Bruins Walk-Off Redbirds, Celebrate Maya Johnson In Series Win

Jessica Mendoza and Maya Johnson. (Nick Rampe)

Mike Teavee, Violet Beauregarde, Veruca Salt, Augustus Gloop, Charlie Bucket and now Maya Johnson have all received a golden ticket.  

While Johnson’s ticket may not give her the chance to inherit a chocolate factory, it does mean she will be drafted into the Athletes Unlimited Softball League on May 4 as the first player from a mid-major. 

“It’s something that, when you’re a little girl, you grow up dreaming of,” said Johnson. “And then for it to actually happen, I'm still a little bit lost for words." 

Johnson is 22-2 on the season with one save in 163 innings, with a 0.73 ERA and 304 strikeouts to just 25 walks. 

She was presented the golden ticket, the ninth of 12 given out to collegiate softball players in this year’s draft, by all-time softball great Jessica Mendoza, who is currently an ESPN reporter. 

Mendoza had been in Nashville the previous day to interview Johnson for a feature story on ESPN and had to keep the whole thing under wraps, which involved lying about catching a flight.  

“I wanted the moment to be organic and not have her have any idea what was going to happen. She seemed genuinely surprised,” said Mendoza. “The first thing she said was ‘You lied to me.’” 

Johnson’s historic achievement overshadowed a hard-fought series win for Belmont over the Illinois State Redbirds, with two walk-off, extra-inning wins for the Bruins. 

“It was a really hard weekend,” said Laura Matthews, head coach of the Bruins. “I’m proud of our team for winning ugly and grinding some really tough games out.” 

The series did not start Belmont’s way, as the Redbirds jumped out to an early 1-0 lead against Johnson in the first game of a doubleheader on Friday, off a two-out solo home run in the first.  

Johnson uncharacteristically walked in a run in the fourth inning, one of four for the game, to make it 2-0 Illinois State. 

Belmont responded in the bottom of the fourth with its first hit of the ballgame, a double from senior second baseman Nicole Hughes, who scored on an RBI single from sophomore rightfielder Maddy Balsiger.  

However, that was all the Bruins could muster, as they lost the first game of the series 2-1.  

Senior right-hander Ellie Giles got the start in the second game and got tagged for two runs in the top of the second off a two-run homer.  

Belmont’s 4-5-6 hitters all reached base to lead off the bottom half of the inning, leading to senior catcher Brenna Blume scoring two with a double to center field to tie the game. 

Neither team managed much offense off the starters from there, with Illinois State’s reliever Gracelyn Kemp retiring 16-straight Bruins from the third inning to the eighth inning.  

Giles gave way to junior right-hander Hannah Leierer with one out in the sixth, as the score remained 2-2 on the way to extra innings, where the Bruins finally gained some momentum in the eighth inning. 

With two outs, sophomore third baseman Rylee Spindler doubled down the right field line and advanced to third base on a wild pitch.   

60 feet away from winning the game, Spindler was left stranded at third as the game headed to the ninth inning.  

Leierer stranded two runners of her own in the top of the ninth, backed by a diving play in left field by Emily Konz. 

In the bottom of the ninth, Balsiger led off with a double and advanced to third on a base hit by Konz.  

Balsiger then raced home on a wild pitch and earned the Bruins a walk-off victory, which provided a perfect lead-in for the golden ticket reveal for Johnson. 

However, Johnson was not afforded much time to celebrate, as her start the following morning got pushed up to 9:30 a.m. to accommodate the weather.   

“It was a quick turnaround, and my phone was flooded,” said Johnson. “I think, because I had an early bedtime, that I haven’t responded to everyone yet.” 

Illinois State got through to Johnson in the second inning with another solo blast, and the Redbirds tacked on another run in the fourth inning off a double to make it 2-0. 

The Bruins responded in the bottom of the fourth with a one-out walk followed by three straight hits to knot the game at two apiece.  

Spindler followed with an RBI single to give the Bruins the lead, and freshman shortstop Lydia VanderWoude made it 4-2 Belmont when she came around to score on a passed ball. 

However, Johnson could not hold the lead. In the top of the seventh, the Redbirds tied it up with two runs on three hits and two passed balls.  

The Bruins had runners on the corners in the bottom of the seventh, but they were left stranded as the game headed to extras. 

Johnson worked out of trouble in the top of the eighth inning, which gave the offense a chance to win it in the bottom of the frame. 

Junior center fielder Ella Bertucci worked a walk, and, thanks to a steal and heads-up baserunning, ended up at third in time for Spindler to get the series-winning knock. 

“I told our pitching coach that I can actually enjoy being drafted because the job for the weekend is done,” said Johnson. “It’s a lot more surreal today, knowing that we took care of business and we won the series.” 

Johnson threw another complete game gem in game three, pitching eight innings and allowing four runs, three earned, nine hits, one walk and 10 strikeouts. 

“Today, she was just exhausted and gave us everything she had to keep us in that game and give us an opportunity to win it at the end,” said Matthews. 

The game was also special for Johnson because the team was raising awareness for Lupus, which Johnson had been diagnosed with during the offseason.  

“My teammates have my back, no matter what. Whether that’s in my life with health issues, my personal life, or on the field, I never have doubt in my teammates,” said Johnson. “There are people I love more than anyone else in the world.” 

With the series victory, the Bruins hold a two-game lead in the win column for first place in the MVC as they head into a series against the Northern Iowa Panthers next weekend. 

This article was written by Sam Dicus