A doubleheader between the preseason No. 1 and No. 2 softball teams in the Mid-American Conference West Division resolved little. Ball State University opened its MAC season by splitting the series with Central Michigan University on Friday.
Ball State won the first game 3-0 and lost the second 5-6 in 10 innings.
The Cardinals traveled to Eastern Michigan University for a doubleheader Saturday. Ball State won both games, improving its record to 13-14 and 3-1 in the MAC.
Elizabeth Milian, who grew up an hour from Eastern Michigan and two hours from Central Michigan, pitched in all games. She went 2-1 with a save in 22 innings of work on the weekend. Her 16 strikeouts put her over the century mark for the season with 104.
In the first game against Central Michigan, the Cardinals were able to score two in the first inning off a Jen Reifschneider double off the fence. In the third, a Lisa Rozanski triple put her in position to score on a fielder's choice.
The second game ended regulation play in a 5-5 tie. After three scoreless extra innings and with the impending darkness, the International Tie Breaker rule was put into place.
The rule states the batter that was the last out in the previous inning starts the inning on second base.
Ball State failed to score their runner while Central Michigan capitalized on the opportunity, giving them the win.
After being on the field for seven hours Friday, the Cardinals traveled to Eastern Michigan. With the expected snow in Ypsalanti, Mich., on Sunday, what was scheduled to be two games in two days turned into a doubleheader Saturday.
Milian threw a complete game shutout in the first game, with seven strikeouts and one walk.
Alicia Barkley and Alyssa Collins each went 3-4 for the game. Barkley also had two runs and two RBIs.
In game two, Ball State had nine hits, but turned three of them into runs.
Jen Reifschneider failed to tie the Ball State single season homerun record, going 3 for 14 with two RBIs on the weekend.
Ball State is tied for second in the MAC West with Western Michigan University at 3-1. Northern Illinois University leads the division with a 4-0 record.
Ball State now looks toward Wednesday when they travel to Columbus, Ohio, for a doubleheader against Ohio State University.
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