Softball Tops USI, Rallies Past Memphis Friday

Friday, February 13

Memphis, TN

2 p.m.

Ball State University

3-3

Southern Indiana

1-5

Ball State

Southern Indiana

Photo by: Jessica Piland - Jessica Piland Photography

February 14, 2026 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Game 1: Ball State 9 - USI 5 Game 2: Ball State 6 - Memphis 2 (8)

MEMPHIS - - A late-night rally at the Tigers Softball Complex helped the Ball State softball team open play in the 901 Classic with a pair of wins Friday.

After starting the day with a 9-5 victory over Southern Indiana, the Cardinals (4-2) were down to their final out trailing 1-0 in the nightcap versus host Memphis. However, a bases-loaded walk to senior first baseman Lindsey DeRoeck tied the score and a five-run eighth gave Ball State the 6-2 (8) victory.

In the opening game, the Ball State offense took advantage of the Screaming Eagles' (1-5) pitching by recording eight hits, a season-high 14 walks and a pair of hit batters. The effort at the plate helped the Cardinals bring in nine total runs.

Senior designated player Ella Whitney opened the scoring with an RBI double in the top of the first and finished the game with two hits, two RBIs and a pair of walks.

Meanwhile, redshirt junior catcher Skylinn Pogue scored the first of BSU's nine runs courtesy of Whitney after being hit by a pitch. She added an RBI double later in the game.

After a dominating performance last weekend, DeRoeck went 1-for-2 in the opener, drew three walks and scored a pair of runs. Junior third baseman Mandy Lauth also drew three walks, while senior left fielder Ashlee Lovett added a pair. Her first walk came with bases loaded in the top of the fifth to bring home what proved to be the game-winning run.

In the circle, redshirt junior Bridie Murphy picked up the win after throwing the first 5.0 innings. She allowed eight hits and four runs, only three of which were earned. In addition, freshman Camryn Spruell made her collegiate debut in the sixth, while junior Brinkley Kita recorded three straight outs to end the game in the seventh. Ball State's pitchers did not yield a single walk in the game, while striking out four.

In the nightcap the Tigers (2-4) were able to push across the game's first run in the bottom of the third on a two-out triple and a BSU error on the play.

But once again, free bases came up huge for Cardinals, and none were bigger than a two-out, bases-loaded walk to DeRoeck to tie the score in the top of the seventh.

Ball State then took advantage of a pair of defensive miscues by the Tigers in the eighth, including sophomore placed runner Payton Fox scoring from third on an error on the throwback of a wild pitch.

After freshman outfielder Jordan Thurman was hit by a pitch and Lovett walked to load the bases, Pogue cleared them two batters later with a two-RBI single up the middle. Junior shortstop Maia Pietrzak, who reached on a fielder's choice prior to Pogue's at bat, also scored on a throw from home to second on the play. Moments later, Pogue scored from second on another Memphis error to give BSU a five-run cushion.

Overall, the Cardinals drew eight more walks in the game and were hit by one more pitch, bringing the day's total to 22 and three, respectively.

Thanks to her solid effort in the circle, Whitney picked up the pitching win by limiting Memphis to three hits and one run over her 7.0 innings of work. She also struck out four batters.

After Ball State rallied for five runs in the top of the eighth, freshman Grace Gray threw the final inning. She limited the Tigers to one hit and one unearned run, while also striking out the game's final batter.

SCORING SUMMARY - GAME 1 (Ball State 9 - USI 5)
T1 - The Cardinals opened the scoring in the top of the first on an RBI double from Whitney, with Pogue taking advantage of being hit by a pitch one batter earlier (1-0)
B1 - USI's Grace Huffman evened the score with an RBI single down the left field line (1-1)
T2 - A bases loaded RBI groundout by Lovett brought home sophomore second baseman Addison Zimpleman (2-1)
B3 - Huffman tied the score for a second time with a sacrifice fly to left field (2-2)
T4 - Whitney picked up her second RBI of the game with a single to center field, plating Pietrzak (3-2)
T5 - Zimpleman pushed the lead to two runs with an RBI single to center field, bringing home DeRoeck from second (4-2)
T5 - Lovett drew a bases loaded walk to bring in Lauth (5-2)
B5 - Huffman's second consecutive sac fly gave her a third RBI in the game (5-3)
B5 - Kate Satkoski made it back-to-back sac flies to cut the Ball State lead to one run (5-4)
T7 - Pietrzak opened a four-run inning with an RBI triple to right center, plating Lovett (6-4)
T7 - Pogue picked up her first RBI of the weekend with a double to right (7-4)
T7 - Lauth drew a bases loaded walk, bring home Pogue, to make it a four-run game (8-4)
T7 - Senior right fielder Hayley Urban capped the scoring for Ball State with a sac fly to right center, bringing home DeRoeck (9-4)
B7 - Caroline Stapleton scored from second on a Ball State error to cap the scoring (9-5)

SCORING SUMMARY – GAME 2 (Ball State 6 - Memphis 2 (8 innings))
B3 - Paris Brienesse slashed a two-out triple to left field and scored on an error on the play for the game's only run (1-0)
T7 - A two-out, bases-loaded walk to DeRoeck ties the game as Lovett crosses the plate (1-1)
T8 - A throwing error on the throwback of a wild pitch allowed redshirt sophomore placed runner Payton Fox to score from third (2-1)
T8 - A two-out, two-run single up the middle by Pogue drove in two, while another run scored on the throw to second trying to catch Pogue (5-1)
T8 - Pogue scored from second on a two-out error (6-1)
B8 - A Mya Clark sac fly drove in Memphis' placed runner (6-2)

UP NEXT:
The Ball State softball team continues play in the 901 Classic Saturday morning with a scheduled 10 a.m. ET / 9 a.m. CT first pitch versus Kansas City.