The Ball State University softball team opened up its season this past weekend by going 2-3 in the Phyllis Rafter Memorial Tournament in Woodstock, Ga.
The Cardinals defeated Tennessee Tech University and host Kennesaw State University, while falling to Western Illinois University, Mercer University and Southern Illinois University.
"I think we obviously would've liked to win a couple more games," Ball State coach Craig Nicholson said. "But the good side was that we saw improvement throughout the course of the weekend."
Reigning Mid-American Conference Pitcher of the Year, senior Elizabeth Milian, was in mid-season form throughout the entire tournament.
Milian (2-1) threw two complete game shutouts in the wins over Tennessee Tech and Kennesaw State, and gave up just one run in the Cardinals' loss to Southern Illinois on Sunday.
Throughout the weekend, Milian threw 20 innings, giving up just eight hits, one earned run and striking out 35 batters to just six walks.
"[Milian] threw the ball great all three games that she pitched in," Nicholson said. "There's nothing more that she could've done than what she did this weekend."
The Cardinals return to the field Friday as they begin play in the Frost Classic in Chattanooga, Tenn. Ball State faces East Tennessee State, Wright State, Austin Peay, Central Connecticut State and Tennessee-Martin in the three-day event.
Game one: Ball State 4, Tennessee Tech 0
Milian was in mid-season form to open the season against the Golden Eagles.
She threw seven innings in complete game shutout effort, striking out 13 batters while walking just one and giving up three hits.
Designated hitter Jen Reifschneider provided all the offense the Cardinals would need in the first inning with a three-run home run.
Center fielder and leadoff hitter Lisa Rozanski also went 2-for-3 with a run scored and two stolen bases, while third baseman Jessie Ware went 1-for-3 with an RBI.
Tennessee Tech first baseman Whitney Cummings was the only thorn in Milian's side Friday morning. She went 2-for-2 at the dish and walked in her only other at-bat.
Game two: Western Illinois 6, Ball State 2
Western Illinois, playing in its seventh game already this season, broke Friday evening's game open with a three-run fifth inning and didn't look back.
The Cardinals also committed three errors in the loss.
Rozanski continued her quick start of the season by going 2-for-4 with a triple, while designated hitter Amanda Montalto went 2-for-3.
The Leathernecks (5-2) touched up Cardinals' starter Audra Sanders (0-1) for six runs in five innings, but just one run was earned.
Game three: Mercer 9, Ball State 1 (six innings)
The number four wasn't Ball State's friend in its game against Mercer.
The Cardinals committed four errors and the Bears had two four-run innings, as Ball State lost 9-1 Saturday afternoon as the eight-run-rule came into the effect in the bottom of the sixth.
Mercer pitcher Jenni Holtz went the distance, pitching six innings and striking out 10 Ball State batters.
Ball State catcher Sadie Robertson went 1-for-3 with the Cardinals' lone RBI against the Bears.
Game four: Ball State 1, Kennesaw State 0
If there was any question about Milian would return as the reigning MAC pitcher of the year, the senior so far has answered as being even better than advertised.
Milian pitched her second straight complete game shutout, striking out 13 Kennesaw State hitters as the Cardinals defeated the hosts 1-0.
Second baseman Meredith Nash provided Ball State's lone run of the game, an RBI single to left field plating Reifschneider in the bottom of the second.
Milian, meanwhile, set the tone early, striking out the side in the first and the second innings.
Game five: Southern Illinois 1, Ball State 0
Through five innings, it didn't look like either team was going to score.
But Southern Illinois got the only run it would need — and the only one allowed by Milian the entire weekend — on an RBI triple from Alicia Garza, as the Cardinals' offense stalled for the fourth straight game.
Milian did everything she could to get the win, pitching six innings and giving up just three hits while striking out nine batters. But Southern Illinois pitcher Alex Peters was just as dominant in the circle for the Salukis (8-2) in a complete game shutout while giving up three hits and matching Milian with nine strikeouts.
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