Ball State University
1-4
Fordham
2-3
Hoffman's Five RBIs Help Lift Softball Past Fordham
February 11, 2024 | Softball
Hoffman opened the game with a bang, depositing her first career hit over the fence in right center for a grand slam. The blast gave the Cardinals (1-4) an early 4-0 edge in the top of the first inning.
The Rams (2-3) would counter with four runs of their own in the bottom of the frame, while following a solo home run from redshirt junior McKayla Timmons in the top of the third with two runs in the bottom of the frame to take a lead.
Determined to give head coach Helen Peña her first collegiate win, the Cardinals put a five spot on the board in the top of the sixth to reclaim the lead and take control of the game.
The biggest moment in Ball State's five-run sixth was a two-out, bases-loaded, two-run fielder's choice from redshirt sophomore McKenna Mulholland to make the score 9-6. Hoffman followed an RBI single to right, giving the guests a four-run cushion.
Fordham would get two of the runs back on a home run in the bottom of the sixth, while bringing the tying run to the plate with one out in the seventh. However, senior pitcher Francys King was able to secure her first win of the season by forcing a 6-4-3 double play to end the game.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- With her grand slam in the first inning, Hoffman is one of only two active Cardinals with a grand slam. The other is Timmons who smashed her first career grand slam on April 6, 2022, at Northern Illinois.
- With her RBI single in the sixth, Wynn registered at least one hit in all five games opening weekend, the only Ball State player to do so.
- King picked up the win for Ball State after throwing the final 6.2 innings Sunday. She limited Fordham to six hits and four runs, three of which were earned, while striking out one.
- The Cardinals registered 10 hits for the second straight game, with seven players getting into the action. Three came off the bat of Timmons, while two came from Hoffman. Seven other players registered one hit.
SCORING SUMMARY (BSU 10 - Fordham 8):
- T1 | Hofmann's first career hit is a big one, a grand slam to right center field (4-0)
- B1 | Neleh Nogay leads off the inning with a double and eventually scores on a passed ball (4-1)
- B1 | Bailey Enoch drives in a run with a single to left field (4-2)
- B1 | Allie Clark is hit by a pitch with bases loaded (4-3)
- B1 | A sac fly from Devon Miller ties the score (4-4)
- T3 | Timmons opens the inning with a solo shot to right center (5-4)
- B3 | After reaching base on a double and moving to third on a single, Michaela Carter scored on a BSU error (5-5)
- B3 | Clark scored from third on a sac fly (5-6)
- T6 | After senior center fielder Remington Ross reaches second on an error, sophomore Ashlee Lovettbrings her home with an RBI single through the left side (6-6)
- T6 | Wynn follows with a single to center, bringing home Lovett to help BSU regain the lead (7-6)
- T6 | Cardinals score two runs on a bases loaded fielder's choice from redshirt sophomore McKenna Mulholland (9-6)
- T6 | Hoffman collects her fifth RBI of the game with a single to right center (10-6)
- B6 | A two-run home run from Sydney Wells cuts the Ball State lead to two (10-8)
UP NEXT:
The Ball State softball returns to play next Friday (Feb. 16) with games versus Jacksonville State (10 a.m.) and Chattanooga (3 pm.) at the Chattanooga Challenge.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: King, Francys (1-1)
L: Miller,Devon (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Timmons, McKayla 1
HR: Timmons, McKayla 1 ; Hoffman, Jessica 1
RBI: Wynn, Haley 1 ; Timmons, McKayla 1 ; Mulholland, McKenna 2 ; Hoffman, Jessica 5 ; Lovett, Ashlee 1
SH: Mathews, Kaitlyn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Wynn, Haley 2 ; Armendariz, Jazmyne 1 ; Timmons, McKayla 3 ; Mulholland, McKenna 1 ; Hoffman, Jessica 1 ; Ross, Remington 1 ; Lovett, Ashlee 1
SB: Wynn, Haley 1 ; Timmons, McKayla 1 ; Pietrzak, Maia 1 ; Lovett, Ashlee 1
CS: Dukeman, Hannah 1
HBP: Timmons, McKayla 1 ; Mulholland, McKenna 1
Batting:
2B: Nogay,Neleh 1 ; Carter,Michaela 1 ; Mcguire,Kate 1
HR: Wells,Sydney 1
RBI: Nogay,Neleh 1 ; Wells,Sydney 2 ; Enoch,Bailey 1 ; Clark,Allie 1 ; Miller,Devon 2
SF: Nogay,Neleh 1 ; Miller,Devon 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Nogay,Neleh 1 ; Swan,Mikayla 1 ; Wells,Sydney 1 ; Petrovich,Julia 1 ; Enoch,Bailey 1 ; Carter,Michaela 1 ; Clark,Allie 1 ; Mcguire,Kate 1
SB: Swan,Mikayla 1 ; Mcguire,Kate 1
CS: Mcclellan,Mallory 1
HBP: Clark,Allie 1
