Coming into the I-75 Tournament in Kennesaw, Georgia, Ball State softball was still ironing out some kinks from their first two tournaments of the season. However, multiple things fell in line for the Cardinals as they finished the event with a season-high tournament record of 3-2.
Friday
The Cardinals kicked off the tournament with a doubleheader against Kennesaw State. In the first game, Ball State used offensive momentum and good pitching to defeat the Owls 9-0.
The red and black hit the scoreboard first as redshirt junior McKayla Timmons launched a solo shot to center field in the top of the first. The homer – which was Timmons’ first of five on the weekend – was a line drive shot that snuck over the fence.
"My mindset is to get myself and the team better each and every time we play," Timmons said.
Following that, RBI singles and Kennesaw State defensive errors allowed Ball State to move baserunners and keep their offense on the field for long periods.
While Ball State’s offense looked good with five hits, their pitching was even better. Senior starting pitcher Francys King pitched a complete game shutout. After throwing 92 total pitches, she only gave up four hits, recorded four strikeouts, and did not walk any Owls.
While Ball State’s pitching has been up and down to start the season, this game was a momentum boost for the pitching staff. It also helped the team morale as the rest of the Cardinals’ defense made multiple plays.
"They were rolling and holding batters at bay," Ball State head coach Helen Peña said. "They were getting ahead and they were executing our process and our goals as a pitching staff."
In the second game against Kennesaw State, the Cardinal’s offense showed no signs of slowing down. With multiple hits including another solo home run from Timmons and a three-run homer from redshirt sophomore Jessica Hoffman, Ball State swept the Owls with a 7-4 victory.
While Ball State’s offense – which finished with 10 hits – looked good, the defense was the story of the contest. In the circle, sophomore starting pitcher Bridie Murphy found success and had a no-hitter through the first five innings. That was broken up by a Kennesaw State double.
One of the reasons for her momentum was the defense behind her. Multiple Cardinals made great plays including Timmons, who had to lay out for two plays at first base. However, the biggest defensive play came in the bottom of the first inning.
With one out, Ball State put five players in the infield. Redshirt sophomore McKenna Mulholland – who was playing second base but was set up left of the bag – laid out for a line drive and came down with the catch.
The play was shared throughout social media and came in at No. 8 on SportsCenter’s top ten plays.
"We got on the bus right after the game, and NCAA softball reposted the video [on social media]," Mulholland said. "That's a bucket list item for every softball player.
"The next day, I was sitting at breakfast and the team was like, 'Did you see' and I had no idea what anybody was talking about. The whole team knew [it was on] SportsCenter's top ten before I did and I kind of just sat there, thinking that there's no way this is happening."
Later in the game, the Owls did not go down easily. During the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings, Kennesaw State rallied to score three runs. However, Murphy – who finished the game throwing 119 pitches and striking out two Owls – and the rest of Ball State’s defense stayed on lockdown and took the win.
Saturday
In their lone game against Georgia State on Saturday, the Cardinals’ offense went toe-to-toe with the Panthers. After a game that saw multiple home runs by Ball State, the red and black took a 9-5 win.
The game started in favor of Ball State as Timmons launched a two-run home run – her third homer of the weekend – in the top of the first. However, the Panthers responded in the bottom half of the inning with an RBI single. They also scored two more runs on a Cardinal throwing error.
In the top of the third, Ball State graduate student Haley Wynn crushed a solo shot to tie the game 3-3. But once again, the Panthers went on to take a 5-3 lead with an RBI single and another Cardinal error.
Yet the red and black struck back with an RBI single from Wynn and a sacrifice fly from Timmons. After the game was tied 5-5, both defenses did not allow either offense to make a move, sending the game into extra innings.
In the top of the ninth, Ball State loaded the bases after graduate student Samantha-Jo Mata walked and Wynn and redshirt junior Hannah Dukeman singled. Next up: Timmons.
"I know what my role is as the third hitter [in the lineup]," she said. "My job is to drive runs in, so I was just thinking about hitting the ball as far as I could."
On the 2-2 count, she was thrown a ball that found the inside corner of the plate. With one swing of the bat, the softball cleared the left field fence, giving Ball State a 9-5 lead which became the difference in the victory.
Sunday
The Cardinals looked to close out the event undefeated as they faced Georgia Tech in a doubleheader. In the first game, Ball State’s offense started with fire as Timmons launched a two-run home run, her fifth homer of the weekend.
Then in the top of the third inning, Mata crushed a solo shot. After that, it was all Yellow Jackets as their offense gained the upper hand and defeated the Cardinals 6-4.
While Ball State found some success and scored two runs in the top of the seventh, Georgia Tech’s defense rallied and ended the Cardinals’ attempt at a comeback.
In game two, it was more of the same as Hoffman hit an RBI single in the top of the first. Yet Georgia Tech’s offense continued with poise and again defeated Ball State 6-4. Like the last game, the Cardinals scored three in the top of the seventh, but could not complete the resurgence.
"I felt like we did push enough to win the games," Peña said. "I think we just need to clean up some other areas [of our game]."
Timmons finished the weekend with a .529 batting average with nine hits, 12 RBIs, and she led the team with eight runs. After having a front row seat to her performance Peña was nothing short of impressed.
"She is fun to watch. When you have a competitive leader out there, it just raises the whole competitive level of the team," Peña said. "Not only is she fun to watch, her teammates love playing around her and playing for her. She's a spark plug."
The tournament record is the best Ball State has finished in its first three events of the season. To Mulholland and the other Cardinals, this team has shown multiple things which could help them when they start Mid-American Conference play in March.
"Every win, every loss, and every mistake, it's molding us into a better team for the future," she said "We're allowing those failures and our successes to make us better."
Ball State will return on Friday, Mar. 1 when they start their five-game stretch in Eastern Kentucky’s Colonel Classic. The Cardinals open the event against Canisius. The first pitch is set for 10 a.m.
Contact Zach Carter with comments at zachary.carter@bsu.edu or on X @ZachCarter85.
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