Softball Shuts Out Western Michigan in MAC Championship Opener

Wednesday, May 8

Akron, OH (Firestone Stadium)

2:30 p.m.

Ball State University

26-27

Western Michigan

27-21

Ball State

Western Michigan

Softball Shuts Out Western Michigan in MAC Championship Opener

May 08, 2024 | Softball

Box Score Box Score: Ball State 6 - WMU 0

AKRON, Ohio - - Last week's recipe for success carried over Wednesday afternoon with the sixth-seeded Ball State softball team rallying around the pitching of senior Francys King and the offense of junior right fielder Maddie Weaver to open play in the Mid-American Conference Softball Championship with a 6-0 victory over third-seeded Western Michigan.

With the win, the Cardinals (26-27) advance to battle second-seeded Ohio in Thursday's second game at Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio. First pitch is currently set for 2:30 p.m.

"Today's win feels amazing," head coach Helen Peña said. "The girls are playing amazing right now. They are excited, they are competing well, and they are fighting. They also sticking to our process, which is all we can ask. I'm really excited and proud for them."

After opening the contest with an out, reigning MAC Pitcher of the Year Rissa Bajusz of the Broncos (27-21) plunked BSU redshirt junior catcher McKayla Timmons in the head before walking graduate second baseman Jazmyne Armendariz in five pitches. Cue Weaver who took advantage of the free runners by dropping a two-run triple between two charging fielders in right center to give BSU the early edge.

"I know she was going to throw me all out," Weaver said about her two-run triple. "With runners on base, I knew I had to choke up and get the runners in, so I just believed and swung through it, and it happened to work out."

Weaver, who tallied nine RBI last week to help the Cardinals clinch a spot in the MAC Championship, extended Ball State's lead to three runs in the top of the fifth with another clutch two-out hit. This time, she drove in redshirt sophomore shortstop McKenna Mulholland who singled through the right side one batter earlier before stealing second. The heads-up base running came up big as Weaver singled up the middle to bring her home.

The Cardinals then exploded for three more runs in the top of the sixth, starting with an RBI single from graduate third baseman Haley Wynn. Two batters later, Armendariz picked up a pair of RBIs with a double to left center.

That was all the run support King would need as she picked up her third straight victory and fifth shutout of the season by limiting the Broncos to four hits and one walk over her 7.0 innings of work. She also picked up three more strikeouts to improve to 14-12 on the year.

"I was just going on we need a win no matter what the score, no matter how it goes down, we need to win the first one," King said when asked about her motivation. "We're peaking at the right time, everything's finally clicking, and I feel good."

SCORING SUMMARY - No. 6 Ball State 6 - No. 3 Western Michigan 0
T1 | Weaver drops a two-out, two-run triple into right center, splitting the charging Broncos defense (2-0)
T5 | After singling through the right side and advancing to second on a wild pitch, Mulholland scores on a Weaver single up the middle (3-0)
T6 | With runners at second and third, a one-out single from Wynn extends Ball State's lead to four runs (4-0)
T6 | Armendariz drives in two more with a two-out double to left center (6-0)

UP NEXT:
The Ball State softball team continues its run in the 2024 MAC Championship Thursday afternoon with a 2:30 p.m. first pitch versus No. 2 seed Ohio at Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio.