With a Mid-American Conference championship on the line the next five weeks, the Ball State University softball team is using its mid-week non-conference games to stay sharp.
Ball State coach Craig Nicholson said the experience of playing the non-conference games is huge for the Cardinals (20-16, 2-2 MAC) because of the youth on the team.
"I think it's big for us, for our young kids to play a lot of games," he said. "Game experience is huge for us."
Nine Cardinals started at least 27 of the team's 36 games this season, and four of those starters are freshmen. Of those four freshmen, three of them started every game this season.
Nicholson said any game experience, such as the experience they will get Wednesday when the Cardinals play a doubleheader at Wright State University (12-15, 2-2 Horizon League), is good. Tuesday's scheduled game at the University of Notre Dame was cancelled because of bad weather. Each game provides the players a chance to see new situations and get better, he said.
Alyssa Collins, who has started every game in the outfield for the Cardinals, said the non-conference games are good in helping her adjust to college softball.
"I think it helps a lot," the freshman said. "As much time as we can get, the better."
Nicholson said he thinks his young players have done a good job for Ball State and are continuing to get better as the season progresses. The addition of the eight freshmen and two college transfers has improved the team in every aspect of the game, he said.
"I can't think of an area of the game that we haven't improved in," he said.
The progression of other players who have now been in his system for a year or more has also helped the Cardinals improve, Nicholson said.
Last year Ball State also had four freshmen (three of whom are still with the team) who started in most games. Those players are improving, and the upperclassmen are progressing in the Cardinals' program, the second-year Ball State coach said.
The veteran players have an advantage compared to the freshmen, Nicholson said, because they have the experience of playing a 60-game season. Freshmen often hit a wall, he said.
Alicia Barkley, who has started every game this year as a freshman, said all the games can be fatiguing but are good overall.
"It's tough," the shortstop said, "but without those games it would be really hard."
Barkley and Collins said academics and time management have been a tougher adjustment than the added games of college softball.
The weather has also been an adjustment in her first year at Ball State, the Oklahoma City native Barkley said.
"I've never played in cold weather before," she said. "It was pretty tough the first couple games, but we haven't been in that cold of weather yet."
Nicholson said this year's starting freshmen could be great by the time they are seniors, like Abby Gross and Amanda Pick, who have played in most of the Cardinals' games the past four seasons.
Barkley said although the team has young players now, it can still be great this season.
"Even though we have a young team, we shouldn't make that an excuse," she said. "Right now we have the ability to come together and be great."
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