Softball splits Friday’s Twinbill at Samford

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – – Senior second man Haley Wynn made sure her birthday was special, belting a solo home run for Ball State softball’s first hit of the season to help clinch a doubleheader with Samford on Friday night at Samford Softball Stadium.

The birthday blast was part of a 3-for-4 effort in the opener for Wynn, who dropped a double in the run after singling in the fifth and tripled to lead off the seventh. In all, Wynn scored three runs in the Cardinals’ (1-1) 5-3 opener over the Bulldogs (2-3).

In the nightcap, Ball State jumped out to an early 4-0 lead, thanks in part to a two-run blast from the redshirt sophomore. McKayla Timmons at the top of the third. However, Samford responded with four runs in the bottom of the inning, and after BSU retook the lead in the fourth, forced extra innings with two solo home runs in the seventh.

After a 19-minute delay in the bottom of the eighth after the stadium lights, the Cardinals took advantage of the tiebreaker rule in the top of the ninth with a pair of runs. Unfortunately, Samford answered with three in the bottom of the frame to earn an 8-7 (9) victory and save the division for the day.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Wynn finished the day 6-for-8 from the plate with a walk, scored four runs and drove in a pair of RBIs.
• Second year student Angelina Russo picked up the win in his 2023 debut, limiting Samford to four hits and no runs over 4.0 innings in Friday’s opener. He also had two hits.
• Transfer of juniors Francis King was credited with his first save, allowing five hits and three runs over the final 3.0 innings He also struck out two batters.
• Freshman Bridie Murphy got off to a good start in his collegiate debut, limiting Samford to six hits and four runs over 4.0 innings. He also struck out three batters.
• Ball State’s defense, which ranked sixth nationally last season with 0.55 double plays per game, got three wins from Friday’s doubleheader.
• Junior Remington Ross picked up where he left off last season, stealing a total of three bases on a day that saw Ross finish third in the Mid-American Conference and 72nd nationally with 22 stolen bases last season.
• In all, the Cardinals stole eight bases during the doubleheader, including two from the freshman. Ashley Lovett in a nightcap.

SCORE SUMMARY GAME 1

• T3 | Ball State’s first hit of the 2023 season was a big one as Wynn singled to center field (1-0)
• T4 | After redshirt senior Jazmyne Armendariz doubled to open the inning, pinch runner Lovett scored his first collegiate run on a Samford error. (2-0)
• T5 | Pussiperho from the fifth-year senior shortstop The end Daniel drove in Ross, who reached on an error, took second and advanced to third on Wynn’s single (3-0)
• T5 | After Wynn advanced to third on a wild pitch, Armendariz drove him home with a single to center (4-0)
• B6 | Samford scored its first game with Logan Champion’s home run (4-1)
• T7 | Ball State was able to get a run back when Wynn led off the inning with a triple and scored on Daniel’s RBI double (5-1).
• B7 | Grier Bruce’s leadoff single and home run drove in the final two innings of the game (5-3)

SCORE SUMMARY GAME 2

• T2 | Junior fielder Kaitlyn Mathews ignited a mini-double rally with a single up the middle before advancing to second on a passed ball, stealing third and scoring on an error (1-0)
• T3 | Timmons’ two-out, two-run home run opened the scoring in the inning (3-0)
• T3 | Sophomore third grader Emma Richards reached and advanced to second on an error before Mathews scored on a double to left field (4-0)
• B3 | Bruce’s double and single brought in Samford’s first run (4-1)
• B3 | Two batters later, Champion’s three-run home run tied the game (4-4).
• T4 | Ross showed more speed, led off with a single, stole second and scored on Wynn’s single up the middle (5-4)
• B7 | Bruce’s two-run home run sent the game into extra innings (5-5)
• T9 | After Ross took second to open the inning and moved to third on Wynn’s single, Ross scored on a wild pitch (6-5)
• T9 | Wynn scores on Daniel’s RBI single (7-5)
• B9 | Samford loaded the bases with one out and set up the game-winning three-run double from Merritt Cahoon

NEXT

The Ball State softball team continues play in the Blazer Bash on Saturday afternoon with a doubleheader at UAB. The first game of the first game is set for 1:00 PM ET / Noon CT, with the second game following approximately 30 minutes later.