Ball State softball hosted Buffalo for a three-game series at the Ball State Softball Stadium over the weekend. Though the Cardinals were on a four-game winning streak in Mid-American Conference (MAC) play, the run ended as the Cardinals lost the series to the Bulls 2-1.
Saturday
The series began with a doubleheader on the Cardinals’ senior day. It didn’t take long for Ball State to hit the scoreboard as redshirt senior McKayla Timmons hit a triple in the bottom of the first. Then senior Kara Gunter scored her with an RBI double. Then, junior Ella Whitney matched that, scoring Gunter with an RBI double of her own.
But for the next three innings, the bats went quiet. Buffalo's momentum at the plate picked up as they scored four runs in the top of the fourth and two more runs in the fifth and seventh.
Though the Cardinals recorded a run in the fifth as well thanks to an RBI single from Gunter, mistakes at every facet of the game did not allow them to get back into it. The Cardinals had multiple chances to score with base runners in place. However, they couldn’t capitalize on the opportunities, falling 6-3.
“I think we're making the game too big,” Ball State head coach Helen Peña said. “I think we were trying to press for the outcome of doing really well on senior day. I think they wanted to be successful for their seniors, and we just got outside of ourselves.”
Following a 30-minute break, the second game of the day began. Though the contest was scoreless through the first two innings, Ball State took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third after an RBI double from Gunter.
Gunter finished the doubleheader going 4-for-7 with three RBI. This was the senior’s first year with Ball State and she said she doesn’t regret joining the Cardinals for her final year.
“I am really grateful I decided to come here for my last year and finish it off on a good note,” Gunter said. “Everyone here has been really welcoming and supportive.”
But Ball State’s lead did not last long as the Bulls scored three runs in the top of the fourth. The Cardinals managed to get a run in the bottom half of the inning with an RBI single from junior Ashlee Lovett. Yet, Buffalo seemed unfazed as the blue and white scored runs in the fifth and sixth innings.
Despite Timmons' 14th home run of the season — a no-doubt solo shot — coming in the bottom of the seventh, the Cardinals dropped the match 5-3, losing the series.
“I don't feel like we allowed things to happen to us instead of when we're adjusting really well,” Peña said. “When we're going out and hunting either the pitch we want to hit or we're attacking the zone with our best stuff, we're also communicating really well in defense. I just felt like we were on our heels a bit at times, and instead of going out and attacking, we did what they wanted.”
Sunday
The final game of the series was originally scheduled for Friday, but due to poor weather, it was moved to Sunday. With the game being Ball State’s Strikeout Cancer Day, there was something extra on the line for the Cardinals. One of those players included redshirt junior McKenna Mulholland, who caught a ceremonial first pitch from her mother Lisa. Mulholland’s stepfather, Joe Gioia, passed from colon cancer in Dec. of 2024. The Cardinals’ second baseman wore a sticker on her face with the phrase ‘Strikeout Cancer.’
“I tried not to let it take away from focusing on softball, but my mom throwing out the first pitch was just really special,” Mulholland said. “When I gave her a hug, I just reminded her, ‘Hey, no [sad] tears. These are happy tears. We're gonna play for Joe today.’”
Both offenses struggled to begin the contest. Though the Bulls were able to get baserunners throughout the first few innings, Ball State’s defense looked completely different than the previous games as they made multiple clutch plays.
Mulholland was one of the driving forces behind the effort as she had three putouts and five assists. Some highlights included two outs where she ran to the first-base line to make the catch and she assisted Timmons at home to stop the Bulls from scoring.
“I was just so excited for the opportunity to play today,” McKenna said. “[Junior pitcher] Ella [Whitney] was pitching an absolute gem and I knew the defense had to have her back. It's beautiful weather outside and I think my response coming back from yesterday was just to enjoy the game and have fun today, and that's exactly what I did.”
The Cardinals were the first to score as sophomore Maia Pietrzak took home in the bottom of the third after the Bulls committed an error at first base. But two innings later in the fifth, Buffalo took a 2-1 lead on a two-RBI double.
In the bottom half of the inning, Pietrzak walked, allowing Timmons to hit with a baserunner. Just like on Saturday, Timmons smashed the ball for her 15th home run of the season, this time for a two-run blast.
Timmons said she’s been in a slump the last few weeks and she hopes the two home runs this series fixed the issue.
“It helps me trust the process a little bit more. Even at my age, realizing that I'm not gonna be on 100 percent of the time [helps],” Timmons said. “Just finding small ways to win or contribute, even if it's just once or twice, makes all the difference.”
But in the top of the seventh, the Bulls had the tying run at first following a single. But with two outs, a ground ball was hit near second base. Mulholland dove to make the stop, flicking the ball to second for the force out and the 3-2 victory.
“It's incredible. She's not just athletic, but her softball IQ and competitiveness [was there],” Peña said. “You have to be present in the moment … Just to see her play freely and have some courage to go after some of those balls like that is amazing.
“We want them to fail in practice. We want them to go for things like [the diving stop] in practice so that they can test themselves, and she does that every single day.”
The Cardinals now sit in fourth place in the MAC. With two more series against Ohio and Central Michigan — the MAC’s No. 1 and No. 2 teams — there’s a chance they could play for a first-place spot.
Last year, the Cardinals needed help to make the conference tournament. But this season, they control their own destiny as Sunday's win clinched a spot in the MAC Tournament. Peña said this team is in a good spot and wants them to take advantage of the opportunity to be one of the top seeds in the event.
“We focus on our next game that's right in front of us. We’re not trying to get ahead of ourselves,” Peña said. “We're just playing the game, and it's us versus us … If we stay locked in, and laser-focused, then it doesn't matter who's on the other side.”
The Cardinals echoed their second-year head coach.
“I wanna see how tough we can be and I wanna see us play Ball State softball,” Mulholland said. “We are the most talented team in the four years that I've been here. I'm excited to see how far we go this season. As long as we trust ourselves, stay gritty and be tough, I don't think anyone can beat us.”
Ball State will head to Ohio Tuesday, April 27 for a doubleheader. Game one is set to start at 1 p.m.
Contact Zach Carter via email at zachary.carter@bsu.edu or via X @ZachCarter85.
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