Ball State University Athletics
Saturday, April 25
Muncie, IN
1 p.m.
Ball State University
19-25
12
vs
5
Kent State
19-27
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kent State | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 1 |
| Ball State | 8 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | X | 12 | 11 | 2 |
Softball Completes Senior Weekend Sweep of Kent State
April 25, 2026 | Softball
MUNCIE, Ind. - - An eight-run first inning in the opener and a walk off double by senior first baseman Lindsey DeRoeckin the nightcap helped the Ball State softball team complete a senior weekend sweep of visiting Kent State Saturday afternoon.
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In the season's final two games at the Ball State Softball Stadium, the Cardinals (20-25; 7-17 Mid-American Conference) opened the day by tying its biggest inning of the year in league play with an eight-run first. The effort helped Ball State cruise to a 12-5 victory to secure its first MAC series win of the season.
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The day's second game saw the Golden Flashes (19-28; 7-17 MAC) hold a 4-3 edge after five-and-a-half. However, Ball State used a sixth-inning sac fly from freshman second baseman Ayvah Cullen tie the score, while DeRoeck sparked a massive senior day celebration with a walk-off double to right center in the seventh, giving the game its final score of 5-4.
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The Ball State softball team returns to action Friday (May 1), when it opens a three-game series at Buffalo with a 3 p.m. first pitch. The Cardinals close the season the following day with a 1 p.m. doubleheader versus the Bulls.
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GAME ONE RECAP: Ball State 12 - Kent State 5
While the Golden Flashes struck first with an RBI infield single in the top of the first, the Cardinals countered bigtime in the bottom of the frame, starting with an RBI double by DeRoeck to even the score.
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Two batters later, redshirt sophomore catcher Allee Noble drew a bases loaded walk to bring in the go-ahead run. The Cardinals kept the train running from there, with each of the next four batters picking up bases-loaded RBIs before a two-run double from senior designated player Ella Whitney capped the scoring in the frame.
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While Kent State would cut the lead to 8-5 with a four-run fourth, Cullen got two of the runs back in the bottom of the frame with a two-run single to left. Whitney would account for the final two runs of the game in the fifth, with an RBI triple to right center before scoring the game's final run on a wild pitch.
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Redshirt junior Bridie Murphy would earn the pitching victory in relief, throwing the final 3.1 innings and retiring all 10 batters she faced.
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GAME TWO RECAP: Ball State 5 - Kent State 4
After a scoreless first inning, Kent State pushed across the game's first run in the top of the second with an RBI single to center field.
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However, the Cardinals were able to even the score with a bases loaded walk by DeRoeck in the bottom of the fourth. Ball State would take its first lead of the game in the bottom of the fifth, courtesy of a two-run double to center field by redshirt sophomore shortstop Meagan Ramos.
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While Kent State would reclaim the lead at 4-3 with a three-run sixth, Cullen's sac fly in the bottom of the frame tied the score, while DeRoeck walked it off with her RBI double to right center.
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This time, it was junior Brinkley Kita who would earn the win in relief by retiring three of the four batters she faced after also helping the Cardinals catch a runner stealing to end the sixth.
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Murphy started the game, throwing the first 5.2 innings and holding KSU to even hits and four runs, while striking out three.
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SATURDAY NOTES:
- Following the two games, Ball State celebrated its 2026 senior class by honoring  Jessica Hoffman, Ashlee Lovett, Grace Spencer, Lindsey DeRoeck, Ella Whitney and Hayley Urban.
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- All six seniors saw action over the course of the day, with Whitney leading the way with a .714 (5-for-7) average, three RBI and two runs scored.
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- DeRoeck went 2-for-7 over the two games with three RBIs and one run scored, highlighted by her walk-off RBI double in the nightcap.
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- Lovett drew three walks and scored two runs on the day.
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- Spencer was 1-for-3 with a double, RBI and one run scored.
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- Urban went 1-for-2 with three walks and a run scored.
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- Hoffman went 1-for-2 on the day.
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In the season's final two games at the Ball State Softball Stadium, the Cardinals (20-25; 7-17 Mid-American Conference) opened the day by tying its biggest inning of the year in league play with an eight-run first. The effort helped Ball State cruise to a 12-5 victory to secure its first MAC series win of the season.
Â
The day's second game saw the Golden Flashes (19-28; 7-17 MAC) hold a 4-3 edge after five-and-a-half. However, Ball State used a sixth-inning sac fly from freshman second baseman Ayvah Cullen tie the score, while DeRoeck sparked a massive senior day celebration with a walk-off double to right center in the seventh, giving the game its final score of 5-4.
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The Ball State softball team returns to action Friday (May 1), when it opens a three-game series at Buffalo with a 3 p.m. first pitch. The Cardinals close the season the following day with a 1 p.m. doubleheader versus the Bulls.
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GAME ONE RECAP: Ball State 12 - Kent State 5
While the Golden Flashes struck first with an RBI infield single in the top of the first, the Cardinals countered bigtime in the bottom of the frame, starting with an RBI double by DeRoeck to even the score.
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Two batters later, redshirt sophomore catcher Allee Noble drew a bases loaded walk to bring in the go-ahead run. The Cardinals kept the train running from there, with each of the next four batters picking up bases-loaded RBIs before a two-run double from senior designated player Ella Whitney capped the scoring in the frame.
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While Kent State would cut the lead to 8-5 with a four-run fourth, Cullen got two of the runs back in the bottom of the frame with a two-run single to left. Whitney would account for the final two runs of the game in the fifth, with an RBI triple to right center before scoring the game's final run on a wild pitch.
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Redshirt junior Bridie Murphy would earn the pitching victory in relief, throwing the final 3.1 innings and retiring all 10 batters she faced.
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GAME TWO RECAP: Ball State 5 - Kent State 4
After a scoreless first inning, Kent State pushed across the game's first run in the top of the second with an RBI single to center field.
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However, the Cardinals were able to even the score with a bases loaded walk by DeRoeck in the bottom of the fourth. Ball State would take its first lead of the game in the bottom of the fifth, courtesy of a two-run double to center field by redshirt sophomore shortstop Meagan Ramos.
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While Kent State would reclaim the lead at 4-3 with a three-run sixth, Cullen's sac fly in the bottom of the frame tied the score, while DeRoeck walked it off with her RBI double to right center.
Â
This time, it was junior Brinkley Kita who would earn the win in relief by retiring three of the four batters she faced after also helping the Cardinals catch a runner stealing to end the sixth.
Â
Murphy started the game, throwing the first 5.2 innings and holding KSU to even hits and four runs, while striking out three.
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SATURDAY NOTES:
- Following the two games, Ball State celebrated its 2026 senior class by honoring  Jessica Hoffman, Ashlee Lovett, Grace Spencer, Lindsey DeRoeck, Ella Whitney and Hayley Urban.
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- All six seniors saw action over the course of the day, with Whitney leading the way with a .714 (5-for-7) average, three RBI and two runs scored.
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- DeRoeck went 2-for-7 over the two games with three RBIs and one run scored, highlighted by her walk-off RBI double in the nightcap.
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- Lovett drew three walks and scored two runs on the day.
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- Spencer was 1-for-3 with a double, RBI and one run scored.
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- Urban went 1-for-2 with three walks and a run scored.
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- Hoffman went 1-for-2 on the day.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Murphy, Bridie (6-6)
L: Ferri, Meadow (5-10)
Batting:
2B: Trevena, Alex 1
RBI: Aberle, Brooke 2 ; Nogay, Aaralyn 1 ; Porter, Ashlyn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Aberle, Brooke 1 ; Libler, Brynn 1 ; Trevena, Alex 1 ; Nogay, Aaralyn 1 ; Johnson, Leilani 1
HBP: Libler, Brynn 1 ; Quinn, Gabby 1
Batting:
2B: Whitney, Ella 1 ; DeRoeck, Lindsey 1 ; Spencer, Grace 1
3B: Whitney, Ella 1
RBI: Cullen, Ayvah 3 ; Kelley, Paige 1 ; Whitney, Ella 3 ; DeRoeck, Lindsey 1 ; Noble, Allee 1 ; Spencer, Grace 1 ; Ramos, Meagan 1
SH: Ramos, Meagan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Cullen, Ayvah 1 ; Peitersen, Veronica 1 ; Kelley, Paige 2 ; Whitney, Ella 2 ; Pogue, Skylinn 1 ; DeRoeck, Lindsey 1 ; Noble, Allee 2 ; Spencer, Grace 1 ; Ramos, Meagan 1
SB: Kelley, Paige 1
HBP: Spencer, Grace 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
2
H
3
RBI
3
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
3
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
INF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
UT
/ SoftballINF / RHP
/ SoftballSoftball vs. Kent State - Single Camera w/Crowd Audio
Saturday, April 25
This Week in Ball State Sports Podcast // Softball's Lindsey DeRoeck & AD Jeff Mitchell
Thursday, February 26
Sports Link: National Girls and Women in Sports Day
Wednesday, February 25
Cardinal Conversation with Director of Athletics Jeff Mitchell and Softball's Ashlee Lovett
Thursday, February 19