Facing a school from the Big Ten Conference is no small challenge for any softball team. However, when a team could possibly be without two of its best players, the task can become an even bigger challenge.
The Ball State University softball team (8-12 overall, 2-2 Mid-American Conference) will travel today to Purdue University (21-18, 2-2) for a game against the Boilermakers and might be without starting pitcher Amanda Pick and catcher Abby Gross.
Both players' status is uncertain heading into Saturday's game. Pick suffered an injury in Sunday's game against Ohio University after being struck in the face with a ball when attempting to field it. Gross is battling a bout of bronchitis.
"Both will be game-time decisions tomorrow," Laux said. "There will be nothing too different about our lineup than you would generally see, but it is an opportunity for some of our young kids to step up and play."
Throughout the season, Pick and Gross have lead the Cardinals offensively. They are the only two Ball State players who have season batting averages over .300.
In addition, Pick (4-3) has been the ace for Cardinals pitching staff this year with a 1.79 ERA and five complete games in nine appearances.
The Cardinals and the Boilermakers enter today's game with identical 2-2 records over their last four games, as the two teams split a pair of doubleheaders this past weekend.
Led by Pick's three-hit, complete-game shutout against Akron University and outfielder Kelli Jeziorski's seven RBIs in the two games against Ohio, Ball State opened its conference play by winning one game and losing one game to the Zips and Bobcats.
Similarly, Purdue opened its conference play this past weekend by splitting a pair of two-game series against Ohio State University and Penn State University.
"It's always good when you play an in-state Big Ten school," Laux said. "We're going come out playing like it's any other game and play strong offensively, defensively and pitching-wise."
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