Deborah Jones

Photo by: Brad Caudill - Ball State Athletics

Photo by: Kirk Meche

Position:
Right-Handed Pitcher
Height:
6-0
Class:
Junior
High School:
Bloomington North
Hometown:
Unionville, Ind.

CAREER NOTES ENTERING 2021 SEASON
• Made 14 career appearances in the circle over 27 possible games, earning 11 starts
• Led the Mid-American Conference with a league-low 1.63 ERA in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season
• Has two career complete game shutouts and one career combined shutout
• On Ball State’s Single Season Charts (highest ranking only): T-14th in combined shutouts (1 in 2020), 17th in lowest opponent batting average (.221 in 2020), 20th in ERA (1.63 in 2020), 20th in strikeouts per seven innings (5.61 in 2020)

2020 (Fr.): The season was shortened to 27 games due to the COVID-19 global pandemic ... earned first letter at Ball State … made 14 appearances in the circle, earning 11 starts … finished the season with a Mid-American Conference best 1.63 ERA which also ranked 66th nationally … allowed just 16 earned runs over 68.2 innings of work … threw two complete game shutouts, while combining for another … finished the season with a 7-2 record … struck out 55 batters on the season, the sixth-most among MAC pitchers, and averaged 5.61 strikeouts per seven innings … made her collegiate debut at No. 8 Louisiana, holding the Ragin’ Cajuns hitless over 2.0 inning of work … earned her first collegiate victory at Jacksonville (Feb. 14), striking out a season-high 10 batters while allowing just five hits and one run to earn the complete game victory … picked up her second complete game victory of the season at North Florida (Feb. 15), in another complete game victory in which she limited the Ospreys to just one hit and one unearned run … threw the first four innings to pick up the win over Indiana State (Feb. 21) in the first meeting at the Hilltopper Classic, while also throwing the final four innings to earn a relief win against the Sycamores two days later to help the Cardinals claim the tournament title … stuck out seven batters over the first six innings to earn the win and combine with Tieghan Morio for a shutout victory against LIU (Feb. 29) … followed with her first career complete game shutout by striking out seven more batters over six innings at Bethune-Cookman (March 4) … turned in a brilliant performance over the first 8.0 innings in the team’s win over Tulsa (March 7), striking out three and holding the Golden Hurricanes to just three hits and one unearned run … closed the shortened season by striking out six batters and allowing just two hits in her second career complete game shutout versus Samford (March 8) … finished the shortened season with two putouts and 20 assists, while committing no errors for a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.

HIGH SCHOOL: Earned four letters in softball at Bloomington North High School ... team captain for the Cougars and nearly untouchable in the circle as a senior, compiling a 6-1 record and a 0.52 ERA over 54 innings of work ... allowed just 26 hits and four runs on the season, while striking out 74 batters ... recorded a .237 average at the plate as a senior, with a pair of doubles, six runs scored and four RBI ... a first team all-conference selection and team Most Valuable Player as a junior, Jones hit .431 last year with a 28 hits, 19 runs scored and 13 RBI … in the circle, she tallied a 4-1 record and a 2.76 ERA over 33 innings of work, striking out 59 batters in the process … as a sophomore, she earned second team all-conference honors after helping guide the Cougars to a 14-6 overall record and a sectional championship … she batted .413 has a sophomore, with 19 hits, 11 runs scored and 10 RBI … in the circle, she tallied a 1-1 record with a 3.82 ERA over 11 innings, while adding 15 strikeouts.

CLUB: Played for the Indiana Dreams for seven seasons.

PERSONAL: Daughter of Tammy and David Jones ... has one brother, Tyler ... majoring in elementary education.

WHY BALL STATE: I chose Ball State because it felt like home away from home. The coaches and people were very welcoming and I can see myself doing big things while I am there.