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Ball State defeats Toledo in Cardinals' first home series

(03/24/25 12:00am)

Ball State Softball (18-8) hosted a season series for the first time as the Mid-American Conference (MAC) opponent Toledo Rockets (7-18) made the trip to Muncie for the weekend. The Cardinals showed off in front of the home crowd for the first time this season, winning the series 2-1.FridayThe Cardinals had their first home game of the season on Friday. Ella Whitney (11-1) got the start in the circle for Ball State.After Toledo scored three runs in the top of the first, Ball State redshirt senior catcher McKayla Timmons hit her 11th home run of the season on her first pitch of the day. The two-run shot from Timmons brought the Cardinals within one at the end of the first inning.With no runs scored in the second, redshirt junior McKenna Mulholland got the scoring going again in the third as she hit a two-run homer to left field, lifting the Cardinals on top 4-3. As the Rockets struggled to score runs, Ball State added more on in the fourth inning when sophomore Maia Pietrzak stole home, adding one more on to the Cardinals’ lead.Toledo responded in the top of the fifth inning as they led 6-5, but that lead only lasted for a half inning as Pietrzak homered to left field in the bottom of the inning to give the Cardinals the lead again at 7-6.As the bottom of the sixth came around, Ball State found themselves down by one run. But that changed as Mulholland brought in two runs to put the Cardinals back up by one.Later in the sixth inning, senior Kaitlyn Gibson hit Ball State’s third home run of game one when she drove in three runs. Shortly after that, Whitney hit a single, driving in the last run of the game and helping the Cardinals win the first game in the series 13-8.“We want to be consistent with our approach in the box, and the players did a phenomenal job of being able to stick to the plan, trust the process and being able to hunt what they wanted to hit,” Ball State head coach Helen Peña said. 30 minutes after game one, the second game in the three-game series kicked off in Muncie.The first half of the game was all Toledo as the Rockets flew out to an early 8-0 lead in the second inning before extending it to 9-0 lead in the top of the fourth.As the bottom of the fourth came around, the Cardinals got into a rhythm as sophomore Mandy Lauth doubled to right center, driving Mulholland home to put Ball State on the board.Ball State rallied back in the bottom of the fifth inning where they added on 12 runs thanks to RBIs from Whitney, Gibson, and Lauth. Another home run — a grand slam — by Mulholland, helped the Cardinals take a 13-9 at the end of the fifth inning.Toledo had a response of their own in the top of the sixth inning which put them back on top 14-13.In the bottom of the sixth inning, Ball State tied it back up after an error which allowed Lauth to score. With no runs scored in the seventh, the extra innings were delayed until Saturday due to darkness.SaturdayAfter waiting to finish extra innings, the two teams headed back out to the field Saturday afternoon to finish their second matchup of the weekend.The Rockets quickly added on three runs to put them up 17-14. The Cardinals had no response in the bottom half of the inning, ultimately losing game two of the series which had the series score knotted up at 1-1.About 20 minutes after the conclusion of the extra innings, the two MAC teams faced off once more to decide the winner of the series.Mulholland’s productive weekend continued in game three as she doubled into left center and drove Whitney in for a run in the bottom of the first.As the second rolled aroun,d the Cardinals hit another bomb as Lauth knocked out a two-run homer to give the Cardinals a 3-0 lead in the second.The third and fourth innings were just as productive for Ball State as they scored six more runs. The scoring started after red-shirt junior Hayley Urban doubled to left center and drove in two runs.Lauth then hit a double of her own before Mulholland and Gibson both scored on wild pitches. The Cardinals led 9-0 at the end of the fourth.The Toledo Rockets looked like they had a comeback in their hands as they outscored Ball State 8-0 in the last three innings, but that wasn’t enough to put them on top. This led to the Cardinals taking their first home series of the year. “[Playing in front of the fans] was honestly amazing,” senior Kaitlyn Gibson said. We have been working so hard on our culture and just this family [aspect] we’ve created. I think the number one thing about this win is that we did it together and it took every single one of us.”Ball State’s next game is scheduled for March 25 against Indiana State in Terre Haute, Indiana.Contact Rylan Crum at rylan.crum@bsu.edu or on X @RylanCrum.

https://www.ballstatedailynews.com/article/2025/03/ball-state-defeats-toledo-in-cardinals-first-home-series

Ball State Gymnastics finishes 5th at the MAC Championship

(03/23/25 3:14pm)

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. — Saturday, Ball State Gymnastics placed fifth at the Mid-American Conference (MAC) meet with 195.075 points, competing against Northern Illinois, Eastern Michigan, Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Kent State and Western Michigan.Central Michigan placed first with 195.725, Eastern Michigan with 195.525 placed second, Kent State and Western Michigan tied third with 195.300, Northern Illinois placed sixth with 192.925 and Bowling Green was seventh with 191.700. Individually, the Cardinals did well with graduate student Suki Pfister earning MAC Vault Champion with her hand front-pike with a half-out earning a 9.900. Sophomore Ashley Szymanski earned the MAC Bars Championship scoring a 9.875 and was awarded the MAC Specialist of the Year.The specialist award surprised Szymanski.“I'm definitely very, very honored to receive the nomination and the award,” she said. “This award speaks to the team standing behind me [and] pulling me forward.”With the meet having seven teams, it's a different type of event, Head Coach Joanna Saleem said. “It's a long meet, and there's a lot of highs and lows and emotions that go into that,” Saleem said. “This team is a team I'm super proud of. We've been through a lot this year, and they stayed in the competition until the very end.” As she tells her team, she's proud of the performances.Beginning on the balance beam for their first rotation, the Cardinals scored 48.250; while Central Michigan scored 48.950 on the vault, Eastern Michigan scored 48.725 on the uneven bars, and Western Michigan, on the floor, earned 49.175.On the second rotation, Bowling Green scored 48.025 on vault, Northern Illinois 46.700 on bars, Eastern Michigan 48.575 on beam and Kent State 49.200 on the floor.For the third rotation, Ball State scored 49.175 on the floor, Western Michigan 48.750 on vault, Central Michigan 49.000 on bars and Northern Illinois 48.475 on beam.On the fourth rotation, Kent State earned 48.975 on vault, Bowling Green scored 47.800 on bars, Central Michigan 48.350 on beam and Eastern Michigan 49.300 on floor.On rotation five, Ball State scored 48.875 on vault, while Western Michigan scored 48.575 on the bars, Bowling Green 46.925 on beam and Northern Illinois 49.175 on the floor.Scoring her 9.900 and winning vault champion felt like a perfect ending for Pfister's last MAC Championship meet, she said. She felt her determination helped her win the event, especially coming back from a fall on vault the meet prior. “I really wanted to come back strong, and I was working hard at practice for that, not putting too much pressure on myself, but still staying determined and gritty,” she said. “Then in the moment, everyone was cheering, and I knew everyone had my back, and they were there to support me in it, and I knew I was going to hit that vault.”The sixth rotation had Eastern Michigan scoring 48.925 on vault, Kent State 48.450 on bars, Western Michigan 48.800 on beam and Central Michigan scoring 49.425 on floor. Ending on bars, Ball State scored 48.775 on the seventh rotation, while Northern Illinois scored 48.575 on vault, Kent State 48.675 on beam and Bowling Green 48.950 on floor.Szymanski — who's ranked first on bars and is the reigning MAC champion — was excited and ready to compete. Beyond the physical practice, she prepares herself with mental toughness training.“Going into the meet as reigning champion, kind of trying to defend that,” she said. “I didn't really think about it too much. It was a thought, and I was like, ‘Okay, that was last year. This is where my feet are, and this is where I'm going to stand,’ and so it is all wrapped up into that.”With the MAC meet finished, Saleem is looking toward the future. It provided a learning experience for the team, she said.Saleem wants to continue working on team bonding, along with handling loud environments, exciting venues and pressure. “It's just been a phenomenal group of young women that have worked together,” she said. “We've been through a lot of adversity and a lot of things that were out of our control this year, and they never once gave up, and they never once got negative.”“They stayed together, and they stayed positive and they stayed determined … It's a testament to the culture of the standards that they've set for each other, and so, I'm excited to keep building on that as we move forward into the future.”Contact Hannah Amos via email at hannah.amos@bsu.edu or on X @Hannah_Amos_394.

https://www.ballstatedailynews.com/article/2025/03/ball-state-gymnastics-finishes-5th-at-the-mac-championship

Wapahani, Delta end seasons at semi-state

(03/22/25 5:45pm)

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. — Wapahani senior Nate Luce walked out of the Raiders’ locker room at Michigan City High School. After falling in the first game of the 2A semi-state 61-59 to Gary 21st Century, Luce ended his high school basketball career.As he stepped into the hallway, he was met with hugs from his family, friends and other members of the Wapahani community. He couldn’t hold back the tears as he reminisced on the last four years of playing Raider basketball. “It’s what our community is about. It shows that we're one big family and not individual people,” Luce said. “We all come together at the end of the day, and that's why Selma is the greatest community of all time. I could never ask for anybody or anyone better than this right here.” His father, Wapahani head coach Matt Luce, had the same reaction when talking about Nate and the journey the two have had together. “What Nate has done as a young man has left a mark on the Liberty Perry and Wapahani community,” Matt said. “His attitude, effort, incredible hard work in the classroom and just being a good dude. Coach's sons are a special breed and Nate Luce is a special guy.”The game against the Cougars did not start the way the Raiders wanted as 21st Century jumped to a 5-0 lead. Though the red and white found some momentum on offense, the Cougars took an even bigger lead, 22-13, in the second quarter. However, the Raiders were not worried. “Our coaches and our entire community were like, ‘It's not going the way we wanted, but we're gonna come back with the heart of a lion,” Matt said. After finding more rhythm on offense, the Raiders only trailed 26-23 at halftime. But after the break, the Cougars’ success with the basketball in their hands returned, opening the second half with a 10-0 scoring run. Down 33-23, the Raiders did not let the hit affect them After fighting their way back, Wapahani junior Camden Bell crossed 1,000 career points with a layup. This led to some momentum as the red and white continued to give the Cougars their all. “It's not something you see every day,” Bell said. “I wish I would have gotten the win. It's something nice, and in a few days, I'll probably really enjoy it.” With 7.8 seconds left in the game, Wapahani attempted to get a steal and tie the game. But the Cougars moved the ball to the open court, running out the clock. “Give Gary 21st credit,” Matt said. “They are good and have great attitudes.” Over the last four years, Wapahani is 96-12. While Luce believes that has been due to the hard work of the Raiders, he also said it’s due to the support the program has received around the school and community. “Our band left at 6 a.m. this morning. It's innocent fun and great fun,” Matt said. “It's great guys that don't cause trouble and have respect for their teachers and coaches and people … It didn't come out the way we wanted. But when the day is over, the Wapahani boys basketball team, the community spirit and [our] togetherness, it'll be remembered.” The other Delaware County team left in the state tournament, the Delta Eagles, also fell to semi-state. They played at the 3A semi-state at Logansport and fell to East Chicago 62-46. Contact Zach Carter via email at zachary.carter@bsu.edu or via X @ZachCarter85.

https://www.ballstatedailynews.com/article/2025/03/wapahani-delta-end-seasons-at-semi-state

Ball State Gymnastics is heading to the Mid-American Conference Championship

(03/21/25 10:00pm)

Ball State Gymnastics Head Coach Joanna Saleem wants her team to focus on enjoying themselves and gymnastics.Heading to Mount Pleasant, Mich., the Cardinals will be competing Saturday at 2 p.m. against six other teams for the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Championship. Competing against Northern Illinois, Eastern Michigan, Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Kent State and Western Michigan, Saleem wants to treat this meet like any other. “The approach has to be the same as what it is for every other competition, and that's definitely something that we've talked about with the team, is just remembering what works for us and how to keep distractions to a minimum and to stay present so that they can enjoy what they're doing,” Saleem said.Though, with the chaos of seven teams in a gym, the Cardinals have practiced ways to lock in when it's time to perform and stay present with each other while not. Sophomore Ashley Szymanski echoed Saleem's approach of treating the meet like any other.“We've been training the approach all season, and that's something that doesn't change with a meet like this,” Szymanski said. “So just going in and expecting the success that we've put the work into is not something necessarily new, but something that the gym Cards will be doing.” Throughout the season, a big goal for the Cardinals has been focusing on adaptability and letting go of what they can't control, along with relying on and connecting with their teammates, Saleem said.This mindset will keep the team focused and overcome challenges.“Relying on the team is a big part of overcoming those challenges. We talk a lot about carrying your water and assigning proper weight to things, and … if somebody is struggling, they pick you up. And so I'm not worried about overcoming any challenges when I have the people that stand behind me,” Szymanski said. Graduate Student Hannah Ruthberg agreed with the gymnastics mentality, adding that consistency will go a long way in the MAC championship. “We start on that rhythm, and we stay in that rhythm,” Ruthberg said. “That's really going to help us find our groove and what works for us, and stay consistent with our energy. So I think that keeping that in mind will be helpful to maintaining.” With this meet being Ruthberg's last MAC Tournament, there's an extra meaning and motivation for her to compete. Especially since she had to work hard to come back after recovering from an injury and surgery.“For me it's, obviously being a fifth year, it's kind of the perfect closure,” Ruthberg said. “This team has been so special this entire year, and obviously coming back from injury … it just means so much more that actually I get to be here with them and put on the leo and be alongside them.”With the team heading to the MAC with a positive, confident mentality, the team plans to have fun, like Saleem and the gymnastics program has been focusing on.“This for us is going out and being confident, and having fun and showcasing all of the hard work that they've done all season,” Saleem said. Along with their positive mindset, the Cardinals are proud and feel like this MAC could be anyone's. “We're ready, and regardless of what happens on Saturday, the Cards will have won their season,” Ruthberg said. Contact Hannah Amos via email at hannah.amos@bsu.edu or on X @Hannah_Amos_394.

https://www.ballstatedailynews.com/article/2025/03/ball-state-gymnastics-is-heading-to-the-mid-american-conference-championship

Scouting report ahead of Ball State’s contest with Ole Miss in the NCAA Tournament

(03/21/25 5:00pm)

WACO, Texas — Ball State women’s basketball is set to compete in its first NCAA Women’s Basketball tournament since 2009. The Cardinals will play No. 5 seed Ole Miss from the Southeastern Conference (SEC) in the opening round.Here is a scouting report on the Rebels.Size advantageOle Miss has just four players on its roster under six feet tall. In its starting lineup, just ONE player is under six feet tall. Ball State has two six-footers in its starting lineup and five TOTAL on the roster. Ball State has dominated Mid-American Conference (MAC) opponents with its size all season. Going into the postseason, almost every team has size and depth of size.The Cardinals have struggled when they lose the rebound battle and are forced to make shots from deep. The biggest factor for Ole Miss is that they have that size advantage and will likely control the paint.If Ball State can cycle its bigs, and get some Rebels into foul trouble, there is definitely a chance for the Cardinals to make a difference through their bigs. Alex Richard has been dominant since January and Marie Kiefer is Ball State’s All-Time Career Blocks leader.Ball State big Maliyah Johnson comes from SEC Texas A&M. Her experience with the big bodies in the paint in SEC play could be a factor tonight. Johnson has shown that she can perform at a high level in limited minutes during the MAC Tournament. It would not be a surprise if she played more minutes off the bench for Brady Sallee.Defense, defense, defenseOle Miss boasts the third-best defense in the SEC. The only two teams better than the Rebels? No. 1 seeds Texas and South Carolina. Two of the top programs in the nation and the two teams that battled it out in the SEC championship game. Ole Miss gives up an average of 58.2 points per game. Ball State scores an average of 72.7 points per game. Which side can come out on top? The Cardinals’ offense or the Rebels’ defense? Ole Miss is ninth in the SEC in scoring average, but that number is at 75.7 points per game. SEC schools are scoring a ton of points though, the league leader averages nearly 90 points per game. The defense and size of Ole Miss will be challenging for the Cardinals. The closest team to Ole Miss they have seen this season was Ohio State. That game was an easy one to forget, a nearly 40-point loss on the road. Ole Miss is third in the SEC in turnover margin at +7.30. The MAC league leader was at +7.19 and the Cardinals were at +2. There really is a significant difference between the MAC level to the SEC level. But anything can happen, it is March, right?The Rebels have three players in the top-25 of the SEC in steals. Guard Sira Thienou averages 2.5 steals per game. Thienou is also a 6-foot 1-inch FRESHMAN. The size of this team jumps off the page at every position.The Rebels are second in the SEC in steals per game at 11.50. They are fifth in the conference in blocked shots per game as well at almost five.Offensive sideOle Miss does not have one single player jumping off the page on the offensive end. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a scary thing. Usually, the most rounded teams compete the hardest and win more games. Those teams that rely on one player are teams that can crumble in March.Four Rebels are averaging double-digit points, but none are higher than 11.9 per game.A positive look for the Cardinals, Ole Miss shoots the three-ball at 30.9 percent, so if it were to turn into a shootout, Ball State has the upper hand. With all the size, the shooting somewhat goes out of the window. Ole Miss shoots at 44 percent from the field as a team but holds its opponents to under 40 percent. This matchup is genuinely a head-scratcher. It is easy to say the bigger team from the SEC should dominate, but anything can happen.Sallee has reminded everyone that the Ball State staff scheduled their non-conference schedule for a reason and loaded it with marquee games for moments like this. The Cardinals knew they would be in a spot like this, and have played opponents to prepare them for it.Winning over SEC Texas A&M, games against top-25 North Carolina, Ohio State and South Dakota State are just a few of the big-time matchups the Cardinals played. Those contests have prepped the Cardinals for games like this, and I don’t see them coming out scared.The last time Ball State played in the NCAA tournament they played an SEC juggernaut. And they won. Can they do it again? Can they compete? Can they step up to the lights and play on college basketball’s biggest stage? Only time will tell. Ball State and Ole Miss tip-off at 6:30 EST from Foster Pavillion on the campus of Baylor University. The game will be televised nationally on ESPNU.Contact Logan Connor via email at logan.connor@bsu.edu or via X @_loganconnor

https://www.ballstatedailynews.com/article/2025/03/scouting-report-ahead-of-ball-state-s-contest-with-ole-miss-in-the-ncaa-tournament

Split Fiction | Checkpoint

(03/21/25 3:37pm)

Ian and Ashton discuss the newest video game from Hazelight Studios, Split FictionCheckpoint is Byte's video news series, reporting on recent events in the world of entertainment, tech, and pop culture. Whether it's video games, film, television, or music, we've got you covered!Anchors: Ian Case and Ashton WeirExecutive Producer: Mason MundyScript: Ian CaseVideo Editing: Ian CaseAudio Editing: Ian CaseIntro Graphics: Ryan MinterGraphics: Ryan MinterThumbnail: Mason MundyOriginal Thumbnail Images From: Hazelight StudiosMusic: Jack McGinnis

https://www.ballstatedailynews.com/article/2025/03/split-fiction-checkpoint

Lorcana: Archazia's Island | Checkpoint

(03/21/25 3:36pm)

Ian and Ashton discuss the newest Lorcana Trading Card Game Set, Archazia's Island. Checkpoint is Byte's video news series, reporting on recent events in the world of entertainment, tech, and pop culture. Whether it's video games, film, television, or music, we've got you covered!Anchors: Ian Case and Ashton WeirExecutive Producer: Mason MundyScript: Ashton WeirVideo Editing: Ashton WeirAudio Editing: Ashton WeirIntro Graphics: Ryan MinterGraphics: Ryan MinterThumbnail: Mason MundyOriginal Thumbnail Images From: DisneyMusic: Jack McGinnis

https://www.ballstatedailynews.com/article/2025/03/lorcana-archazias-island-checkpoint

FHA Loan Requirements in Indiana: What You Need to Qualify

(03/21/25 3:31pm)

An FHA loan is a mortgage insured by the Federal Housing Administration, designed to help buyers with moderate incomes or less-than-perfect credit become homeowners. In Indiana, these loans are particularly appealing due to a mix of affordable property prices and state-level assistance programs. The FHA loan interest rate often competes well with conventional loans, making monthly payments more manageable for the borrower.

https://www.ballstatedailynews.com/article/2025/03/fha-loan-requirements-in-indiana-what-you-need-to-qualify