Softball Rallies Past Central Michigan to Keep MAC Championship Run Alive

Friday, May 10

Akron, Ohio (Firestone Stadium)

10:30 a.m.

Ball State University

27-28

Central Michigan University

17-33

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Ball State	0	0	3	1	0	0	3	7	10	0
Central Michigan	0	0	0	4	1	1	0	6	8	3

Softball Rallies Past Central Michigan to Keep MAC Championship Run Alive

May 10, 2024 | Softball

Box Score Box Score: Ball State 7 - CMU 6

AKRON, Ohio - - The sixth-seeded Ball State softball team used a three-run seventh inning to open Friday with a thrilling 7-6 victory over fifth-seeded Central Michigan in its first of up to three elimination games on the day at the Mid-American Conference Softball Championship at Firestone Stadium.

The Cardinals (27-28) jumped out to an early 4-0 lead, starting with two runs off three straight doubles to open the third. The first came from graduate third baseman Haley Wynn and was followed by RBI doubles from redshirt junior catcher McKayla Timmons and graduate designated player Jazmyne Armendariz.

Ball State would tack on one more run in the third and another in the top of the fourth, only to see the Chippewas (17-33) rattle off four of their own in the fourth and single runs in both the fifth and the sixth to pull ahead 6-4.

With three outs remaining, the Cardinals offense went to work in the top of the seventh, starting with a leadoff walk to Armendariz. Redshirt sophomore shortstop McKenna Mulholland would reach on an error in the next at bat and redshirt sophomore pinch runner Hayley Urban would enter to run for Armendariz at second.

Cue graduate first baseman Samantha-Jo Mata who smashed a single to right center, driving in both runners to tie the score. She also advanced all the way to third courtesy of an error by the CMU right fielder. That error proved costly, as two batters later freshman second baseman Maia Pietrzak smashed a two-out single through the left side to drive in what proved to be the game-winning run.

Senior Francys King would pick up the win in the circle for the Cardinals, throwing the final 2.1 innings and limiting Central Michigan to one hit and one run. She improved to 15-13 on the year with the victory.

SCORING SUMMARY - No. 6 Ball State 7 - No. 5 Central Michigan 6
T3 | After Wynn opens the inning with a double, Timmons drives her home with a double of her own (1-0)
T3 | Armendariz makes with three straight doubles, plating Timmons (2-0)
T3 | With sophomore pinch runner Grace Spencer at third, Mulholland drew a four-pitch walk, then drew a throw attempting to steal second, getting caught in a rundown and allowing Spencer to score (3-0)
T4 | Pietrzak opens the inning with a double and eventually scores on a sac fly from Timmons (4-0)
B4 | A two-run single up the middle from Grace Koenig cuts the Ball State lead in half (4-2)
B4 | The Chippewas pick up another on an RBI single to center from Keira Tolmie (4-3)
B4 | A wild pitch with runners at second and third evens the score (4-4)
B5 | Koenig picks up her third RBI of the game with a single through the right side (4-5)
B6 | An RBI single from Abbey Tolmie extends the CMU lead to two (4-6)
T7 | Mata evens the score with a two-run single to center, bringing home Urban and Mulholland (6-6)
T7 | Pietrzak helps us reclaim the lead with an RBI single to right (7-6)

UP NEXT:
With the victory, Ball State advanced to Friday's 3:30 p.m. elimination game where it will face No. 4 seed Toledo.