Softball Falls To Illinois in Weekend Finale

Sunday, March 1

Bowling Green, KY

11 a.m.

Ball State University

7-6

Illinois

7-12

Ball State

Illinois

Photo by: Jessica Piland - Jessica Piland Photography

March 01, 2026 | Softball

Box Score Box Score: Ball State 2 - Illinois 4

BOWLING GREEN, Kentucky - - The Ball State softball team closed play in the Hilltopper Spring Fling with a 4-2 setback to Illinois Friday afternoon at the WKU Softball Complex.

The Cardinals finished the three-day event with a 3-2 record to improve to 7-6 on the season.

In Sunday's weekend finale, the Illini (7-12) jumped out to a 4-0 lead, with a single run in the first and three in the fifth. However, the Cardinals battled to the end, adding runs in both the sixth and seventh innings.

Ball State's first run came courtesy of a solo home run to left field by senior designated player Ella Whitney in the top of the sixth. It was Whitney's third home run of the season and second in as many games.

In the seventh, senior right fielder Hayley Urban followed a two-out walk to junior third baseman Mandy Lauth with an RBI double to right center. Redshirt sophomore pinch runner Veronica Peitersen scored on the play after entering the game to pinch run for Lauth.

In the circle, redshirt junior Bridie Murphy suffered the loss despite limiting Illinois to seven hits and four runs over 4.1 innings of work. Freshman Grace Gray threw the final 1.2 innings, allowing just one hit. Both pitchers struck out one batter.

The Ball State softball team returns to action Friday (March 6) with it opens play in the Cardinal Classic with games versus Bellarmine (3 p.m.) and tournament host Louisville (5:30 p.m.)

SCORING SUMMARY (Ball State 2 - Illinois 4)
B1 - An RBI single from Ellie Haggard opens the scoring (1-0)
B5 - Adisyn Caryl made it a four-run game with a three-run homer to left field (4-0)
T6 - Whitney get Ball State on the board with a home run to left (4-1)
T7 - Urban drove in pinch runner Peitersen with a double to right center (4-2)