Teri Laux topped former head coach Jeri Findlay's (1982-1992) 201 wins to become the winningest coach in Ball State softball history after the Cardinals downed Indiana State twice Wednesday in their first of three double-headers here in Muncie.
The downfall for the Sycamores began during the bottom half of the second inning in the first game, when Amanda Pick and Taylor Yancey both scored, putting the Cards up 2-0. Ball State would score again in the bottom of the third inning when Yancey would pick up her first RBI of the day, bringing in Kelli Jexiorski putting them at 3-0.
Indiana State did not even score until the top of the fourth inning, when third basemen Alyssa Duncan scored her first RBI of the afternoon hitting a single to center field to bring Stephanie Spychaj in.
The Cardinals scored two of their last three points of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning, when Quincy Duran hit the only home run of the day, bringing herself as well as Cortney Patteson in to up the score to 5-1.
In the top of the fifth, ISU would begin its way to trying to make a comeback when shortstop Lacey Frankland got an RBI hitting a single to shortstop, bringing Jackie Chomicki in. Jessica McGivney would also receive a RBI hitting a single to left field and bringing Ashley Trover home, bring the score to 5-3, still in favor of the Cardinals.
The game would go scoreless after the top of the sixth after ISU scored two more times to tie the game at five.
Finally in the top of the ninth inning, Jexiorski fought her way to Ball State's final score of the game. They won 6-5, bringing Laux one game away from the record books.
The next game started off slow for the Cardinals, but in one inning, they exploded and left the Sycamores in their dust.
Indiana State would score twice in top of the second inning, putting the Cards behind 2-0, and although Quincy Duncan would receive an RBI after hitting a single and bringing Patteson home, it still looked bleak for the Cardinals, because at the bottom of the fifth, Ball State was down 2-1.
It was then the girls began to strike. Patteson received an RBI, hitting a single out to center field and bringing Pilger home as well as advancing Abby Gross to third. Gross scored off of a single to left field by Duran. Then, center fielder Sarah McGregor hit a triple to the right center giving herself three RBIs: one for Jeziorski, Duran and Patteson. Then, Yancey hit another triple to right center, allowing McGregor to score and end any chance of ISU coming back.
"I think being ahead in game in game one and then coming back to win the second game was a challenge for our team," coach Laux said. "I mean, they had their chances, and we had our chances. But, we fought, and we never gave up."
The game was called at the end of the top of the sixth inning, 7-3, giving Laux win 202.
Friday, the softball team goes to South Bend to do battle with Notre Dame, and Laux is looking at what could be fixed.
"I think our defense today was a little sloppy today, we had a couple big errors that I think we can clean up a little bit," Laux said. "I also think we can be a little more aggressive with the bat, but it's definitely something that we saw improve from the first game to the second, and I am sure it will continue to do so."
The game against the Fighting Irish begins at 5 p.m. in Notre Dame.
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