Entering a weekend series at Miami University, the Ball State University baseball team had a chance to climb above .500 for the first time all season and improve to 5-1 in the Mid-American Conference.
Instead the Cardinals got swept by the Redhawks, putting them five games below .500 (11-16, 2-4 Mid-American Conference).
Ball State lost the first game 12-4 and games two and three 2-1 and 16-15, respectively. The Cardinals are now in last place in the MAC West.
"We dug ourselves a little hole at 2-4," coach Greg Beals said. "We're behind the eight ball."
Over the season both Beals and the players have said confidence is the team's biggest weakness. Beals believes the team has no confidence.
"We are a team that has not learned how to win," Beals said. "We're a team afraid to win games. We are not going into games trying to win but more so trying not to lose."
The Cardinals lead the MAC in errors. Beals said errors are hurting the team but it's also the inability to make good defensive plays.
The Cardinals scored a season high 15 runs in the third game. However, Miami rallied from a from a 13-4 deficit. The Redhawks scored the final seven runs of the game and outscored the Cardinals 12-4 in the final five innings.
"It all has to do with the team's approach and attitude towards competition," Beals said. We need to thrive on that competition and right now we're not."
While Brenden Stines and Ryan DeGeeter struggled on Friday and Sunday in their starts on the mound, Tyler Pritchard had one of his best starts this season on Saturday.
Pritchard pitched seven and two-thirds innings giving up two runs on five hits, striking out one and walking none.
"When he has his good starts his fastball is dominating," Beals said.
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