Softball Falls To Charlotte in Season Opener

Friday, February 6

Fort Myers, FL

12:30 p.m.

Ball State University

0-1

Charlotte

2-1

Ball State

Charlotte

Photo by: Jessica Piland - Jessica Piland Photography

February 06, 2026 | Softball

Box Score

FORT MYERS, Fla. - - Despite registering seven hits, the Ball State softball team suffered a 5-3 setback to Charlotte Friday afternoon in its opening game of the 2026 season at the FGCU Kickoff Classic.

Trailing 5-1 heading into the seventh, the Cardinals (0-1) used a two-out, two-run single to right field from senior designated player Ella Whitney to draw within two. Unfortunately, the 49ers (2-1) were able to get Whitney out trying to advance to second, ending the game.

Whitney drove in all three runs for Ball State, adding a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning. She now has 84 career RBIs, including 54 in her Cardinals career.

In her first game with Ball State, redshirt junior catcher Skylinn Pogue recorded the team's first hit of the season with a second-inning single to left field. She also added an infield single in the fourth.

Senior left fielder and lead off hitter Ashlee Lovett also recorded a pair of hits, with singles in both the third and fifth innings. Ball State also received a fifth-inning single from junior shortstop Maia Pietrzak and a sixth-inning single from junior third baseman Mandy Lauth.

Along with the seven hits, Ball State batters drew three walks and Lauth was hit by a pitch. Last season, the Cardinals led the nation by being hit by a pitch 91 times.

In the circle, redshirt junior Bridie Murphy suffered the loss after surrendering five runs (three earned) over her 4.1 innings of work. In her first outing since the 2024 season, Murphy also struck out one batter.

Freshman Grace Gray threw the final 1.2 innings, striking out three batters while allowing just one hit in her collegiate debut.

SCORING SUMMARY (Ball State 3 - Charlotte 5):
B1 - Charlotte broke onto the scoreboard first with an RBI double to right center by Audrey Wilson (1-0)
B3 – The 49ers added two more runs on a double to right field by Carley Keller (3-0)
T5 - Whitney drove in Ball State's first run of the season with a sacrifice fly to left field, driving in freshman center fielder Paige Kelley (3-1)
B5 - Charlotte countered with two more runs in the bottom of the fifth, capitalizing on a two-run single from Keller giving her three RBI in the game (5-1)
T7 - Whitney drove in two more runs for BSU with a single to right field, but was thrown out on the play to end the game (5-3)

UP NEXT:
The Ball State softball team continues play in the FGCU Kickoff Classic Saturday with games versus Long Island (3 p.m.) and host FGCU (5:30 p.m.). The game versus the Eagles will be broadcast live on ESPN+.