Softball Drops Pair in Friday Action at MTSU Invite

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - - Junior pitcher Ella Whitney blasted a three-run home run in the top of the first to open the scoring Friday at the MTSU Invitational, unfortunately those were the only runs on the day for the Ball State softball team which suffered a 4-3 loss to Middle Tennessee and a 3-0 setback to Illinois State.

In the day's opener, the Cardinals (7-4) got off to a fast start thanks to Whitney's three-run blast in the top of the opening inning. Unfortunately, the Blue Raiders (6-11) countered with two in the second and tied the score in the third, before producing a walk-off RBI double in the seventh.

Ball State was never able to find its offensive rhythm in the nightcap loss to the Redbirds (5-10), collecting just four hits in the shutout loss. ISU did all its damage in the fifth, scoring three runs in the frame.

NOTES
- Whitney's three-run blast in the opening inning vs. MTSU was her second home run in as many at bats, as her final at bat in last Sunday's 12-1 (5) victory over Albany was a solo home run.
- In the circle, Whitney struck out a season-high six batters versus MTSU, including all three outs in the first inning, including the final out of the frame with bases loaded.
- Redshirt senior catcher McKayla Timmons recorded a hit in both games Friday, extending her streak of reaching base safely to 37 games.
- Senior first baseman Kaitlyn Gibson led the Ball State offense in the nightcap with a pair of hits.

GAME 1: Ball State 3 - Middle Tennessee 4
T1 - Whitney opened the scoring in the tournament with her three-run blast to right-center field (3-0)
B2 - Ava Tepe cut the lead to one with a two-run blast to center field (3-2)
B3 - Ansley Blevins tied the score with an RBI single to center field (3-3)
B7 - Pinch hitter Anyce Harvey ended the game in favor of the hosts with a walk-off RBI double to right center (3-4)

GAME 2: Ball State 0 - Illinois State 3
T5 - Adisyn Hopkins opened the scoring with an RBI single to left field (1-0)
T5 - A bases loaded RBI single by Abby Knight extended the lead to two (2-0)
T5 - Bella Wilkerson capped the scoring with a sac fly to center field (3-0)

UP NEXT
The Ball State softball team will look to rebound versus both teams Saturday, with a 2:30 p.m. ET / 1:30 p.m. CT first pitch versus Middle Tennessee and a 5 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. CT rematch versus Illinois State.

Softball Drops Pair in Friday Action at MTSU Invite

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Team Stats

Ella Whitney

McKayla Timmons

Gabbie Evans

Maddie Weaver

Players Mentioned

Kaitlyn Gibson

McKayla Timmons

Ella Whitney