Softball Sweeps Kennesaw State in Friday Action

Friday, February 23

Kennesaw, GA

3 p.m.

Ball State University

4-7

Kennesaw State (Game 1)

2-9

Ball State

Kennesaw State

Photo by: Todd Drexler - SESportsMedia

February 23, 2024 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

KENNESAW, Ga. - - It was a great day to be on the field and the Ball State softball team took advantage with a doubleheader sweep of Kennesaw State Friday at Bailey Park.

In the opener, senior Francys King was dealing, earning her first complete game shutout for the Cardinals (5-7) by limiting the Owls (2-10) to just four hits in a 9-0 victory. She also struck out four batters while not issuing a single walk.

In the nightcap, redshirt junior catcher McKayla Timmons provided plenty of fireworks by going 4-for-4 with three runs scored and a pair of RBIs, including a no-doubter to lead off the seventh. Her play, including some solid defensive saves on the first base bag, helped Ball State end the day with a 7-4 victory.

In the circle, sophomore Bridie Murphy limited KSU to three hits and one earned run under the lights to pick up her second win of the year. She also struck out a pair of batters.

HIGHLIGHTS:
- Timmons provided the first hit of the day, taking the first pitch she saw over the fence in center field for her fourth home run of the season … She also provided Ball State's last, landing a ball on the KSU tennis court to give her a home run in each of the last three games.
- Timmons finished the day with five total hits, raising her team-leading batting average to .455. She also scored five of BSU's 16 total runs and collected three RBI.
- Redshirt sophomore designated player Jessica Hoffman added her third home run of the season in the nightcap, with a three-run shot in the third.
- Murphy held onto a no-hitter through the first five innings of the night game, before giving up a leadoff double in the bottom of the sixth.
- Ball State stole seven total bases on the day, with six swipes in the opener and one in the nightcap.
- Senior pinch runner Remington Ross picked up one of the stolen bases in the opener, raising her program record career stolen base percentage to .980 (49-for-50). She is a perfect 4-for-4 in stolen base attempts this season and has been successful in her last 36 stolen base attempts.

GAME 1 - SCORING SUMMARY (Ball State 9 - Kennesaw State 0)
T1 | Timmons blasts the first pitch she sees over the fence in center field (1-0)
T3 | A one-out double from senior right fielder Hannah Dukeman and a two-out RBI single from graduate second baseman Jazmyne Armendariz makes it a two-run game (2-0)
T4 | Senior left fielder Kaitlyn Mathews reaches on an error, steals second and third, then scores on a wild pitch (3-0)
T6 | Senior pinch runner Remington Ross steals third and scores on a throwing error by the catcher (4-0)
T6 | Junior pinch hitter Maddie Weaver brings home two more with a single to right field (6-0)
T7 | Graduate third baseman Haley Wynn reaches on an error, steals second, advances to third on a passed ball and scores on another error (7-0)
T7 | Sophomore center fielder Ashlee Lovett drives in the final two runs of the game with a single up the middle, scoring Armendariz who reached on an error and Timmons who was hit by a pitch (9-0)

GAME 2 - SCORING SUMMARY (Ball State 7 - Kennesaw State 4)
T1 | Timmons took advantage of some miscommunication by the KSU defense, as a popup fell between three fielders for an RBI double (1-0)
T1 | A Mathews sac fly gives Ball State a two-run edge (2-0)
T1 | An errant throw on a grounder to third allows Timmons to score from third (3-0)
B2 | After drawing a walk, stealing second, and moving to third on an error, Kassidy Amerson-Fox scores on an RBI groundout from Peri Rouillard (3-1)
T3 | After singles by Armendariz and Timmons to open the inning, Hoffman clears the bases with a three-run blast to center (6-1)
B6 | A two-out BSU error allows a pair of Owls to score (6-3)
T7 | Timmons smashes a solo shot onto the KSU tennis courts in left field (7-3)
B7 | A bases loaded fielder's choice from Stella Henry brings home the Caroline Shumeyko from third (7-4)

UP NEXT:
The Ball State softball team continues play in the I-75 Tournament Saturday with a noon first pitch at Georgia State.