Softball Set To Welcome Eight For 2025 Season

MUNCIE, Ind. - - With the 2024-25 academic year quickly approaching, softball head coach Helen Peña is excited to welcome her first Ball State recruiting class to campus for the start of the fall semester on Aug. 19.

"I am excited about the pieces we're adding to our roster this fall, along with the players we have returning from last year's run to the title game of the MAC Softball Championship," Peña said. "We had success in the portal this summer and carefully picked people who will not only fit what we teach here but the culture we have. Each person brings a different strength and element to our game and I'm looking forward to seeing how they'll contribute on and off the field."

Transferring in for the season are outfielder Kiley Conner, catcher Gabbie Evans, outfielder Kara Gunter, pitcher Brinkley Kita, infielder Mandy Lauth and infielder/pitcher Ella Whitney.

Ball State will also welcome a pair of incoming freshmen in infielder Ava McNally and pitcher Breanna Severino.

Below is more info on each of Ball State's incoming student-athletes.

Kiley Conner - Outfield - St. John, Ind. (Lake Central) / Northern Illinois

Prior To Ball State: Played the 2023 and 2024 seasons at Northern Illinois.

NIU (Sophomore - 2024): Played in 17 games, earning 12 starts … finished the season with a .258 batting average, including three doubles … credited with five RBIs and three runs scored … two of her RBI came in a two-hit effort versus Central Michigan (Feb. 18) … also tallied a pair of hits in the series opener versus Akron (March 22), while collecting two more RBI in the series finale versus the Zips (March 24) … appeared in eight games in the circle, throwing 11.1 innings with a 5.56 ERA and five strikeouts … threw the final 0.2 innings versus Butler (Feb. 11), retiring both batters she faced to earn the win as the Huskies battled back to earn a 6-5 win with three runs in the bottom of the eighth.

NIU (Freshman - 2023): Started 26 of the 30 games she played … named the MAC Freshman of the Year and earned Second Team All-MAC honors … also earned a spot on the MAC All-Freshman Team … finished the season with a .363 batting average, including eight doubles, a triple, and three home runs … credited with 16 RBIs and scored 17 runs … swiped nine bases on the year … registered her first collegiate hit in the series opener at Miami (March 25) … credited with her first RBI in the opener of a DH at Miami the next day, while adding two RBI and her first career triple in the nightcap … her first collegiate home run was a two-run shot to give NIU a 14-7 lead over Ball State (March 28) in a 14-10 victory … added her second home run, a solo shot, at Ohio (April 15) … recorded a season-high three hits in an 8-4 win over Western Michigan (April 26) … drove in a career-high three RBI in the series opener at Bowling Green (May 5), with a three-run shot in the third inning to drive in what proved to be the game-winning run in a 5-1 victory … added three more RBIs to help NIU pick up a 16-1 (5) win in the opener of a twin bill at BGSU the next day … appeared in three games in the circle, throwing 5.3 innings with a 3.18 ERA and eight strikeouts.

High School: Earned four letters a Lake Central High School … helped guide the Indians to a state runner-up finish at the IHSAA Class 4A State Championship as s junior, with the team finishing the season with a 31-2 overall record … credited with a .436 batting average over her high school career, including 15 home runs, 82 RBIs and 80 runs scored … smashed 10 home runs and collected 54 RB over 30 games played her senior season, while boasting a .478 average … batted .393 has a junior with four home runs and 24 RBI, while posting a .417 average with one home run and four RBIs as a freshman.

Why Ball State: I loved the feeling of home right from the start. The coaches are amazing!

Gabbie Evans - Catcher - Whiteland, Ind. (Roncalli High School) / Western Michigan

Prior To Ball State: Started her collegiate career at Michigan State in 2023, before transferring to Western Michigan for the 2024 campaign.

Western Michigan (Sophomore - 2024): Appeared in 31 games, making 20 starts … produced a .237 batting average with 14 hits, including three doubles and a pair of home run … credited with 13 RBIs and five runs scored … opened her WMU career with a single down the left field line in her first of three at bats at UTEP (Feb. 2) … her first career home run was a three-run blast to cap WMU's scoring in a 14-2 (5) win over St. Bonaventure (March 3) … drove in what proved to be the game-winning runs with her two-run home run in a 2-1 victory over Northern Illinois (April 16) … finished the season with a .942 fielding percentage, including throwing out one batter attempting to steal.

Michigan State (Freshman - 2023): Appeared in five games … her first collegiate hit was a two-run, pinch-hit single in a 4-0 victory over Purdue (April 29).

High School: Did not play for Roncalli … played four seasons for the EC Bullets … earned national recognition as the 56th ranked catcher by Extra Innings Softball and 146th overall recruit in the class of 2022 … ranked as the No. 1 hitter in the 2021 Alliance Nationals.

Why Ball State: I chose Ball State because the coaching staff and the program is a perfect fit for me. Under this staff I know I will learn what all it takes to be an outstanding college coach, while continuing to grow my game of softball. With this, I wanted to be a part of a team that embodies sisterhood, which is the definition of Ball State Softball. Also, Ball State if very close to home and my family.

Kara Gunter - Outfield - Pataskala, Ohio (Granville) / Dayton

Prior To Ball State: Played the 2022 and 2023 seasons at Dayton, after beginning her collegiate career in 2021 at Eastern Kentucky.

Dayton (Junior - 2023): Appeared in 47 games, earning 30 starts … earned a spot on the A-10 Commissioner's Honor Roll and was named an Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete … ranked fourth on the squad with a .320 average, including four doubles, three triples and a home run … credited with 14 RBIs and 24 runs scored on the year … recorded her first of 32 hits on the season at Auburn (Feb. 18) … recorded her first of a team-high three triples on the year in a 3-for-3 effort at St. Bonaventure (April 12), helping the Flyers score a 23-0 (5) victory … also had a pair of RBIs in the game … her second triple came in a 3-for-4 effort in the 11-6 victory at IUPUI (April 19) … her only home run of the season was a two-run shot in the second inning to open the scoring in the 5-4 victory over George Mason (April 23) … went 3-for-4 with two RBI and her third triple of the season at St. Joseph's (April 29) … credited with 10 stolen bases on the year.

Dayton (Sophomore - 2022): Appeared in 39 games, making 28 starts … earned a spot on the A-10 Commissioner's Honor Roll and was named an Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete … finished the season with a .289 average, including six doubles, a triple, and three home runs … credited with 13 RBIs and scored 17 runs … her first hit with the Flyers was a first-inning grand slam versus Wichita State (Feb. 11) … recorded her first collegiate triple in the series opener versus George Mason (April 2) … her second home run of the year was a two-run blast to cap the scoring in the 10-0 (5) victory over George Mason (March 3) … added a solo shot versus Purdue Fort Wayne (April 27) … credited with nine stolen bases on the year.

Eastern Kentucky (Freshman - 2021): Appeared in 31 games, earning five starts … credited with five hits over 17 at bats for a .294 average … scored nine runs and recorded a pair of RBIs … helped guide the Colonels to a 35-17 record and a berth in the 2021 NCAA Knoxville Regional … scored a run as a pinch runner in her collegiate debut at the College of Charleston (Feb. 20) … recorded her first collegiate hit in the nightcap at the College of Charleston (Feb. 20), with a pinch hit single … her first RBI of the year came on a seventh-inning single versus Campbell (Feb. 27) to drive in what proved to be the game-winning run in the 3-2 victory … her second RBI of the season came courtesy of a sac fly at Jacksonville State (March 21) … stole four bases on the year.

High School: Earned four letters in softball at Granville High School … helped guide the Aces to a district title and regional runner-up finish as a sophomore … named first team all-state as a sophomore and junior, while earning first team all-conference in each of her first three seasons … also earned first team all-district accolades as a sophomore and junior, after earning honorable mention as a freshman … team captain as a sophomore, junior, and senior … set the program's single season records for home runs (9) and triples (7) as a sophomore and base hits (53) as a junior … played nine seasons of club softball for the Lasers Blue, winning state titles in 2019 and 2020 … program also placed fifth at the 2018 and fourth at the 2019 USA A Softball Nationals, while taking 17th at the 2020 USA Softball Gold Nationals.

Why Ball State: I chose Ball State for its master's program and its softball program.

Brinkley Kita - Pitcher - Crown Point, Ind. (Crown Point) / Lipscomb

Prior To Ball State: Played the 2023 season at Lipscomb, before announcing her plans transfer to Ball State prior to the start of the 2024 season … completed the 2023-24 academic year at Lipscomb

Lipscomb (Freshman - 2023): Started 14 of the 17 games she appeared in the circle … also appeared as a pinch runner in three games … registered a 2.74 ERA over 74.0 innings of work … boasted a 6-6 record, highlighted by her first collegiate complete game shutout in a 1-0 victory over Akron (March 11, 2023) which was also her first collegiate win … struck out 44 batters on the year, including a season-high seven versus Bellarmine (March 18, 2023) in her second complete game shutout, a 4-0 victory … struck out at least one batter in 15 of her 17 appearances.

High School: Earned four letters at Crown Point High School … helped guide her team to IHSAA Class 4A State semifinals as a freshman, earning Duneland Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year honors … also earned all-state, all-region, and all-area honors as the only freshman on Crown Point's varsity squad … led the DAC in home runs as a junior, blasting seven on the year … the effort helped guide her squad to conference and sectional championships.

Why Ball State: It's competitive, I like the coaching staff, I love the atmosphere, and it is closer to home.

Mandy Lauth - Infield - Avon, Ind. (Avon) / George Washington

Prior To Ball State: Played the 2024 season at George Washington.

George Washington (Freshman - 2024): Started all 51 games she played … named to the A-10 All-Rookie team after finishing the season with a .240 batting average, including four doubles, a triple, and a home run … named the A-10 Player of the Week after producing a .500 average, nine RBIs, a 1.404 OPS, and eight hits opening weekend … went 4-for-4 in her second collegiate game versus Campbell (Feb. 9), producing three RBI with a two-run home run in the second inning and a RBI single in the eighth to secure the 4-3 (8) victory … recorded a two-run triple to drive in what proved to be the game-winning run in the 5-1 victory over Bucknell (Feb. 11) … closed opening weekend with three hits and four RBI in the 6-5 victory over Syracuse (Feb. 11), with her three-run single in the fourth plating what proved to be the game-winning run … added three more RBI in the 13-0 (5) victory over Cornell (March 2) … stole a pair of bases on the year … finished the season with a .963 fielding percentage with 203 putouts and 33 assists over 245 chances.

High School: Earned four letters in softball at Avon High School … helped guide the Orioles to a 61-22 record over her career, including sectional titles in each of her last three seasons … team also won a pair of Hoosier Crossroads Conference Championships and captured the Lady Braves Bash Gold Division Championship her senior year … earned second team all-state honors as a senior after leading the squad with a .447 batting average, including 10 doubles, 10 home runs, 35 RBIs and 33 runs scored … finished the season with a .917 slugging percentage, to earn a spot on the All-USA IndyStar Softball Super Team and the academic all-state first team … was also named Team MVP as a senior … produced a .365 batting average with seven home runs, 22 RBIs, and 25 runs scored as a junior … finished her sophomore campaign with a .338 batting average, 17 RBIs, 25 runs scored, and three home runs.

Why Ball State: I chose Ball State because of the beautiful campus, it was close to home, it has amazing facilities, the competitiveness of the softball program, and the good academics!

Ella Whitney - Infield/Pitcher - Martinsville, Ind. (Martinsville) / FIU

Prior To Ball State: Played the 2023 and 2024 seasons at FIU.

FIU (Sophomore - 2024): Played in 41 games, earning 36 starts … finished the season with a .228 average, collecting four doubles and a home run … credited with 12 RBI and 12 runs scored … turned in three hits and three RBI in the 5-0 victory over UIC (March 1), starting with a RBI single to drive in what proved to be the game-winning run, and closing the scoring with a two-run double … credited with a pair of RBI in three games … closed the season with a solo home run in the sixth inning to drive in what proved to be the game-winning run in a 3-2 victory at Louisiana Tech (May 4) … appeared in 14 games in the circle, including 10 starts, producing a 5.25 ERA over 38.2 innings of work … struck out 10 batters on the season … earned her first victory of the season at Middle Tennessee (March 29), scattering 10 hits and three runs, only two of which were earned, over the first 6.0 innings of the 6-3 win … picked up her second victory of the season by allowing just six hits and one earned run over 4.2 innings of work in the 11-9 win over UTEP (April 5) … credited with a save after throwing the final 2.0 innings and allowing one run in the 6-4 win over Sam Houston (April 27).

FIU (Freshman - 2023): Played in 46 games, earning 40 starts … led the Panthers with a .349 batting average, which ranked 10th among Conference USA players … earned Second Team All-CUSA honors and was named to the CUSA All-Freshman Team … of her 37 hits on the year, six were doubles and four were home runs … set an FIU record with hits in eight consecutive at bats, with four hits in games at Charlott (March 11) and at Louisiana Tech (March 17) … her first collegiate hit game versus Pittsburgh (Feb. 17) … her first RBI came on her first collegiate home run in the 6-1 win over Valparaiso (Feb. 24) … drove in a pair of RBI versus Notre Dame (Feb. 26) … smashed a three-run double versus Stonehill (March 3) for her first of a trifecta of three RBI games on the year … along with her four hits she collected three RBI in the 5-3 win at Charlotte … her second home run of the season came versus Middle Tennessee State (April 22), while she tallied home runs in back-to-back wins at UTEP (March 6 and March 7), the second of which was a three-run blast … made 22 appearances in the circle, including nine starts, producing a 6.32 ERA over 68.1 innings of work … struck out 24 batter on the year, with at least one in 14 appearances … earned her first career win with a versus Stetson (Feb. 15), allowing just four hits and one run over 7.0 innings of work in the 6-3 win … earned a complete game victory at Butler (Feb. 19), limiting the Bulldogs to just four hits and two runs in the 3-2 victory … picked up her first collegiate save after pitching the final 3.0 innings and allowing just two hits and no runs in the 9-2 victory over Kansas City (Feb. 11).

High School: Earned four letters at Martinsville High School … team captain as a junior and senior … third team all-state as a senior and a 2022 Indiana All State … finished her career with a .440 batting average, a .887 slugging percentage, 28 home runs, 95 RBIs and 58 runs scored … her .887 slugging percentage and 28 home runs were Martinsville career records … also set the program's single season records for slugging percentage (1.160), on base percentage (.569), RBIs (44), and home runs (15) as a senior … two-time Mid-State All-Conference honoree … in the circle, she boasted a 3.25 career ERA, 245 strikeouts, and 19 career wins over 62 appearances … struck out 113 batters as a senior, while producing a 2.66 ERA and 11 wins … credited with 89 strikeouts and five wins as a junior and 43 strikeouts and three wins as a freshman … was the No. 50 ranked player and the No. 19 ranked pitcher/duo in the 2022 class according to Extra Innings Softball.

Why Ball State: I chose Ball State because it's closer to home and my family can watch me play. It's a great school academically, the softball program is very competitive, and I connected with the coaches.

Ava McNally - Infield - Muncie, Ind. (Yorktown)

High School: Earned four letters at Yorktown High School … a team captain as a senior, she helped guide the Tigers to a 21-3 record in her final season, as well as an 87-22 mark over her four-year career … earned all-county honors in each of her final three seasons … boasted a .391 batting average as a senior, smashing 25 hits, including four home runs and a pair of doubles … also tallied 23 RBIs and scored 12 runs as a senior … credited with a .432 average, five home runs, 26 RBIs and 24 runs scored as a junior … registered a .351 average with six home runs, 23 RBIs and 19 runs scored as a sophomore.

Why Ball State: I chose Ball State because having my family close for support was huge for me. With Ball State, the coaching staff and the team made it feel like home as soon as I stepped on campus for both camps I attended and school visits. I also chose BSU from an academic standpoint because it ranks among the best in the US for its teacher's college.

Breanna Severino - Pitcher - Olathe, Kan. (Olathe Northwest)

High School: Earned four letters at Olathe Northwest High School … helped guide the Ravens to a 72-24 record over her career, including a state championship her senior season … Olathe Northwest placed fourth at the state championship her junior season … team captured regional titles and Sunflower League championships both her junior and senior seasons … finished her high school career as the program's career strikeout leader with 381 … posted a 15-2 record and 1.41 ERA over 104 innings of work as a senior, striking out a Olathe Northwest single season record 138 batters … her 15 wins were a single season program record … also boasted a .400 batting average with 11 home runs, 36 RBIs and 33 runs scored as a senior … pitched 15 games as a junior, chalking up a 9-1 record, a 1.63 ERA and 108 strikeouts on the year … also produced a .378 batting average with eight home runs, 37 RBIs and 33 runs scored … went 8-4 in the circle as a sophomore with a 2.74 ERA and 85 strikeouts.

Why Ball State: I chose Ball State because the coaching staff is amazing and so welcoming. The campus is so nice, and the academics were exactly what I was looking for.

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