MAC Softball Player of the Week
Haley Wynn, Senior, Ball State
Senior Haley Wynn led the Ball State offense with a .529 batting average in the team's opening weekend, tallying nine hits over 17 at bats. In Friday’s season-opening win at Samford, Wynn fell a double shy of the cycle, including blasting a solo home run for Ball State’s first hit of the season and adding a triple in the seventh. Wynn finished the opening game 3-for-4, with an RBI and three runs scored, including scoring what proved to be the game-winning run. She followed with another 3-for-4 effort in the nightcap versus the Bulldogs, adding an RBI and a run scored. After collecting a hit in the opener versus UAB, she closed the weekend with a 2-for-3 effort against Lindenwood, including an RBI single to open the scoring in Ball State’s six-run fourth inning.
MAC Softball Co-Pitcher of the Week
Angelina Russo, Sophomore, Ball State
Sophomore pitcher Angelina Russo started 2023 with a bang, throwing just the 18th no-hitter for the Cardinals dating back to the 1980 season in Sunday’s 10-1 (5) victory over Lindenwood. In addition to holding the Lions hitless over her 5.0 innings of work, Russo surrendered just one walk while striking out three batters. It was an exclamation point on a strong weekend which saw her allow just one earned run over 13.1 innings for a league-leading 0.53 ERA. Russo started her season with a 4.0 inning win at Samford, allowing just four hits and striking out two batters. She followed with a stellar relief appearance against UAB, entering with bases loaded with two outs in the bottom of the second and getting a fly-out to end the inning. She went on to throw 4.1 innings versus the Blazers, allowing just three hits and one earned run.
MAC Softball Co-Pitcher of the Week
Haley Croyle, Freshman, Akron
Akron freshman pitcher Haley Croyle turned in a dominating start to her collegiate career tossing 13.0 innings over four appearances en route to striking out 15 batters against only six walks. In her collegiate debut against Creighton on Feb. 17, she came within one out of pitching the 35th no-hitter in program history and first since 2017, as she struck out 12 in a 4-0 Akron victory. Five of her seven innings, she struck out two or more batters. She again pitched the Zips to a win in her second start allowing one run over 5.2 innings, while fanning three. She also notched a pair of relief appearances against Tarleton State and Creighton on Feb. 18, while collecting the save in a 4-3 triumph past the Blue Jays.
