BGSU softball (12-20, 4-4 MAC) fell twice to Ball State (21-8, 6-2 MAC) in their rain-forced two-game series, one game being cancelled due to weather. The games were not as close as many Falcon fans would have hoped, BG falling 14-5 in the first game and 10-4 in the second.
While they were sizable losses, Ball State is a very good MAC softball team, top three in the MAC with two of the best players. Their catcher, McKayla Timmons, is an unbelievable player both catching and batting, their star pitcher Ella Whitney nearly one-hitting BG in the first game while adding a 2/3, five RBI performance at the plate.
Right now, Timmons is far separated as the best hitter in the conference, including being the best defensive catcher. Whitney has the second-highest ERA but the best winning percentage, and most complete games, and is arguably the best pitcher in the MAC.
Aside from Whitney being borderline un-hittable for six of her seven innings pitched and Timmons being barely below great, the Falcons struggled to get things going both offensively and in the pitcher’s circle.
Until the seventh inning of the first game, BG had only one hit and one run scored Kendall Mathews’ RBI double. Outside of Addie Martin, BG had only three hits, one RBI and three runs scored. This was to a pitcher who, although dealt a very good game, had a five ERA and over .300 batting average throughout the season, BG hit .200 against her.
The batting order was static through the two games, as it has been most of the season. The pitchers were quite fickle, really trying to find an arm to shut down a good offensive team. The only pitcher to allow no runs was freshman Sydney Marshall in her four innings, the other four arms giving up 19 earned runs combined.
Safe to say it could have been nice to see two tighter games, maybe better played ones as well. Although the competitiveness was certainly apparent, seemingly a continuous characteristic with head coach Michelle Gardner’s Falcons.
Their upcoming five-game road week will be a very telling one. BG plays a double-header at Akron, a team they played and lost to 20-7 earlier this season. They also play Northern Illinois later in the week, the two squads just behind Bowling Green in the standings.
Gardner and her team should go into the week looking to take all five games. Fans of the team can go into the week hoping for a winning five-game record.
Three wins against teams you will be directly competing with for the MAC tournament would be massive for a tough team trying to continue climbing the conference ladder.
