The pitching continued to do its part for the softball team on Tuesday, but the offense was only able to produce in one game of a doubleheader. Ball State defeated IPFW 5-2 in the opener, but couldn't muster any runs in a 2-0, second-game defeat in Fort Wayne.
The win was only the second out of the last nine attempts for IPFW. The Mastodons (7-24) starting pitcher Beth Harmon threw a complete game four-hitter to earn her fifth win of the season.
Coach Terri Laux said she was not expecting splitting the doubleheader.
"It's totally unacceptable to lose a game to IPFW," Laux said. "They are a team that is not as talented as we are. We should be able to beat them hands down."
The Cardinals (14-27) had no offensive problems in the first game. BSU recorded nine hits, including a two-run homer in the fourth inning by Abby Gross.
The Cards jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Amanda Pick hit a two-out single to reach base. Sarah McGregor followed with a double down the left field line to plate Pick.
IPFW scored both of its runs in the third inning. The Mastodons capitalized on three hits and two Ball State errors to score their runs. During the inning, Amy Brownfield took a line-drive off her ankle. Nikki Hellem entered the next inning and finished the game.
"She's OK," Laux said about Brownfield. "Her ankle is a little swollen, but we have some time, off and she should be able to go this weekend."
The Cards added their final two insurance runs in the seventh inning. Gross knocked her team-high second hit of the game with a single to start the inning. Courtney Patteson had an RBI single to score Gross later in the inning. Taylor Yancey then reached base on a bunt single, scoring Alyssa Huffman.
"The first game, we had eight people get hits, and that's how you score runs," Laux said.
The Cardinals bats cooled off in a hurry for the second game. The Cards only managed four hits in the game, led by Pick with two.
The lack of offense continues to haunt BSU. The team's batting average now stands at .208.
"It's the same thing every time," Laux said. "A lot of it is swinging the bat, but not staying true to our fundamentals. It's the same old thing that's been plaguing us. We have to find a way to turn the corner."
After replacing Brownfield in game one, Hellem took the loss in the second game. She dropped her record to 7-10, but lowered her ERA to 3.23.
"Nikki came in and threw very well and did her job," Laux said.
Ball State continues its conference season this weekend for three games at Central Michigan.
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