Kita & Zimpleman Help Softball Salvage Saturday Split

Saturday, March 28

Toledo, OH

1 p.m.

Ball State University

12-15, 1-7

Toledo

10-20, 6-2

Ball St.

Toledo

Addison Zimpleman batting versus LIU at the FGCU Kickoff Classic

Kita & Zimpleman Help Softball Salvage Saturday Split

March 28, 2026 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

TOLEDO, Ohio - - Sophomore second baseman Addison Zimpleman smashed her first collegiate grand slam and junior pitcher Brinkley Kita was nearly lights out, helping the Ball State softball team end the weekend with a 6-2 victory over Toledo Saturday afternoon at Scott Park.

After dropping Saturday's opener to the Rockets (10-21; 6-3 MAC) by a final of 8-5, the Cardinals (13-15; 2-7 MAC) were looking for something to give them a little momentum in the nightcap.

Cue Zimpleman, who came up with bases loaded and one out in the top of the second and proceeded to blast a 2-2 pitch over the fence in right center to put Ball State ahead 4-0. It was Zimpleman's first multi-base hit for the Cardinals and provided all the run support Kita would need.

After limiting the Rockets to one hit over 2.2 innings of relief work in the day's opener, Kita picked up right where she left off to earn her third complete game victory of the season. Over her 7.0 innings of work in the nightcap, Kita held Toledo to six hits and two runs, while picking up a pair of strikeouts. She also had one strikeout in the opening game.

Kita finished the day with a 1.45 ERA and limited Toledo to a .200 average over her 9.2 innings of work. She also boasted a 0.83 WHIP, allowing just eight total base runners over her two appearances.

Toledo would still attempt to make a push late in the second game, loading the bases with one out. However, Zimpleman would also play the defensive hero by sparking a game-ending double play as she snagged a hard-hit ground ball, touching second and then throwing to first to get the speedy Rockets lead off batter out.

In Saturday's opener freshman center fielder Paige Kelley led the offense with a 3-for-4 day at the plate. She also scored two runs in the game. Overall, Kelley produced a .625 average for the series, with five hits, three runs scored and a pair of RBIs. She also drew a walk for a team-leading .667 on base percentage, while boasting a team-leading .750 slugging percentage, including one double.

The Ball State softball team is scheduled to return to action Tuesday with a 4 p.m. first pitch at IU Indy.

GAME 1 SCORING SUMMARY: Ball State 5 - Toledo 8
T1 - Redshirt junior third baseman Skylinn Pogue's fourth triple of the season drove in junior shortstop Maia Pietrzakwho opened the game with a single to right field (1-0)
T1 - A sac fly from senior first baseman Lindsey DeRoeck brought home Pogue (2-0)
B1 - Toledo ties the score courtesy of a two-run home run from Samantha Bolding (2-2)
T2 - Senior designated player Ella Whitney smashed an RBI double down the left field line, driving in Kelley who also doubled in the frame (3-2)
B2 - Bolding's second two-run home run of the game gave Toledo a one-run edge (3-4)
T4 - Whitney drives in two more with a single up the middle, driving in Kelley and Pietrzak, to put BSU back up by one (5-4)
B4 - Toledo ties the score courtesy of Bolding's fifth RBI of the game on a double down the left field line (5-5)
B4 - Audrey Miller followed with an RBI double to center as Toledo reclaimed the lead (5-6)
B4 - Toledo adds two more on a Payton Pudlowski home run to center field, capping the scoring in the game (5-8)

GAME 2 SCORING SUMMARY: Ball State 6 - Toledo 2
T2 - Zimpleman's first multiple base hit with the Cardinals was her first collegiate grand slam, driving in redshirt sophomore pinch runner Payton Fox, senior left fielder Ashlee Lovett and redshirt junior right fielder Grace Spencer (4-0)
B2 - An RBI single from Payton Abiley got Toledo on the scoreboard (4-1)
T3 - Noble got the run back with an RBI double to center, driving in DeRoeck (5-1)
B6 - Bolding's third home run of the day cut the Ball State lead back to three (5-2)
T7 - DeRoeck followed a Whitney double with an RBI single up the middle (6-2)