Recap courtesy of Ball State Athletic Communications

AKRON, Ohio – An RBI-single from Maia Pietrzak in the top of the sixth inning helped the fourth-seeded Ball State Cardinals survive and advance in the 2025 Mid-American Conference Softball Championship at historic Firestone Stadium. The Cardinals picked up a 5-4 win over the fifth-seeded Akron Zips. 

While the Zips struck early in Friday's opener, putting two runs up in the top of the first, the Cardinals answered call in the bottom of the frame starting with a one-out single by Timmons.

Senior left fielder Kara Gunter cut the lead in half with an RBI double in the next at bat, while a two-out triple from junior center fielder Ashlee Lovett tied the score. The Cardinals were not done there, however, as redshirt junior second baseman McKenna Mulholland followed with a double to right center to give BSU a 3-2 edge.

After a scoreless second inning, the Zips managed to tie the score on a one-out RBI single with runners at first and second. After a fly out put runners on the corners with two outs, the Cardinals were able to keep the score tied at three catching the trail runner trying to steal on a failed squeeze bunt attempt.

The score remained tied until the bottom of the fourth when redshirt junior right fielder Hayley Urban started a mini two-out rally with a single to left. Pietrzak followed with a triple to right center, giving the hosts in the game a 4-3 edge.

Ball State's lead would not last long, however, as back-to-back one-out singles helped Akron tie the score at 4-4 in the top of the fourth.

The Cardinals would take the lead for good two at bats later, starting with a leadoff walk to redshirt freshman pinch runner Payton Fox. Fox would move to third on a single from redshirt junior third baseman Katie Van Der Mark and an error on the play, before scoring on a single from Pietrzak.

After another brilliant start from junior Ella Whitney, who celebrated her 21st birthday by picking up her 20th win of the season, sophomore Brinkley Kita entered for the final inning. Kita would retire the first two batters she faced, before one last single gave the Zips a glimmer of hope. However, she forced a pop up to second to end the game and earn her first save of the season.

Over the game's first six innings, Whitney would scatter seven hits while allowing four runs, only two of which were earned.