During what was supposed to be an action-packed weekend of softball at the Sonic Challenge at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, heavy rains canceled all of Friday and Saturday's scheduled games and shortened the tournament to just three games. Ball State finally took the field against Indiana State Sunday after Eastern Kentucky decided to leave and return home early.
Despite freshman pitcher Nicki Hellam's three-hit, one-run outing over four innings, the Cardinals could not offer much run support and were defeated 4-1 by the Sycamores. Ball State played Virginia Tech immediately following the first game and lost in a 6-5 heartbreaker after having led twice.
"We had to have a round-robin tourney with the four teams that were left after Eastern Kentucky left," head coach Terri Laux said. "You want to get some more games in and get these girls some experience. Coming back home, it's going to be tough for us."
Senior left fielder Kris Burdine reached base all four times she was at the plate and drove in Ball State's only run against Indiana State. In the top of the fifth inning, freshman Kerrie Campbell advanced to first base with a single and later scored, tying the game 1-1, following an RBI double by Burdine to center field.-á
The Sycamores, however, would break the game wide open and take the lead for good when they mounted a three-run rally off relief pitcher Cortney Winger in the bottom of the fifth.
The Cardinals jumped out to a 2-0 lead against Virginia Tech when Ruth Hjelmeland drove in two runs with a line drive up the middle. Nonetheless, the Hokies struck back in the second, tying the game 2-2.
Hjelmeland and senior Katie Shea would later hit home runs, driving in the Cards' three remaining runs. Their efforts did not prove to be enough as Virginia Tech scored twice in the third, fourth and fifth innings, and proceeded onto victory.
"Virginia Tech did a good job and they have a lot of hitting," Laux said. "We saw a lot of good things for the first time being out. We had some very good things defensively and very good execution on the offensive side."
"We made some great plays and communication was great," she said. "Our goal is to see what we have with some people. We have to be more consistent with hitting."
Laux said Ball State (0-2) would continue to work on fundamentals in practice this week in anticipation of the Speedline Tournament, which gets underway March 6 in Tampa, Fla. The coach said she will put players in at different positions and continue tweaking the team's lineup throughout the preseason until conference play begins late next month.
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