No player in the Mid-American Conference has been hit by pitches more times this season than Lisa Rozanski.
The Cardinals' center fielder was hit for the 13th time Wednesday to lead off the game for the Ball State University softball team, starting a four-run inning in the 7-3 win against Purdue University.
"The pitches just come inside, and it's not that I don't react; I just take the pitch because a leadoff hitter, it's about on-base percentage and not necessarily hits," Rozanski said. "So I just stay in there and take it."
Rozanski is in her first year at Ball State after sitting out last season at Daytona Beach Community College because of an injury. This season she is one of four freshmen to start at least 80 percent of the Cardinals' 50 games.
The Tampa, Fla., native plays center field for Ball State and bats lead off as a left-handed slap hitter, although she throws the ball with her right hand. Her .218 batting average is eighth on the team among players with at least 10 at bats, but she has a .411 on-base percentage, which is third on the team among players with 10 at bats.
"She's somebody at the top of the order that has the ability to get on base in a lot of different ways," coach Craig Nicholson said, "and with her speed she can be dangerous on the bases."
In addition to her conference-best 13 hit-by-pitches, which is six ahead of the second-place seven by her teammate Allie Pennock, Rozanski is tied for second on the team with 23 walks. After getting on the base paths, she is the team leader with 28 stolen bases and 29 runs scored. She is in second place and trails Heather Hinkle in the Ball State record books with the stolen bases for a season, nine behind the record.
"I'm happy that I'm having a chance to play and stuff, and I'm not injured like last year," Rozanski said.
Rozanski and the rest of the Cardinals continue their season with a doubleheader at Kent State University at 1 p.m. The Golden Flashes lead the MAC with a 10-2 record in the conference and a 27-9 record overall.
Ball State then continues its weekend at the University at Buffalo with a game at 2 p.m. Saturday and one at 1 p.m. Sunday. The Bulls enter the weekend on the opposite end of the spectrum of Kent State with a conference-worst 1-7 record in league games and a 3-23 record overall.
Nicholson said the goal of Ball State, which is 29-21 overall and 5-5 in the MAC, is to come out of the weekend with a winning record.
"To get three of four would be a big success for us," he said.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
