Softball Earns Sunday Split at FGCU Kickoff Classic

Sunday, February 8

Fort Myers, FL

9 a.m.

Ball State University

1-3

Southern Illinois

4-0

Southern Illinois

Ball State

Lindsey DeRoeck blasts her first collegaite grand slam versus LIU Sunday

Photo by: Jessica Piland - Jessica Piland Photography

Softball Earns Sunday Split at FGCU Kickoff Classic

February 08, 2026 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Game 1: Ball State 0 - SIU 4 Game 2: Ball State 12 - LIU 2 (5)

FORT MYERS - - The Ball State softball team closed play in the FGCU Kickoff Classic with a Sunday split, suffering a 4-0 setback to Southern Illinois before rebounding to end the event with a 12-2 (5) win over Long Island.

With the results, the Cardinals finished opening weekend with a 2-3 mark. Ball State returns to action next Friday (Feb. 13) with games versus Southern Indiana (2 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. CT) and Memphis (6 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. CT) at the 901 Classic hosted by Memphis.

While complete stats for Sunday's finale versus Long Island are currently not available, we do know that senior first baseman Lindsey DeRoeck opened the scoring in a big way, blasting her first collegiate grand slam four batters into the bottom of the first.

Overall, the first seven Ball State batters all reached base safely and the Cardinals scored eight total runs in the first inning. While the Sharks (0-5) scored two in the third, the Cardinals countered with four of its own in the bottom of the frame to give the game its final margin.

Senior Ella Whitney is currently credited with the win in the circle, allowing just four hits and two runs, while striking out one over her 3.0 innings of work. Junior Brinkley Kita threw the final 2.0 innings, allowing just one hit and one walk, while striking out a pair.

Sunday's opener was a scoreless affair until the top of the fifth when the Salukis (4-0) struck for the game's first two runs. SIU added two more in the sixth to cap the scoring.

While BSU was unable to push a run across the plate, it did tally seven hits in the game led by two each from redshirt junior catcher Skylinn Pogue and sophomore shortstop Addison Zimpleman.