Most weeks the Ball State University baseball team plays two midweek games, but that is not the case this week as the Cardinals have only today's game versus IPFW.
Ball State is 17-9 on the season and has won nine straight dating back to a loss to the University of Notre Dame March 25.
Cardinal shortstop Dean Anna said the team won't approach today's game any different than previous midweek games just to keep the streak alive.
"Nothing really changes, everybody still have to come out and be prepared," he said. "... we should be able to come out and get a win again [today]."
Anna has been a big component in the Cardinals' streak. In the nine games he is batting .429 with two home runs, 18 runs and 11 RBIs.
Anna said he made an adjustment in his batting approach that has allowed him to see the ball better.
"Keeping my foot down a little bit earlier so I'm seeing the ball a lot longer and it's just looking like a beach ball," he said.
Last week Anna batted .550 in five games earning him the Mid-American Conference West Division Player of the Week. He made it two in-a-row for Ball State as outfielder Ryan Chenoweth won the award two weeks ago.
Ball State coach Greg Beals said the team doesn't pay much attention to individual awards. He said the team says congratulations and then moves on, but he did credit Anna for getting the Cardinals off on the right foot in games as the leadoff hitter.
"Your leadoff guy sets the tempo," he said. "Dean's been on the base a lot he leads the team in walks, and he also leads the team in extra base hits ... that puts a lot of pressure on the opposing pitcher right from the get go."
Anna, and the rest of the Cardinals, will try to keep his bat hot against IPFW before heading back into the MAC for a weekend series against Bowling Green State University.
Beals said his team just needs to maintain its focus and play with the same intensity that it does in the weekend games.
One thing that will be different for the weekend games for the Cardinals will be how they utilize the pitching staff. Beals said Brad Piatt will get the start and pitch the first two innings and then turn it over to the bullpen.
This is nothing new as the Cardinals do that during every midweek game to keep the bullpen guys fresh but having just one midweek game does cause for a slight adjustment, Beals said.
"A lot of those bullpen guys are going to get just one inning opposed to a couple innings," Beals said.
With IPFW being approximately one hour up I-69 from Muncie and Ball State having a good season, Beals said, the two teams do have a little bit of a rivalry going.
"The thing that we understand is we are kind of a big school in the equation now so it's a big game for them now," he said. "They are going to be ready and want a piece of us."
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