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Ball State redshirt freshman McKenna Mulholland awaits the pitch during the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Tournament May 11 at Miami University. Zach Carter, DN

Cardinals fall to Miami in first game of MAC Tournament

By Zach Carter / May 11, 2023

The Cardinals believed that they needed to open the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Tournament with energy and needed to “leave everything on the field.” For the first three innings, Ball State did that. In the top of the third, they scored four runs after multiple hits and walks. But after a three-run home run on a two-strike, two-out pitch, the No. 4 team in the tournament could not make up ground and fell in their first game to the No. 1 Miami Redhawks 8-4.

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
SOFTBALL

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. 

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.

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.”

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
SOFTBALL

Ball State falls to Miami, remains in fourth place in MAC

By Zach Carter / April 27, 2023

After sweeping back-to-back Mid-American Conference (MAC) opponents, Ball State softball fell in a mid-week series against Miami. A big reason for that was the Redhawks' starting pitcher: Brianna Pratt. In the first game of the series, Miami’s ace was at her best. After she gave up five hits and had nine strikeouts, the Redhawks (29-17, 16-7 MAC) defeated the Cardinals 6-0. 

Redshirt senior utility player Jazmyne Armendariz hits the ball in a game against Northern Illinois March 28 at the First Merchants Ballpark Complex. Armendariz had two hits and one run during the game. Katelyn Howell, DN
SOFTBALL

Ball State sweeps Bowling Green, move to the 4th spot in Mid-American Conference

By Zach Carter / April 23, 2023

Three weeks ago, Ball State Softball sat in seventh place of the Mid-American Conference (MAC). On the field, they seemed lost and could not finish simple plays.  “It was just the type of softball that we were playing at that point in time,” the Cardinals head coach Lacy Schurr said. “... We weren't playing our kind of softball.” But since then, Ball State (24-21, 14-9 MAC) has swept two MAC opponents in consecutive series. This weekend, they did it on the road against Bowling Green. Schurr believes it was the little things that have hoisted the Cardinals’ success. 

SOFTBALL

Ball State falls to Toledo in first home-series loss, drops to seventh in MAC

By Zach Carter / April 9, 2023

The Cardinals returned home for a Mid-American Conference (MAC) series with Toledo. After three games, the Cardinals fell 2-1 in their first home-series defeat.  “We've just gotta get the ball rolling,” Cardinals head coach Lacy Schurr said. “This team is very, very capable and I think we just need a little bit of momentum going into the right time of the year.”

Redshirt-sophomore McKayla Timmons throws a ball in a game against Notre Dame April 4 at Mellisa Cook Stadium in South Bend, Ind. Timmons went 0 - for - 3 at the plate. Brayden Goins, DN
SOFTBALL

Ball State falls to Notre Dame, suffers fourth loss in a row

By Zach Carter / April 5, 2023

On Tuesday evening, Ball State softball looked to get back in the win column after being swept by Ohio. This time, they traveled to South Bend to tangle with the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. But after the lights were shut down and Melissa Cook Stadium went silent, the Cardinals (16-17, 6-5 Mid-American Conference) hopped on the bus with another loss.

Senior infielder Haley Wynn bats in a game against Northern Illinois March 28 at the First Merchants Ballpark Complex. Wynn had two hits during the game. Katelyn Howell, DN
SOFTBALL

Cardinals get swept in weekend series against Ohio

By Zach Carter / April 2, 2023

After taking over first place in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) last week, Ball State Softball looked to hold that position. But after being swept by the Ohio Bobcats in Athens, Ohio, the Cardinals are  now in fifth place while the Bobcats top the conference. 

Ball State players celebrate after fifth-year utility player Amelia Daniel hits a walk-off single to win the game in a game against Central Michigan March 26 at the Softball Field at First Merchant Ballpark Complex. Daniel's RBI in the game was the game winning run. Brayden Goins, DN
SOFTBALL

Ball State sweeps Central Michigan in first home series

By Zach Carter / March 26, 2023

In Ball State’s first home series of the 2023 campaign, the Cardinals were able to bring out the brooms as they swept Central Michigan. “There's something special about this team when we're playing at home,” head coach Lacy Schurr said. “You know, this is my third season [as Ball State head coach] and there's something about being at home. If we have strikes and outs left on the board, we're still in the game.”

Redshirt Senior infielder Jazmyne Armendariz throws the ball to first base during a practice Feb. 14 at the Softball Filed at First Merchants Ballpark Complex. Zach Carter, DN
SOFTBALL

Cardinals split away series against Kent State

By Zach Carter / March 18, 2023

In the first game, the Cardinals fell 4-3 after the Golden Flashes hit a walk-off double. As a team, the Cardinals (11-12, 1-1 MAC) only had five hits. But the second game was a much different story as they launched a season high of 16 hits to win 15-9.  

Redshirt freshman infielder McKenna Mulholland gloves a ground ball during a practice Feb. 14 at the Softball Filed at First Merchants Ballpark Complex. Zach Carter, DN
SPORTS

Ball State Softball wins one, loses three in Liberty Flames Classic

By Staff Reports / March 13, 2023

After splitting a mid-week series with East Tennessee State (4-16), Ball State Softball went 1-3 in the Liberty Flames Classic. The Cardinals (10-11) fell to Liberty (13-9), No. 23 Maryland (19-4) and split two games with Sacred Heart (7-8). A game was supposed to be played March 12 against Fairfield (3-9), however, it was canceled.  

Redshirt Senior infielder Jazmyne Armendariz throws the ball to first base during a practice Feb. 14 at the Softball Filed at First Merchants Ballpark Complex. Zach Carter, DN
SOFTBALL

Ball State’s 2023 Season is here and the Cardinals are "chomping at the bit"

By Zach Carter / February 17, 2023

Ball State Softball’s first two seasons under head coach Lacy Schurr’s direction have been two different stories. In her first season, the COVID-19 season, the Cardinals went 37-18. The team broke a handful of program records including the most Mid-American Conference (MAC) wins (31) and the longest MAC winning streak with 16 games. Ball State also broke multiple statistical records including the best batting average (.329) and on-base percentage (.415) for a single season. 

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