It is a common saying that a sports season is not a sprint but a marathon. For the Ball State University softball team (9-17, 3-5 Mid-American Conference) though, this weekend might turn into a sprint.
Having lost six of its last seven games, the Cardinals return to Muncie this weekend to play two games against both Bowling Green State University (23-15, 6-2) and the University of Toledo (11-25, 2-5).
"I think that it is important for us to get wins," coach Terri Laux said. "I know there is still a long way to go in the MAC season but we need to take care of ourselves and get us into a good position."
Ball State enters this weekend tied for third place in the MAC West division and is currently four games back of first place Western Michigan University.
"We approach each season knowing that it is going to be a long two months and every game in the MAC is important for us," Laux said. "I think that we need to get three or four wins this weekend and focus on taking care of the little things and eliminate the mental errors that we've been having."
Bowling Green enters Friday's games in first place in the MAC East, while Toledo comes into this weekend having not lost to Ball State in nearly two years.
One of the biggest problems for the Cardinals during the past two weeks has been their offensive production.
In the past seven games, Ball State had more than four hits in a game twice and is coming off of a two-hit shutout suffered at the hands of the University of Notre Dame on Tuesday.
"I think that sometimes we are turning a mole hole into a mole mound and the more you press when [in the batter's box] the worse it gets," Laux said. "Most of our offensive [problems] is on the mental side of things. We need to go into the batter's box with intensity and just treat it like we do in practice."
Along with offense, pitcher Amanda Pick may also be one of the keys for Ball State's success against Bowling Green and Toledo. Despite having pitched 11 innings in nearly a week's time. Laux said it is likely Pick, who currently leads all Cardinal pitchers with a 2.05 ERA and start two of the four games this weekend, will pitch.
"She is a strong kid with a great attitude on the mound and she gives us a great chance to win any game," Laux said.
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