The softball team goes on the road for likely the final time today. Ball State will face Miami for one game today at 4 p.m. and a doubleheader Saturday.
The Cardinals (17-33, 4-12 Mid-American Conference) will most likely need to win the remainder of their conference games in order to qualify for the MAC Tournament. The top three teams from each division earn bids to the tournament held May 11-14 in Akron, Ohio. Two other teams will also earn bids based on conference record.
Ball State currently sits in last place in the MAC West. The Cards are four games back from the two teams with the best records not in the top three places, Bowling Green (8-8) and Kent State (9-9).
Besides the three games against Miami this weekend, the Cards will also play a three-game series with Northern Illinois (20-22, 5-9 MAC) at home next weekend.
Coach Terri Laux said she thinks the team needs to win the rest of the games for a chance to qualify for the MAC tourney.
"Oh, absolutely," she said. "It's not going to be an easy task. We face a very good Miami team and a Northern team that can turn it on."
Miami (29-20, 12-6 MAC) has won six of its last seven games. The RedHawks are led in hitting and pitching by Jacki Poggendorf. Her .341 batting average and 1.88 ERA are best on the team. Poggendorf has tossed six complete game shutouts this season and sports a 17-11 record.
Winning the remainder of the games left on the schedule will not be an easy task for BSU. If the Cards plan to accomplish this feat, they must play solid on both offense and defense.
"I think we need to do the same things I've been talking about the last few weeks. Be strong on the offensive side and play solid defense," Laux said.
Ball State is led by Amanda Pick's .261 batting average. Nicki Hellem has the best record on the team (8-10), while Amy Brownfield owns the lowest ERA (2.58).
The teams' struggles this season have largely come from the inability to hit. The Cards' batting average is .213, and it has been outscored 225-121.
"As a whole, we've made some progress in some areas," Laux said. "I think we're a much better team than what our record shows. I'm not going to lie, it's very disappointing."
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