After winning their first two games on Saturday, Sunday was supposed to be the day that the team was going to open the season with a 4-0 record by sweeping the Evansville Tournament.
However, the Cardinals were unable to accomplish this feat as they lost their final two games on Sunday to teams which they defeated Saturday, Mississippi (4-10) and Evansville (8-3), and finished the Evansville Tournament 2-2.
"This weekend was a double-edge sword for our team," coach Terri Laux said. "We should have won all four of the games this weekend but we just didn't carry over the intensity from Saturday to Sunday."
In the Cardinals first game against Ole Miss on Saturday, the Rebels jumped out to a two-run lead after one inning of play. However, Ball State was able to regain the lead with a three-run third inning. The Cardinals then scored insurance runs in both the fifth and sixth inning as they defeated Mississippi 5-3 for their first win of the 2006 spring season.
Abby Gross had three hits and Katie Pilger had two RBIs each to lead the Cardinals' 10-hit offensive outburst against Ole Miss, while Nicki Hellam struck out seven Rebels in a complete game four-hitter.
In Ball State's final game on Saturday, the Cardinals scored five runs in the first three innings as they defeated the host school Evansville Purple Aces 6-2.
Amanda Pick pitched a complete game as she only allowed one earned run on four hits. In addition, Pick also led the Cardinals offensively with three hits and three RBIs.
"She pitched a tremendous game, with it being her first start at the collegiate level," Laux said. "She attacked [Evansville's] batters all game and had a great performance."
Along with the win, the psychological edge Pick gained from the game may prove to pay off throughout the course of the season.
"It's a great relief for me to be a sophomore and finally get my first win," Pick said.
Despite hopes being high entering Sunday's games, the Cardinals lost their first game against Ole Miss 7-1.
Offensively Ball State only managed four hits off of Ole Miss pitcher Dana Brill the entire
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