Despite a solid outing, the Ball State University softball team was unable to pick up a win in a doubleheader against No. 15 Ohio State University.
"We didn't have our best day, but we didn't play that bad either," coach Craig Nicholson said. "You have to give them a lot of credit. They had good pitching and played really good defense."
In the first game, Elizabeth Milian had a season-high six walks and nine earned runs in the Cardinals' 9-1 loss. The Buckeyes won after the fifth inning as a result of the eight-run rule.
The lone Cardinal run came in the second inning when Milian scored off a failed steal attempt by Katelyn Gunderson.
Left fielder Allie Pennock said the team did not do all of the little things it needed to. After the game Nicholson told them the little things added up and the team was not very focused on the field, Pennock said.
"They weren't mental mistakes," she said. "They were more like lapses."
Ball State (13-16) was able to hit off the Ohio State pitchers, but could not turn the runners into runs. The Cardinals left four runners stranded in each game.
Nicholson said despite the pair of losses, a lot of positive could be taken out of the games.
"Our overall defense was good," Nicholson said. "We made some good plays. I felt like there were a few little things we didn't do."
In the second game, Laura Masch held the Buckeyes to four runs in a 4-0 loss. Nicholson said Masch made a small mistake against Ohio State's leadoff hitter, Sam Marder, which led to a two-run home run in the second. Nicholson said beyond that, Masch pitched a really good game, pitching her way out of some jams.
Though the Buckeyes are the No. 15 team in the nation, Pennock said, the Cardinals weren't intimidated.
"We're pretty confident at this point in the season," Pennock said. "We weren't intimidated, but we could have given them better competition."
The Cardinals look to bounce back Friday when they play host to the University at Buffalo for a doubleheader. The first game starts at 1 p.m. at the Ball State Softball Complex.
Ball State will also play Kent State University this weekend.
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