Softball Preview 2024
By Jackie Madden / February 22, 2024The Cards look to hit at the MAC tournament once again, in hopes of bringing it home this year.
The Cards look to hit at the MAC tournament once again, in hopes of bringing it home this year.
With fans and players wearing some type of pink on their clothing, Ball State (23-3, 12-1 MAC) defeated Mid-American Conference (MAC) foe Central Michigan (5-18, 3-10 MAC) 78-54.
Richard finished with 22 points, going 9-for-11(82 percent) from the field. She also went a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line and pulled down four rebounds.
Nate Luce was voted as the Ball State Daily News Delaware County Athlete of the Week for the week of 2/7-2/14.
Ball State (13-13, 5-8 MAC) snapped its three-game losing streak with a 70-63 defeat against Northern Illinois (9-17, 3-9 MAC). Ball State returns to action Saturday, Feb. 24 for its first home contest in nearly three weeks when the Cardinals take on Eastern Michigan (10-15, 4-9 MAC) at 2 p.m.
“This by far has been the most important senior night in regards to my coaching career,” head coach Blair Broussard said. “They made a commitment to me at the beginning of the year. I can’t thank them enough for their commitment and them buying in with the magnitude they did.”
Redshirt sophomore Jessica Hoffman led the Cardinals with a .333 batting average and finished the event with five hits.
Most recently defeating the B1GTEN's Michigan State 4-1, Ball State finishes its trip to Charleston, South Carolina, winning three out of a four-game slate. The Cardinals continue their spring campaign in Conway, South Carolina, Feb. 23 when they take on Cincinnati in game one of a three-game series.
“I knew it was going to be tough today,” head coach Sachin Kirtane said. “We had a long match last night and playing today without our number one in the lineup and in a doubleheader… I knew it was gonna be tough, but I thought we played a good match.”
In a game full of runs, the Raiders found ways to comeback and defeat the Tigers 40-38.
Despite Ball State gymnasts having the highest scores in three out of four events, it was not enough to beat the fellow Mid-American Conference (MAC) school in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The two teams fought back and forth for the win, but ultimately, the Broncos prevailed by .075 points. The Cardinals lost 195.950-196.025.
Ball State atoned for its past struggles Saturday night, breaking Loyola Chicago’s precedent of home success in the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) matchup. The No. 14 Cardinals defeated the No. 10 Ramblers (8-7, 3-2 MIVA) in five sets (25-16, 25-23, 22-25, 18-25, 15-11) inside hostile Gentile Arena.
Ball State men's basketball (12-13, 4-8 MAC) lost its third-straight game after a 80-59 defeat at the hands of Miami (OH) (12-13, 6-6 MAC). The Cardinals return to action Tuesday, Feb. 20, when they complete the third leg of their road trip, traveling to Dekalb for an 8 p.m. matchup against Northern Illinois (9-16, 3-9 MAC).
With the loss to the Redhawks, the Cardinals are now 12-13 on the season and 4-8 in the Mid-American Conference.
After Ball State’s (22-3, 11-1) Feb. 7 road loss to the Northern Illinois Huskies, head coach Brady Sallee chalked up the defeat to a random night of missed layups, missed 3-pointers and missed free throws. Saturday’s matchup against the Ohio Bobcats (7-16, 4-8 MAC) was the Cardinals’ first time back on the road since its loss against the Huskies. Through most of the first half, the game was taking on a similar storyline.
Paris McCurdy credits this period of his life and career for his lifelong bond with Muncie. As a kid from Detroit, he felt welcomed in the city. Now, he’s back at Ball State as the director of community diversity initiatives.
During the Raiders 74-48 win over the Broncos, senior Isaac Andrews became the team's all-time leading scorer.
Ball State women’s tennis won its second match of the row to earn its second win of the spring season with a 4-3 triumph against Youngstown State. Head coach Sachin Kirtane said both teams they face Feb. 17-- University of Colorado at 2 p.m. and Indiana University at 6 p.m. -- will give them a challenge.
Doubles pairing junior Nathaniel Webster and graduate student Vince Orlando won their doubles match 6-2. Junior Mason Tran and sophomore Jacks Lancaster also won their doubles match 6-2.
Rogers’ contributions again paid dividends Thursday, as he helped No. 14 Ball State defeat rival Purdue Fort Wayne (7-6, 1-3 MIVA) in three sets (25-19, 26-24, 25-23) on the Cardinals’ home court.
