Softball Suffers Pair of Saturday Setbacks to Buffalo

MUNCIE, Ind. - - While the games did not go in favor of the Ball State softball team, it was still a happy ending for the Cardinals (28-14; 13-7 Mid-American Conference) as it celebrated its 10-member senior class Saturday afternoon at the Ball State Softball Stadium.

Following the conclusion of the twinbill, the program celebrated the many accomplishments of players and manager who will be graduating or have spent four years with the program: Kaitlyn Gibson, Kara Gunter, Jessica Hoffman, Aislinn Morris, McKenna Mulholland, McKayla Timmons, Hayley Urban, Katie Van Der Mark, Maddie Weaver and student manager Cam Harris.

In the opening game, a 6-3 loss, it was two of the seniors who would help give Ball State an early lead. With one out in the bottom of the first and the outfield playing her deep, Timmons registered the game's first hit with a bloop triple to shallow right field just off the glove of the sprinting Bulls (16-28; 9-12 MAC) player. Gunter followed with an RBI double in the next at bat, putting the first run of the day on the scoreboard.

Junior pitcher Ella Whitney then tried to help her own cause with a third straight multi base hit, doubling off the wall in left to make the score 2-0.

The score remained 2-0 until the top of the fourth, when Buffalo stuck for four runs. UB then added a fifth run in the top of the next frame.

The Cardinals looked to answer in the bottom of the fifth, starting with three straight two-out singles from sophomore shortstop Maia Pietrzak, Timmons and another RBI hit from Gunter. A walk to Whitney then loaded the bases with the score 5-3. Unfortunately, the Cardinals could not continue the rally as a strikeout ended the threat.

Buffalo would then score the game's final run in the top of the seventh, while retiring the Cardinals in order in both the sixth and seventh frames.

Ball State once again struck first in the nightcap, a 5-3 setback, this time capitalizing with an RBI double from Gunter after Pietrzak was hit by a pitch to open the bottom of the third.

However, the Bulls answered with a three-run third and never trailed again. Ball State would get one of the runs back in the bottom of the fourth thanks to an RBI single from junior center fielder Ashlee Lovett which drove home Mulholland who also singled.

Buffalo would counter with one more run in each of the next two innings, before Timmons capped the scoring in the game with her 14th home run of the season with one out in the bottom of the seventh.

NOTES:
- Ball State's batters were hit by four more pitches on Saturday, raising its NCAA leading total 76 on the year … Timmons was hit by one, raising her season total to 14, while Pietrzak was plunked twice, raising her season total to 10 … Van Der Mark drew the other HPB, upping her season total to six.

- Gunter led the Cardinals with four hits on the day, while Timmons tallied three … With her three hits, Timmons is two shy of 200 for her collegiate career.

UP NEXT:
The Cardinals closes its three-game series versus Buffalo with a Noon first pitch Sunday back at the Ball State Softball Stadium.

Softball Suffers Pair of Saturday Setbacks to Buffalo

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Team Stats

McKayla Timmons

Kara Gunter

Maia Pietrzak

Ella Whitney

Players Mentioned

Kaitlyn Gibson

Kara Gunter

Jessica Hoffman

Ashlee Lovett

Aislinn Morris

McKenna Mulholland

Maia Pietrzak

McKayla Timmons

Hayley Urban

Katie Van Der Mark

Maddie Weaver

Ella Whitney