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Redshirt sophomore McKayla Timmons scores after a homerun in a game against Miami on April 26 at the Softball Field at First Merchants Ballpark Complex. Timmons scored two runs, one homerun, and had three RBI's. Katelyn Howell, DN

Cardinals are “glued together” on and off the field as they prepare for MAC tournament

By Zach Carter / May 9, 2023

One year after missing the Mid-American Conference (MAC) tournament by one spot, Ball State softball is heading to Miami University (Oxford, OH) for this year's edition of the conference tournament. It will also be head coach Lacy Schurr’s first time coaching in the tournament. The Cardinals finished the 2023 campaign with a 27-24 record. They went 17-12 in the MAC which set them up to clinch the fourth spot in the conference. Besides fifth-year Amaia Daniel and senior Jazmyne Armendariz, no other Cardinal on the roster has made the postseason. 

Ball State Women's Tennis huddles together during a timeout against Notre Dame in the first round of the NCAA Tournament May 5. The Cardinals would go on to lose the match. Ball State Athletics, photo courtesy
WOMEN'S TENNIS

Ball State’s season comes to an end in the first round of NCAA tournament

By Caleb Zuver / May 5, 2023

After a season that saw an incredible amount of success with some chaos mixed in, Ball State women’s tennis  (22-4) played in their final match of the season Friday. Making their third consecutive NCAA tournament appearance, the Cardinals were swept 4-0 by the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (16-10). For the third consecutive year, Ball State failed to put up a point in any of the matches. But, junior Masha Polishchuk, who was on the previous tournament teams, said that this match felt and played out differently than the other two.

Fourth-year journalism major Angelica Gonzales Morales poses for a photo in front of Beneficence April 22. Jacy Bradley, DN
GRADUATION

Far from in Between

By Angelica Gonzalez / May 3, 2023

Now, I can say I take tremendous pride in being Mexican-American. I take pride in showing people that even though I don’t look like what society perceives as an average Hispanic, that doesn’t make me any less Mexican or less American. I take pride in being a first-generation Mexican-American. My parents gave up a lot in their life to give me a lifestyle in America, and I am not afraid to show people my heritage. 

Fourth-year journalism major and Ball State Daily News editor-in-chief Elissa Maudlin poses for a photo in front of the David Owsley Museum of Art April 22. Jacy Bradley, DN
GRADUATION

How I found myself through journalism

By Elissa Maudlin / May 1, 2023

Needless to say, there were difficult moments and times when, with tears, I had to dig deep and learn to believe in myself. It was in those moments, as well as the joyful moments, where I saw glimpses of the person I was at my core again. It was because of these moments that I am beginning to feel like myself again.

Senior infielder Haley Wynn prepares to bat in a game against Miami on April 26 at the Softball Field at First Merchants Ballpark Complex. Wynn had three RBI's. Katelyn Howell, DN
SOFTBALL

Ball State defeats Akron, clinches MAC Tournament berth

By Zach Carter / April 30, 2023

In the middle of its season, Ball State softball was in a slump and sat in seventh place in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). To make the tournament, you have to be in the top four. Cardinal fans might have wondered, can this team pull themselves out of their funk? This weekend, that question was answered. After bouncing back and defeating Akron in their final regular season series, the Cardinals clinched a tournament berth.

The Ball State Women's Tennis team poses with the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Tournament Championship after defeating Toledo April 30. Ball State Athletics, photo courtesy
WOMEN'S TENNIS

Cardinals win third-consecutive MAC Championship

By Caleb Zuver / April 30, 2023

Ball State (22-3, 9-1 MAC) is headed to the NCAA tournament for the third-straight season after defeating the Toledo Rockets (20-4, 10-0 MAC) in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) championship Sunday. "It’s incredible. I’ve never been in this position before,” freshman Annika Planinsek said after the match. “It feels surreal, I can’t even process it right now. It’s an incredible feeling.”

Fifth-year utility player Amaia Daniels cries with teammates after celebrating her senior day after a game against Buffalo April 16 at First Merchant Ballpark Complex. Daniels is tied for fifth all time in Ball State's Softball record book for career double plays turned. Brayden Goins, DN
GRAD ISSUE

With Ball State Softball, Amaia Daniel found her 'second family'

By Zach Carter / April 29, 2023

When you ask Amaia Daniel about Ball State softball, she has three words: “A second family.” She won’t boast about her achievements with the Cardinals, even though she ranks in the top 20 of 17 different statistical categories in program history and in the top 10 of eight of those categories. She won’t talk about her love of the game; she will speak of her love for her teammates, her “second family.”  “There's people on this team who have known me for that long, and there's people who I deeply trust with many, many things, and I respect them deeply,” she said. “I could honestly call them family, and I could treat them like family.”

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