Ball State University Athletics

Softball Falls In Sunday Action Versus Northern Iowa
March 02, 2025 | Softball
NASHVILLE - - In its first and only game of the Purple & Gold Challenge hosted by Lipscomb, the Ball State softball team suffered a 7-5 setback to Northern Iowa Sunday afternoon at Draper Diamond.
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The Cardinals (8-6) scored two fast runs in the top of the first and held a 5-2 edge after the top of the fourth. Unfortunately, the Panthers (10-5) put one run on the board in the bottom of the fourth and added four more in the fifth to secure the win.
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Ball State capitalized on back-to-back UNI miscues to score the first two runs of the game, while a two-run blast from redshirt senior catcher McKayla Timmons helped the Cardinals reclaim a two-run lead in the top of the second. Timmons added an RBI triple in the fourth, extending BSU's lead to three, at 5-2.
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However, Northern Iowa was able to push across five unanswered runs to claim the victory.
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NOTES:
 - Timmons finished the day 3-for-4, falling a double shy of the cycle after also singling to shortstop in the top of the first … The effort extended her streak of reaching base safely to 40 games.
- Timmons' two-run shot in the second inning was her 44th career home run, while her fourth-inning triple was the second of her career.
- Overall, six different Cardinals collected hits in the game.
- Junior pitcher Ella Whitney struck out four of the seven batters she faced over the final 1.2 innings … It is the second-highest strikeout total of her Ball State career.
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UP NEXT:
The Ball State softball team returns to action Friday (March 7) when it opens play at the Bellarmine Invitational with games versus the host Knights (10:30 a.m.) and Stonehill (1 p.m.).
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The Cardinals (8-6) scored two fast runs in the top of the first and held a 5-2 edge after the top of the fourth. Unfortunately, the Panthers (10-5) put one run on the board in the bottom of the fourth and added four more in the fifth to secure the win.
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Ball State capitalized on back-to-back UNI miscues to score the first two runs of the game, while a two-run blast from redshirt senior catcher McKayla Timmons helped the Cardinals reclaim a two-run lead in the top of the second. Timmons added an RBI triple in the fourth, extending BSU's lead to three, at 5-2.
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However, Northern Iowa was able to push across five unanswered runs to claim the victory.
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NOTES:
 - Timmons finished the day 3-for-4, falling a double shy of the cycle after also singling to shortstop in the top of the first … The effort extended her streak of reaching base safely to 40 games.
- Timmons' two-run shot in the second inning was her 44th career home run, while her fourth-inning triple was the second of her career.
- Overall, six different Cardinals collected hits in the game.
- Junior pitcher Ella Whitney struck out four of the seven batters she faced over the final 1.2 innings … It is the second-highest strikeout total of her Ball State career.
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UP NEXT:
The Ball State softball team returns to action Friday (March 7) when it opens play at the Bellarmine Invitational with games versus the host Knights (10:30 a.m.) and Stonehill (1 p.m.).
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Carly Goodwin (1-0)
L: Severino, Breanna (1-3)

Batting:
3B: Timmons, McKayla 1
HR: Timmons, McKayla 1
RBI: Timmons, McKayla 3
SH: Gibson, Kaitlyn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Pietrzak, Maia 2 ; Timmons, McKayla 2 ; Lauth, Mandy 1
SB: Timmons, McKayla 1 ; Peitersen, Veronica 1

Batting:
2B: Katelyn Callahan 1
RBI: Kylee Sanders 2 ; Katelyn Callahan 2 ; Addison Brunner 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kylee Sanders 1 ; Addison McElrath 1 ; Makenna Kuper 1 ; Katelyn Callahan 1 ; Ella Smithson 1 ; Ava Smithson 1 ; Eve Morris 1
SB: Kylee Sanders 1 ; Eve Morris 1
CS: Skylar Benesh 1
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
This Week in Ball State Sports Podcast // Softball's Lindsey DeRoeck & AD Jeff Mitchell
Thursday, February 26
Sports Link: National Girls and Women in Sports Day
Wednesday, February 25
Cardinal Conversation with Director of Athletics Jeff Mitchell and Softball's Ashlee Lovett
Thursday, February 19
Celebrating National Girls and Women in Sports Day // Produced by Ball State Sports Link
Wednesday, February 04











