With two weeks remaining in the regular season and in fourth place in the Mid-American Conference West division, every game for the Ball State University softball team has an increasing amount of importance, even the non-conference games.
The Cardinals (11-19, 5-7 MAC) will travel south Thursday to play in a doubleheader against Indiana State University (18-20, 6-11). However, these games are coming just 48 hours before Ball State is scheduled to play two MAC games against Miami University.
"Our goal for these games is to get our players ready for this weekend's MAC games against [the Redhawks]," coach Terri Laux said. "Indiana State is a good team that hits the ball very well and we expect them to play aggressively."
Starting for Ball State in the two games against Indiana State will be pitchers Amanda Pick and Nicki Hellem. Pick currently leads Ball State pitchers with a 2.24 ERA, while Hellem as not made a start since she lost to Ohio University April 2.
Laux said it might be very unlikely to see either of these starters go deep into the game.
"I'm hoping to get all my pitchers in these two games," she said. "My goal is to have them all ready for the final two weeks of the MAC season, which is going to be our big push to make the MAC tournament."
The Cardinals enter Thursday's game having won back-to-back games after sweeping a two-game series against the University of Toledo this past weekend.
"We should be very confident in ourselves because we did everything we should do to be successful this weekend against Toledo," Laux said. "We now need to build upon what we did last weekend."
One of the biggest reasons for Ball State's new found confidence was due to its offense. Prior to getting 13 hits in the two games against the Rockets, the Cardinals had been shutout in its past three games.
"We have to remain confident in the batters box and keep that aggressive mindset," Laux said. "I keep telling my players that the big plays will come but we need to focus and do the little things."
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