And just like that the Ball State University softball team is one game away from elimination.
In its first NCAA Tournament game in 12 years, Ball State lost to the No. 15 University of Tennessee 5-0 in the first round of the double-elimination NCAA Regionals on Friday in Knoxville, Tenn.
The Lady Volunteers wasted no time getting on the board against the Cardinals all-conference starting pitcher Elizabeth Milian (32-6).
Tennessee scored three runs in first inning, including a two-run home run from Lauren Gibson.
The team would add a run in each the fourth and fifth inning to open up a five-run lead.
Milian pitched all six innings for the Cardinals allowing five earned runs and striking out three. The five runs was more runs than Milian had allowed combined in all four games she started in the Mid-American Conference Tournament.
Seven of the Lady Volunteers' nine starters had a hit of Milian in the win. In addition, Raven Chavanne reached base all three times and had team-high two hits.
The Lady Volunteers' starter Ivy Renfroe tossed a complete game four hitter, while striking out seven and walking one.
Alicia Barkley was the only Cardinal to get a hit in the first five innings. Barkley singled with two-outs in the first inning and finished with a two of the team's four hits.
Ball State's best chance to score came in the sixth inning. In that inning the Cardinals had runners on second and third base following a Barkley double and Lisa Rozanski single but failed to score the runners.
Ball State (43-15) will now play the University of Louisville in an elimination game at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in Knoxville. Louisville lost to the University of Virginia 1-0 in its opening round game Friday.
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