Softball Ends Mustang Classic With 13-1 (5) Win Over Cal Poly

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - - The Ball State softball team closed play in the Mustang Invitational with a dominating 13-1 (5) victory over host Cal Poly Saturday evening at Bob Janssen Field.

Nine different Cardinals (3-1) recorded at least one hit in the game, including a two-run home run from sophomore second baseman Maia Pietrzak and a three-run blast from senior right fielder Maddie Weaver.

In the circle, junior Ella Whitney collected her second win for Ball State, holding the Mustangs (0-3) to one run and four hits over her 5.0 innings of work. She also went 2-for-3 from the plate with a pair of RBIs.

The effort helped the Cardinals rebound from a 15-7 (5) setback to Oregon State earlier in the day. Ball State used a five-run third to take a 7-3 edge with senior left fielder Kara Gunter collecting three of her five RBI in the frame on a double to center field.

Unfortunately, the Beavers (2-1) scored six runs in both the fourth and fifth innings to take the game.

"Our response to today's opening game was exceptional.," head coach Helen Peña said. "We were able to reset, refocus, and executed the game plan right away."

NOTES:
- Ball State finished the Mustang Classic with just one error over its four games, boasting a .991 fielding percentage. The Cardinals also turned three double plays on the weekend.
- Peña on the defense: "The defense held it down all weekend. Their presence behind the pitchers was felt which gave us more confidence in the circle. Even when we changed players, our communication on the field remained constant and that is a testament to all the work Coach Steiner and Coach Burns have done with them."
- Redshirt senior McKayla Timmons was hit by a pitch in the opener, while going 1-for-1 with two walks in the nightcap to extend her streak of reaching base safely to 30 games. She finished opening weekend with a team-leading .500 (3-for-6) average with five walks and three HBP for a .786 on base percentage.
- Gunter led the Cardinals with five total hits and six RBI over the course of the Mustang Classic … She also scored a pair of runs.
- 11 different players tallied at least one hit for Ball State over the course of the tournament, while nine drove in at least one RBI.
- Whitney led the Ball State pitching staff with a 1.17 ERA over 12.0 innings of work … She picked up complete game victories in each of her two outings, while limiting opposing batters to 10 hits and a .222 average.
- Peña on the Whitney: "She's a competitor. Today, she was able to help get us a win by finding ways to beat batters that was a little different than yesterday, so I was very proud of her adjustments. Her mindset sets her apart and she's going to continue to develop and get better.

SCORING SUMMARY - GAME 1 (BSU 7 - OSU 15 in 5 Innings):
B1 - Oregon State struck first with an RBI double from Lici Campbell (1-0)
T2 - A bases loaded single from Gunter drives in two to give Ball State a one-run edge (1-2)
B2 - The Beavers tied the score on an RBI single from Paige Bamberger (2-2)
B2 - A sac fly from Jada Lewis pushed OSU ahead by one (3-2)
T3 - Sophomore third baseman Mandy Lauth opened a five-run fifth with a two-run double to left center (3-4)
T3 - Gunter upped her RBI total to five with a three-run double to center field (3-7)
B4 - Campbell opened a six-run fourth with an RBI single up the middle (4-7)
B4 - Jaeya Butler followed with a two-run single to left center (6-7)
B4 - A three-run homer from Tristian Thompson capped the inning and gave the Beavers the lead for good (9-7)
B5 - Campbell upped her RBI total to four in the game with a two-run single to left field (11-7)
B5 - Thompson added a two-run single to up her RBI total to five in the game (13-7)
B5 - An RBI single from Nicole Donahue pushed the OSU lead to seven (14-7)
B5 - Rylei Trujillo ended the game with an RBI single to third (15-7)

SCORING SUMMARY - GAME 2 (BSU 13 - CAL POLY 1 in 5 Innings):
T1 - Whitney helped herself out by opening the scoring with an RBI single to left-center field (1-0)
T1 - A sac fly from senior first baseman Kaitlyn Gibson extended the lead to two (2-0)
T2 - Pietrzak blased her first home run of the season, a two-run shot to center field (4-0)
T2 - An RBI double to left center from shortstop McKenna Mulholland extended BSU's lead to five (5-0)
T2 - Whitney tallied her second RBI of the game with a single through the left side (6-0)
T3 - Timmons was hit by a pitch with bases loaded, pushing the lead to seven (7-0)
T3 - Mulholland followed with a bases loaded walk, making it an eight-run game (8-0)
B3 - Kiara Blanchard drove in the Mustangs loan run of the game with an RBI groundout (8-1)
T4 - Weaver smashed a three-run shot down the left field line (11-1)
T5 - Redshirt freshman Allee Nobel collected her first collegiate RBI with a sac fly to left (12-1)
T5 - Gibson capped the scoring with an RBI single to center (13-1)

UP NEXT
The Ball State softball team travels to the Charlotte Invitational Feb. 21-23 to play two games versus Lehigh, two games versus Albany and one game versus the host 49ers.

Softball Ends Mustang Classic With 13-1 (5) Win Over Cal Poly

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Team Stats

Kara Gunter

Mandy Lauth

Kaitlyn Gibson

Grace Spencer

Players Mentioned

Kaitlyn Gibson

Kara Gunter

Mandy Lauth

McKenna Mulholland

Maia Pietrzak

McKayla Timmons

Maddie Weaver

Ella Whitney

Players Mentioned

Kaitlyn Gibson

Kara Gunter

Mandy Lauth

McKenna Mulholland

Maia Pietrzak

McKayla Timmons

Maddie Weaver

Ella Whitney