After waiting an extra day to begin the 2025 season due to a rain cancellation, Ball State (3-1) began the new season in San Luis Obispo, California in the Mustang Classic. The Cardinals took on the likes of Oregon State (3-2) and California Polytechnic (1-4) in back-to-back contests and came out of the tournament only dropping one contest.
Friday
BSU v. Oregon State
It was a slow start for both sides offensively as the defenses were clicking early. Ball State’s starting pitcher junior Ella Whitney pitched the full opening contest against the Beavers, only giving up six hits and a singular earned run.
The defenses held up for five innings, but once redshirt senior catcher Mckayla Timmons stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the 5th inning, she blasted a three-run shot to left-center field to break the scoring open.
There was no looking back for the Cardinals as after that, the red and white only surrendered one run in the contest and added another of their own thanks to an RBI from senior Kara Gunter giving Ball State the 4-1 victory.
BSU v. Cal Poly
In the second matchup of the day, it was a close affair between the Cardinals and the Mustangs. Similarly to the first contest, there was no scoring until the sixth inning. However, this time on the mound for Ball State was freshman Breanna Severino in her collegiate debut.
Severino struck out four batters and only gave up one unearned run in her five innings on the mound.
The scoring was broken by the Cardinals in the sixth, on a wild pitch from the home team, and then in the bottom of the inning, a bases-loaded walk tied things up at one apiece. With no scoring in the seventh, it took extras to settle the score for this matchup.
In the eighth, sophomore Mandy Lauth knocked a two-run RBI which proved to be the decider in a 3-2 victory.
Saturday
BSU v. Oregon State
The offenses were flowing on day two, with the Cardinals giving up more hits in the opening match against the Beavers, 15, than in the two contests combined the day before, 11.
After the orange and black opened the scoring in the first with an RBI double, the Cardinals and Beavers traded two-run innings giving Oregon State a 3-2 lead going into the third inning. However, Ball State knocked in five runs in the third pushing their lead to 7-3.
But that lead didn’t last long as that would be the last runs scored for the red and white, giving up 12 more runs which ended the contest in the fifth inning, resulting in the Cardinals’ first loss in the tournament 15-7.
BSU v. Cal Poly
After losing in the fashion the Cardinals did against Oregon State, it seemed there was some anger unleashed against the Mustangs in the finale of the Mustang Classic. Ball State only gave up a singular run and four hits in the matchup.
Whitney was on the mound again and helped aid the red and whites defense to such a dominant showing. Senior infielder Kaitlyn Gibson registered ten punch outs as well, giving Whitney a boost defensively.
Nine different Cardinals registered at least one hit in the contest with sophomore Maia Pietrzak hitting a two-run homer and senior right fielder Maddie Weaver blasting a three-run home run as well.
Ball State will play in the Charlotte Invitational with a doubleheader against Lehigh (1-3) and then Albany, Friday, Feb. 21. First pitch against Lehigh is set for 10 a.m.
Contact David Moore with comments at david.moore@bsu.edu or on X @gingninj63
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