It took 12 years, but the Mid-American Conference softball championship title is owned by Ball State University once again.
Ball State hasn't won the MAC Tournament since 1998. That changed Saturday afternoon as the team defeated Kent State University 5-1 in the championship game.
After being the MAC regular season champions last season, the Cardinals took it a step further after an early-round exit in the 2009 conference tournament. Coach Greg Nicholson said he couldn't be more proud of his team and what they've done.
"I think this [championship] kind of validates the last two regular season championships we've won," Nicholson said. "It says a lot about where the program is right now and where we want to go."
Standards are set high for any team no matter what sport — the same was true for the Cardinals throughout the regular season, Nicholson said.
"Winning a championship is something that we've kind of pointed towards all year long," the fourth-year coach said. "We wanted to get ourselves in and win the tournament. Since we've accomplished that, we're excited and we will go from here and see where that takes us."
Ball State (43-14) shutout Kent State (33-22) 6-0 Friday behind its senior ace pitcher Elizabeth Milian (32-5) to reach the championship game against the Golden Flashes. Kent State advanced to the championship game after winning the losers bracket of the double-elimination tournament.
Milian was named MAC Tournament's Most Valuable Player with her 4-0 record along with a 0.25 ERA.
Before the championship game Saturday, Nicholson said he kept his team in the right mindset and that their job wasn't finished.
"Our big thing was that we hadn't really won anything yet," Nicholson said. "There was still more work to do, and they did a good job of staying focused and working on the task at hand."
Ball State wasted no time getting on the scoreboard as Lisa Rozanksi, who went 4-4 in the championship game, started things off with a triple. Alicia Barkley followed up with an RBI single that drove in Rozanksi as part of a two-run first inning.
With both teams held scoreless for the next three innings, scoring finally picked back up in the fifth.
Pinch hitter Ashlee Hein came through with a two-out RBI single, giving Kent State its first run.
Ball State's Hannah Zimmerman started things off in the bottom of the fifth by reaching on an error. After a double from Jessie Ware and a single from Rozanski, Ball State took a 3-1 lead.
Milian didn't allow a run after the fifth. Ball State provided a cushion of two more runs in the bottom of the sixth, which was enough to hold off Kent State and clinch the program's second tournament championship.
After the victory, Nicholson spoke highly of Milian's pitching in the circle and Rozanski's success at the plate.
"Obviously these two kids were outstanding," Nicholson said. "Milian gave us a great chance to win every game she pitched. Having her pitch the way she did gave our team confidence. Lisa was a really huge key to our offense all week long. She had a great week for us."
With this championship, Ball State received the MAC's automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament Regionals.
Ball State will be playing in the Knoxville Regional with the No. 15 University of Tennessee, the University of Louisville and the University of Virginia. The Cardinals will open the double-elimination regional against Tennessee on Friday in Knoxville, Tenn.
Nicholson said he plans to keep the Cardinals preparation for the NCAA Tournament similar to what the team has done throughout the regular season.
"We'll put our game plan together this week and keep the girls relaxed," Nicholson said. "Our expectations are to play well and play how we have been. I feel that were going to do what we always do, we haven't changed anything all year and we won't start now."
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