Softball Suffers Thursday Night Setback to Ohio

Thursday, May 9

Akron, Ohio (Firestone Stadium)

9:30 p.m.

Ball State University

26-28

Ohio University

31-22

Ball State

Ohio

May 10, 2024 | Softball

Box Score Box Score: Ball State 0 - Ohio 8 (5)

AKRON, Ohio - - After a seven-hour delay due to rain, the sixth-seeded Ball State softball team suffered an 8-0 (5) setback to No. 2 seed Ohio Thursday evening in Mid-American Conference Championship action at Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio.

With the loss, the Cardinals (26-28) will have a quick turnaround before it faces fifth-seeded Central Michigan in a 10:30 a.m. elimination game Friday morning.

In the loss to the Bobcats (31-22), the Cardinals were never able to find their rhythm on the field except during a brief delay when the lights went out shortly before 11 p.m. At that point, with Blinding Lights by The Weeknd playing over the loud speakers, sophomore Grace Spencer stole the show with her electric dance moves as captured by the ESPN+ cameras.

#MACtion after dark ??@BallStateSB | #MACtion pic.twitter.com/VOLnuLms50
— #MACtion (@MACSports) May 10, 2024

Unfortunately, Ball State was already down 6-0 at that point in the top of the fourth and were unable to capitalize on the energy.

Overall, the Cardinals tallied three hits in the game, including back-to-back first-inning singles from redshirt junior catcher McKayla Timmons and graduate second baseman Jazmyne Armendariz. BSU's other hit was a fourth-inning single from senior left fielder Kaitlyn Mathews.

SCORING SUMMARY - No. 6 Ball State 0 - No. 2 Ohio 8 (5)
B1 | Ohio strikes first on a two-run single to left by Annalia Paoli (2-0)
B2 | A Yasmine Logan single to center makes it a three-run game (3-0)
B2 | A bad bounce on an Izzie Wilson single to second with bases loaded leads to three more Ohio runs (6-0)
B4 | CiCi Keidel scores on a bunt single and a three-base error on the throw to first (7-0)
B5 |Shelby Westler drives in the final run of the game with an RBI double to center field (8-0)

UP NEXT:
It will be a busy Friday for the Ball State softball team if it looks to capture another MAC Championship title, as it will have to play three games in the consolation bracket to reach the first championship game Saturday. The first contest will be a 10:30 a.m. showdown with fifth-seeded Central Michigan.