Ball State University Athletics

Whitney Named MAC Player of the Week
April 29, 2026 | Softball
CLEVELAND - - For her role in helping guide the Ball State softball team to a weekend sweep of Kent State, senior designated player Ella Whitney was named the Mid-American Conference Player of the Week.
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Whitney, who earns player of the week honors for the first time in her career, posted a .636 batting average against the Golden Flashes with one double, one triple and two home runs over the series.Â
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She led Ball State with five RBIs and scored four runs, while also drawing a pair of walks for a .692 on base percentage. Whitney set the offensive tone for the Cardinals in the series, blasting a pair of solo home runs to help the Cardinals rally for a 4-3 (8) win in the series opener.
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In the second game, a 12-5 win for Ball State, Whitney scored one run and collected two RBI in the eight-run first. She started with a walk and later scores, while capping the scoring in the frame with a two-run double. She also singled in the third inning and blasted an RBI triple and scored on a wild pitch in the fifth. The series finale saw Whitney go 2-for-4 with a walk.
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Whitney and the Ball State softball team close the 2026 season this weekend with a three-game series at Buffalo. The teams will play a 2 p.m. doubleheader Friday and a 1 p.m. game Saturday.
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Whitney, who earns player of the week honors for the first time in her career, posted a .636 batting average against the Golden Flashes with one double, one triple and two home runs over the series.Â
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She led Ball State with five RBIs and scored four runs, while also drawing a pair of walks for a .692 on base percentage. Whitney set the offensive tone for the Cardinals in the series, blasting a pair of solo home runs to help the Cardinals rally for a 4-3 (8) win in the series opener.
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In the second game, a 12-5 win for Ball State, Whitney scored one run and collected two RBI in the eight-run first. She started with a walk and later scores, while capping the scoring in the frame with a two-run double. She also singled in the third inning and blasted an RBI triple and scored on a wild pitch in the fifth. The series finale saw Whitney go 2-for-4 with a walk.
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Whitney and the Ball State softball team close the 2026 season this weekend with a three-game series at Buffalo. The teams will play a 2 p.m. doubleheader Friday and a 1 p.m. game Saturday.
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Players Mentioned
Softball 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




