Ball State's usually consistent offense became a non-factor against Indiana's pitching in a 3-0 loss Wednesday afternoon.
Coming into the game, the Cardinals had a team batting average of .323 and were scoring more than five runs per game.
On Wednesday, though, Ball State had two hits, one walk and 14 strikeouts against the Indiana ace Morgan Melloh, who picked up her 23rd win of the season.
On the season, Melloh is averaging 1.5 strikeouts per inning with more than 200 innings pitched and an ERA under 2.
Coach Craig Nicholson said he isn't surprised Melloh had success against Ball State.
"We helped her out a little bit in terms of chasing pitches," Nicholson said. "But when you're facing one of the premiere pitchers in the country, it's going to be a tough day. You're going to strike out."
Nicholson said Melloh's velocity, movement and the fact she is a left-handed pitcher facing a left-handed lineup gave Ball State problems.
In the first four innings of the game, neither team scored.
In the bottom of the fifth with two outs, Indiana ended the drought when sophomore shortstop Breanna Saucedo drove in senior right fielder Kelsey Stander off of a single to center field. Freshman Ashley Warrum drove in Saucedo after a single to right field, making the score 2-0.
In the bottom of the sixth, Indiana junior catcher Cassie Gogreve drove in freshman third baseman Shelby Gogreve off of a single to left field to increase the Hoosiers lead to 3-0.
Sophomore right-hander Audra Sanders picked up the loss for Ball State, going 5 1/3 innings and allowing eight hits and three runs.
Freshman designated hitter Jennifer Gilbert and sophomore catcher Sadie Robertson had the only hits of the game for Ball State.
Despite Ball State's issues with hitting against Indiana, senior shortstop Alicia Barkley said she sees no problems going forward into its weekend matchups with Kent State and Buffalo.
"I don't see any issues this weekend with hitting the ball and scoring runs," Barkley said. "We're never going to face a pitcher like that in the [Mid-American Conference]."
Ball State returns home Friday to play MAC rival Kent State in a doubleheader. First pitch is at 1 p.m.
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