chippewas (10-16; 0-3 MAC) jumped out to another lead in the top of the first in the second game, redshirt junior first baseman Samantha-Jo Mata smashed a three-run shot in the bottom of the inning to give Ball State the momentum.
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After CMU cut the lead to 3-2 in the top of the fourth, the Cardinals scored seven unanswered runs to win the game on a two-out, walk-off, two-run home run from redshirt sophomore first baseman McKayla Timmons in the bottom of the sixth.
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Bridie Murphy was credited with the pitching victory in both games, throwing the final inning in the opener and the third and fourth frames in the nightcap. Combined, she held CMU to just three hits and one run, while striking out three. With the two wins, she improved to 5-0 on the year.
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"This weekend's results set the table for us to ultimately reach the goals we have for ourselves," Schurr added. "Every game in this conference matters and every game could be the difference of you hosting the MAC Tournament or not."
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HIGHLIGHTS
- Senior third baseman Haley Wynn and Daniel each had four hits over the two games, allowing Wynn to raise her season average to .468 and Daniel to .442.
- All five of Timmons' home runs this season have been two-run shots, with four of the five coming with two outs, including today's walk-off blast in the second game.
- After picking up Saturday's win, sophomore pitcher Angelina Russo threw the final two innings of Sunday's nightcap, retiring all six batters she faced.
- Redshirt sophomore Emma Eubank made her first appearance of the season by starting the nightcap, holding CMU to three hits and one run over 2.0 innings of work.
- Remington Ross picked up her 10th stolen base of the season in the second game, improving to 10-for-10 on the year.
SCORING SUMMARY - GAME 1: Ball State 2 – Central Michigan 1 (8)
- T4Â | Central Michigan put the first run across with an infield single by Alyssa Hollo to second base, while Michaleigh Vallimont scored on a throwing error (0-1)
- B7Â | Ball State tied the game with a solo home run to left center from Mathews (1-1)
- B8 | A single to right field by Daniel scores junior center fielder Remington Ross for a walk off win for the Cardinals (2-1)
SCORING SUMMARY - GAME 2: Ball State 10 – Central Michigan 2 (6)
- T1Â | Hollo singles up the middle to score Vallimont for the first run of the game (0-1)
- B1 | Ball State takes the lead with a three-run home run to left center from Mata, scoring senior catcher Jazmyn Armendariz and Daniel (3-1)
- T4| Samantha Mills singles to right field to score Skylar Coberley (3-2)
- B4| Wynn extends the Ball State lead with a double down the left field line to score Ross (4-2)
- B4| Daniel singles to right to score Wynn from second for her second RBI of the day (5-2)
- B5| A Matthews sacrifice fly to center drives in freshman pinch runner Ashlee Lovett (6-2)
- B5| Freshman pinch hitter Maddie Weaver reaches on a two-out error, which also allowed freshman pinch runner Grace Spencer to cross the plate (7-2)
- B6| Armendariz doubles down the right field line scoring Ross (8-2)
- B6| Timmons walks it off via run-rule for the Cardinals with a two-run home run to center field scoring Armendariz (10-2)
UP NEXT
It will be a quick turnaround for the Ball State softball team, which opens a midweek league series versus Northern Illinois with a 1 p.m. doubleheader Tuesday. The Cardinals and Huskies will also play a single game Wednesday at 1 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Murphy, Bridie (4-0)
L: Maddelyn Wallace (4-3)
Batting:
2B: Samantha Mills 1
SH: Kelsey Alexander 1 ; Lucy Cronin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Michaleigh Vallimont 1
HBP: Michaleigh Vallimont 1 ; Kelsey Alexander 1
Batting:
HR: Mathews, Kaitlyn 1
RBI: Daniel, Amaia 1 ; Mathews, Kaitlyn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Mathews, Kaitlyn 1 ; Ross, Remington 1
SB: Ross, Remington 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
Uti
/ Softball
LHP
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
UT
/ Softball
C/UT
/ Softball
INF/OF
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