April 13 will go down in the Ball State softball record books — and for a good reason.
There were two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning in a game where Ball State led Western Michigan 7-6. Sophomore pitcher Alyssa Rothwell was on the mound looking for her 10th career save to secure the Cardinals’ ninth win of the season. With a spin on her pitch, Rothwell struck out the batter for the win.
That victory marked the Ball State softball program’s 1,000th win — the first team in the Mid-American Conference to do so.
A home for the overlooked
Ball State joined elite programs that have also achieved this mark, like Alabama, LSU and Tennessee.
However, this wasn’t a milestone accomplished by a flashy program that breaks the top 25 in the rankings every year. Unlike prestige programs in bigger conferences with the winningest backgrounds, Ball State softball has earned this as an underdog.
“This program has had a lot of success because they have recruited a lot of girls with grit, power and a lot of knowledge to the game,” senior pitcher Carolyn Wilmes said. “I feel like we’re a lot of girls that are overlooked by a lot of big programs, but can very easily compete at those big programs. I think that’s what makes us so special.”
In some cases, Ball State’s underdog vibe has served as the main attraction for athletes looking to play softball. Senior infielder Danae King played at Ole Miss and Phoenix College for the first two years of her career, before deciding to come to Ball State.
“We’re kind of the underdogs,” King said. “I like being looked at as someone who is the underdog versus someone who is supposed to be on top. That offered a lot of ability to be something great and being able to do that stuck out to me.”
Fighting spirit
For over 40 years, the Cardinals have fought to prove they are one of the best in the nation. En route to reaching their 1,000th program win, the Cardinals have picked up three MAC Championships (1998, 2010, 2015), five regular season titles (2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015) and three NCAA bids (1998, 2010, 2015).
“[Ball State] is tough and gritty,” head coach Megan Ciolli Bartlett said. “They weren’t scared of anyone or anything and just didn’t back down. That’s been the staple of this program for a really long time. They don’t care whose ballpark they are in — they’re going to play as hard as they can.”
Hard work fueled the program, but so has the team’s passion for the game. According to King, she believes this is the reason why the Cardinals stayed dominant all these years.
“Passion has driven this program very, very far,” King said. “Being very passionate and gritty towards what we do has really helped the overall success of this program.”
Holding down the Hoosier state
Fighting for a reputation against in-state foes Indiana, Purdue and Notre Dame, has left Ball State no choice but to prove its worth and show it’s not to be overlooked.
In a state with many notable programs, the Cardinals have set the standard as a mid-major powerhouse in Indiana.
“Honestly, this has been a school that the state of Indiana and the people in it have expected to win,” Bartlett said. “Ball State has done such a great job over these 40-plus years and I plan to work to make it better and better.”
Focusing on the east central Indiana region, certain players have grown up watching the team and have worked to earn a spot on the roster. For freshman Isabel Moore, playing for this program has been a dream of hers after growing up and watching Ball State play near her hometown, Yorktown.
“I was always around Ball State when I was growing up,” Moore said. “I always came to the games and it’s always been a dream to play softball here. When I finally got the opportunity, it was really exciting.”
While growing up around Ball State softball, Moore looked at the program as something beyond her reach. However, she worked hard enough to eventually find a place on the roster.
“I thought they were out of my league and they were so great,” Moore said. “To give my ability up and play here has been so great.”
What lies ahead
Beyond the 1,000th win, Ball State softball has had its share of highlights throughout its time. With three conference championships to its name, a two-time All American in alumna Jenny Gilbert (2011-2014) and a first round upset at Notre Dame in the 2015 NCAA Regional, the sky is the limit when it comes to the program’s expectations.
“I think we’re going to end up winning a national championship for sure,” Moore said. “Just the progress I’ve seen has shown that the future is infinite. With how hard we work and the people coach brings into this program, anything is possible.”
While Bartlett came to the program and fueled the team’s high expectations, she continues to set the bar higher for the program’s future, in the hopes of adding more accomplishments.
“I’m hoping in my tenure we’ll see a regional championship, many MAC Championships, and I hope I get to coach in the school’s first Super Regional,” Bartlett said. “I really think that we’ll have the talent and, hopefully, have the grittiness to win that two-of-three series.”
Contact Jack Williams with comments at jgwilliams@bsu.edu or on Twitter @JackWilliamsBSU.
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