Splitting a double header with Purdue was something coach Craig Nicholson would have gladly taken on Friday. But he probably didn't want it to feel eerily similar to the Cardinals double header last week against Ohio.
The Cardinals fell early to the Bobcats and rallied with a big late inning for the victory last Friday. Ball State then exploded for five runs in the first two innings in the second game, but Ohio took the lead in the top of the seventh and split that series.
It was more of the same against Purdue.
After facing an early 4-1 deficit, the Cardinals used a string of big innings to take the lead late. Purdue challenged in the final frame with one run but eventually relented in Ball State's 9-7 win.
In the second game, Ball State scored 5 runs in the first two innings, but they were able to only add one run through the next five innings. The complacency hurt the Cardinals as the Boilermakers rallied in the seventh to hand the Cardinals a split in the 8-6 defeat.
Nicholson said it was disappointing to see the chance his team had to sweep a Big Ten opponent end the way it did.
The first game wasn't without drama either.
Ball State needed impressive defense to get out of a jam in the seventh with a two run lead. The Boilermakers had runners at first and second with no outs until sophomore left fielder Jennifer Gilbert made an outstanding diving catch to put an out on the board.
Senior shortstop Allison Mercado ended the game on an even better defensive play, falling to her right to catch a sinking liner before tossing it over to second base to double up the runner.
"It was an outside pitch so I was ready for anything to go to the five-six hole [between third and short]," Mercado said. "Once I saw that it was dropping a little bit I knew I had to leave my feet."
After pounding out 13 hits in the first game, Ball State struggled to string an equal amount in the second.
Nicholson said Purdue starting pitcher Katie Hackney gave his team problems because they had not faced many good drop ball pitchers this season.
Senior right hander Audrey Workman struggled to locate in the game, allowing seven walks in seven innings.
Nicholson said it did more to hurt the Cardinals than just put people on base.
"We turned that lineup over one too many times because of all the free passes," Nicholson said. "We ended up pitching to some good hitters four times in a game and even their leadoff kid five times in the game. It's just too many times to see the same pitcher."
Gilbert and senior Amanda Montalto homered to bring their season totals to eight each.
Ball State travels to Miami in a conference battle that puts the two teams with the best overall record in the conference against each other. Miami's dominant pitching will face Ball State's conference leading offense Saturday at 2 p.m.
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