Softball Sees Six Honored With MAC Postseason Awards

CLEVELAND - - For their strong play over the course of the 2023 Mid-American Conference season, six members of the Ball State softball program were honored by the MAC's 11 head coaches Wednesday (May 10) with the release of the league's postseason honors.

Leading the way for the Cardinals were a pair of All-MAC First Team selections in redshirt sophomore catcher McKayla Timmons and senior third baseman Haley Wynn.

Ball State also placed three student-athletes on the All-MAC Second Team, with senior shortstop Amaia Daniel, redshirt freshman utility player McKenna Mulholland, and sophomore pitcher Angelina Russo all earning a nod. Mulholland, along with pitcher Bridie Murphy, were also selected to the MAC All-Freshman Team.

With Timmons and Wynn both earning All-MAC First Team accolades in 2023, the Cardinals have now had 34 first team selections since the 2009 season, the most of any league school. Miami is second during the span at 31, while Northern Illinois is third at 26.

The Ball State softball team returns to action Thursday when it opens play in the 2023 MAC Softball Championship as the No. 4 seed with a 3:30 p.m. matchup versus top-seeded and tournament host Miami.

McKayla Timmons - 2023 First Team All-MAC

MCKAYLA TIMMONS: First Team All-MAC
Redshirt sophomore catcher McKayla Timmons earns All-MAC honors for the first time in her career after leading the Ball State offense with 29 RBI over BSU's 29 league games. A .349 batter in MAC play, Timmons drove in what proved to be the game-winning RBI in seven of the Cardinals' 17 league wins, with four coming via home run.

"I am proud of McKayla's impact this year," head coach Lacy Schurr said. "Her 2022 season was cut short due to an injury, but she came in this year hungry to finish what she started. She has stepped up her game both physically and mentally and it has really paid off for her."

In fact, Timmons 10 home runs in conference play tied as the fourth-most of any player in the league, while her .733 slugging percentage was seventh. A starter in all 29 MAC games for the Cardinals, Timmons also caught four runners trying to steal and tallied three pickoffs at catcher in league play.

HALEY WYNN: First Team All-MAC
Senior third baseman Haley Wynn earns All-MAC honors for the first time in her career after finishing MAC play as one of the league's top run producers, ranking fourth in runs scored (26) and seventh in RBI (27). One of the league's top batters, ranking seventh with a .375 average, Wynn reached base safely in 25 of BSU's 29 league games and accounted for at least one run (either a run scored or RBI) in 19 games.

"Haley has stepped up tremendously for us this year," Schurr said. "She was thrust into the lead-off spot for game one and hasn't looked back. Her maturity in that position is invaluable! She has been such a spark for us, and I'm so proud of her and what she's been able to accomplish."

Of her 33 league hits, 15 went for multiple bases, including nine home runs, five doubles and a triple. She produced the first two home run games of her career in MAC play this season, going yard twice in the same game at Kent State, versus Central Michigan and at Akron, all three Ball State wins. Wynn also ranked second in the MAC in walks (21), fourth in on base percentage (.491), fourth in OPS (1.252), and fifth in slugging (.761).

AMAIA DANIEL: Second Team All-MAC
Senior shortstop Amaia Daniel earns All-MAC honors for the second time in her career after also being named to the All-MAC First Team last season. A starter in all 24 league games she played in this season, Daniel paced all league players with a .405 batting average in MAC games. Of her 30 league hits, she collected four doubles, a triple, and a pair of home runs.

"Amaia has been a leader for us both on and off the field from the moment I arrived in Muncie," Schurr said. "She is such a joy to coach, and I am so happy to see her be recognized for all she has done!"

Daniel drove in 10 RBI and scored 16 runs in MAC play, while producing a .568 slugging percentage and a .494 on base percentage to rank ninth among league players with a 1.062 OPS. She also had a hand in helping the Ball State defense turn five double plays in MAC play.

McKenna Mulholland - 2023 Second Team All-MAC

MCKENNA MULHOLLAND: Second Team All-MAC & MAC All-Freshman Team
Redshirt freshman McKenna Mulholland earns All-MAC honors for the first time in her career after ranking second among all MAC freshman with a .360 batting average in league play. In fact, she led all MAC players with 11 doubles in conference play, three more than the next closest player. Overall, Mulholland registered at least one hit in 17 of her 29 league games, while reaching base safely in 20 games.

"McKenna has been thrust into all sorts of positions this year on the field and she has taken every challenge and risen to the occasion," Schurr said "This is just the tip of the iceberg for her!"

In addition, Mulholland owned a .432 on base percentage, a .587 slugging mark, and a 1.019 OPS in conference play. She accounted for at least one run (run score or RBI) in 11 league games, including three RBI in a pair of contests. Mulholland also turned in a 4-for-4 effort in BSU's regular season finale at Akron (April 30), diving in three RBI to help the Cardinals secure the 5-4 win and a berth in the 2023 MAC Tournament.

Angelina Russo - 2023 Second Team All-MAC

ANGELINA RUSSO: Second Team All-MAC
Sophomore pitcher Angelina Russo earns All-MAC honors for the first time in her career after turning in another strong MAC season by producing a 2.21 ERA over 69.2 innings of work to rank third in the conference. The 2022 MAC Freshman Pitcher of the Year and 2022 MAC All-Freshman Team honoree, Russo ranked fourth among MAC pitchers with a .224 opponent's batting average in league play, while compiling a 7-4 record and striking out 61 total batters.

"Angelina is such a special pitcher," Schurr said. "She brings some tools that not a lot of pitchers have. She has gained a lot of experience over the past two seasons, and it has really showed in her presence and demeanor on the mound. I am so happy for her!"

Russo also combined for a pair of shutouts in MAC competition, in addition to combining for just the 19th no-hitter in program history when the Cardinals took down Buffalo 11-3 (6) on April 16. She shut out league foes in seven of her 21 MAC appearance, while limiting opponents to one run on seven other occasions. Russo also held opponents to two-or-fewer hits in 11 outings, while tallying at least one strikeout in 20 appearances, including a MAC season-high eight strikeouts in BSU's 8-4 win over Central Michigan (March 25).

BRIDIE MURPHY: MAC All-Freshman Team
Freshman pitcher Bridie Murphy earns MAC All-Freshman Team honors after a solid debut season in the circle, compiling a 6-3 record and a 2.50 ERA over 15 MAC appearances. She struck out 27 batters over 42.0 innings of work, while holding opponents scoreless in seven outings and to just one run in four other appearances.

"Bridie's first year has been everything you hope for from a freshman," Schurr said. "She has gotten better with every inning and every pitch she has thrown. I am excited to see what's in store for her!"

Murphy struck out at least one batter in 13 MAC appearances, with a MAC season-high five strikeouts to earn the save in Ball State's 6-2 win over Buffalo (April 15) in which she retired all nine batters she faced. She also combined with Russo one day later to help record the 19th no-hitter in program history in the 11-3 (6) win over the Bulls. Murphy closed the regular season by earning the save in Ball State's 5-4 win at Akron, retiring all three batters she faced to help the Cardinals secure a berth in the 2023 MAC Tournament.

Ball State University Athletics

Softball Sees Six Honored With MAC Postseason Awards

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Players Mentioned

Amaia Daniel

McKenna Mulholland

Bridie Murphy

Angelina Russo

McKayla Timmons

Haley Wynn

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