Continued inconsistency at the plate and defensive errors at important moments didn't deter the Ball State softball team from winning two of three games against Mid-American Conference rival Ohio over the weekend.
"We played pretty well all three games," coach Terri Laux said. "Every MAC game is pretty much a must-win and we've got to keep fighting."
Ball State (11-23 overall, 4-2 in the MAC) struck the first blow each time, scoring six runs in the first inning over the three games.
Kris Burdine opened game one of the series with a double, later scoring on a groundout by Kelli Jeziorski. Ohio didn't respond until a three-run home run in the fourth inning. An RBI single by Kerrie Campbell scored Jodie Willis, closing the gap to within one for the Cardinals.
But that's as close as Ball State would get, as two Bobcat runners scored in the top of the fifth off a double. The Cardinals had chances to score, but couldn't capitalize on bases-loaded opportunities in the fifth and sixth, and fell 6-2.
Burdine, Campbell, and Britni Clark led the way for Ball State in hitting with two apiece, as the Cardinals finished with nine to Ohio's eight.
The Cardinals were able to bounce back for the nightcap of Friday's doubleheader. Jeziorski and Clark scored in the first to give the Cardinals a 2-0 lead.
After a Clark RBI double in the third, it looked as if they might run away with the game early when the bases became loaded. But the Bobcats got out of the jam with a strikeout, and mustered a run on a wild pitch the following inning.
From there, Ohio never threatened, and Ball State won 3-2. The Cardinals collected eight hits to Ohio's five, and were led by Willis's three hits.
Laux felt the team improved on offense, but still left too many runners on base.
"We're still streaky (on offense)," she said. "We're struggling to score the runners."
On Saturday, the Cardinals scored early and often as Burdine led off the first inning with a triple and scored on single by Jeziorski. Jeziorski and Mandy Snyder also scored on a triple by Clark. A single by Taylor Yancey almost scored Clark, but she was tagged out at the plate. Ohio committed two errors in the inning.
Ohio's Kiersten Scrima led off the fourth with a home run, but Ball State responded in the same inning with an RBI single by Sarah McGreghor, making it 4-1.
Ball State let things get interesting when two Ohio runs closed the gap to one in the fifth. The Bobcats had an opportunity to take the lead in the sixth after two BSU errors. But they couldn't take advantage and the Cards hung on for the 4-3 win.
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