Softball Tops Miami In Series Finale, 10-0 (5)

Wednesday, April 26

Muncie, IN

1 p.m.

Ball State University

24-23, 14-11

Miami (Game 1)

29-16, 16-6

Miami

Ball State

Photo by: Grace Walton - BSU Creative Services

Ball State Softball vs. Miami - April 26, 2023

Photo by: Grace Walton - BSU Creative Services

April 26, 2023 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Game 1: Ball State 3 - Miami 4 Game 2: Ball State 10 - Miami 0 (5)Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

MUNCIE, Ind. - - The Ball State softball team closed its three-game series versus Miami with a 10-0 (5) victory Wednesday afternoon at the Softball Field at First Merchants Ballpark Complex.

In the win, the Cardinals (25-23, 15-11 MAC) were led by redshirt sophomore catcher McKayla Timmons and senior third baseman Haley Wynn who tallied three RBI apiece to help the squad rebound from a 4-3 loss to the RedHawks (29-17, 16-7 MAC) earlier in the day.

Timmons got jump started the BSU offense in its final home game of the season, launching a two-run home run in the bottom of the first. Junior first baseman Samantha-Jo Mata and junior left fielder Kaitlyn Mathews followed with back-to-back RBI doubles extending the lead to four.

Wynn then broke the game wide open, driving in three more runs with a bases-loaded double to center. The Cardinals would add three more in the bottom of the fourth inning, starting with back-to-back squeeze bunts by Timmons and redshirt senior second baseman Jazmyne Armendariz.

Redshirt freshman shortstop McKenna Mulholland capped the scoring moments later with a sacrifice fly.

Not to be lost in the fireworks was the stellar pitching of freshman Bridie Murphy in game two, as she scattered three hits over her three innings of work to earn the victory. The outing puts her record at 7-2 and lowers her ERA to 3.86.

In the opener, the Cardinals trailed 3-0 heading into the bottom of the fourth inning, before exploding for three runs to even the score. With runners at second and third, an RBI grounder to third from Armendariz brought in the first run. Mulholland followed with an RBI single to center field, while a sac fly to left from Mata capped BSU's three-run inning.

Unfortunately, an RBI double from Miami in the top of the fifth gave the guests what proved to be the game-winning run.

HIGHLIGHTS

Ross picked up her 22nd stolen base of the season in the nightcap, and remained perfect on the season at 22-for-22 … The stolen base raised her career total to 44, the 10th-most in program history, and upped her program-leading career stolen base percentage to .978 (44-for-45)
Timmons blasted her team-leading 11th home run of the season to open the scoring in the nightcap,
hit her team leading eleventh home run of the season with her two-run shot in game two, raising her career total to 15 … It was her ninth two-run home run of the season.
Ball State's trio of Murphy, sophomore Angelina Russo, and junior Francys King combined for BSU's third shutout of the season in the nightcap … All three of BSU's shutouts this season have been combined shutouts, with Russo factoring in all three.
Ball State's 10 runs in the second game were the most scored against the RedHawks in MAC play this season, with the previous high being seven by NIU on two occasions.

SCORING SUMMARY: GAME 1 Ball State 3 – Miami 4

T1 | A diving catch by Ross took an extra base hit away from Karli Spaid, but the fly ball was deep enough to score Allie Cummins from third. (1-0)
T3 | Jenna Golembiewski wrapped a two-run home run around the left field pole to extend the Miami lead. (3-0)
B4 | Following a leadoff double by Ross, and a single by Timmons, Armendariz hit a fielder's choice to shortstop and Ross beat the throw home to put the Cardinals on the board. (3-1)
B4 | Mulholland lined a single to center scoring Timmons from third. (3-2)
B4 | Mata added a sacrifice fly to left field to drive in freshman pinch runner Grace Spencer. (3-3)
T5 | Spaid hits a two out double to bring home Maddi Banks for what proved to be the game-winning run. (4-3)

SCORING SUMMARY: GAME 2 Ball State 10 – Miami 0 (5)

B1 | Following a single by Ross, Timmons launched a two-run blast to right center field to give BSU its first lead of the series. (2-0)
B1 | Mata smashed a two-out double to right center field to bring home Armendariz from second. (3-0)
B1 | Mathews blasted another double to right center, scoring Mata, to extend the Ball State lead. (4-0)
B1 | Wynn broke the game open with a bases clearing, three-run double to left center scoring junior right fielder Hannah Dukeman, sophomore designated player Kaitlyn Gibson, and Mathews. (7-0)
B4 | The Cardinals put another across the board on a squeeze bunt by Timmons to score Dukeman from third. (8-0)
B4 | Another squeeze bunt, this time from Armendariz, brings home Wynn from third. (9-0)
B4 | Ball State adds another run courtesy of a sacrifice fly to left center by Mulholland scoring Timmons from third. (10-0)

UP NEXT
The Cardinals return to action Saturday with a doubleheader at Akron. First pitch in the key Mid-American Conference series is set for 1 p.m. at Lee R. Jackson Field.