The difference in emotions for the Ball State University softball players as they left the field on Friday and Sunday was symbolic of this weekend's weather.
On Friday, with the clouds darkening and a storm approaching, the Cardinals (11-19, 5-7 Mid-American Conference) exited the stadium having been shut out twice, 4-0 and 7-0, in a home doubleheader against Bowling Green State University (25-16, 8-3 MAC). At that point, the Cardinals had not scored a run in their last 23 innings of play.
However, with skies clear and the sun out on Sunday, Ball State left the field having swept both games of a two-game series against the University of Toledo (12-28, 3-8 MAC).
"I don't think that [being shut out] really affect us that much," coach Terri Laux said. "This team knows that we have to come out and play hard every game and beat the teams that we can beat."
After winning the first game of this two-game series 4-3, the Cardinals came back from a two-run deficit in the sixth inning of game two and won the game in the bottom of the seventh when right fielder Kelli Jeziorski hit a single that scored center fielder Sarah McGregor from second base.
"Kelli will give us 1,000 percent every time she is out there," Laux said. "She stepped up and hit the ball hard and put it in play. I'm very proud of the fact we never gave up.-áExecution was the key for us on the offensive side and these kids came through."
One of the big reasons for Ball State's success against Toledo was starting pitchers Laura Masch and Amanda Pick.-áIn the first game of the two-game series, Masch pitched a complete game and struck out eight batters while only giving up two earned runs. In game two, Pick also pitched all seven innings and struck out eight batters in a complete game two-hitter.
"I felt really good today and my pitches were working really well," Pick said. "We're going to be good the rest of the season. We were shut down against Bowling Green but today was a total team effort and we're going to be fine."
Having salvaged a split in this weekend's home-stand, the Cardinals are currently in fourth place in the MAC West division and are beginning to eye a spot in this year's MAC Tournament.
If the Cardinals are to make a run at the MAC Tournament, Pick may be carrying the biggest load down the stretch.-áIn Ball State's past nine game Pick has been the starting pitcher for five of them and is currently leading all Cardinal pitchers with 45 strikeouts and a 2.24 ERA.
"Pick is a strong kid and she is a competitor," Laux said.-á"She sees the light at the end of the tunnel and her goal is to get this team to the MAC Tournament."
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