Two-out runs sparked the Cardinals to their third Mid-American Conference win, beating Akron 7-4, after recovering from their failure to close out Ohio on Friday.
Senior Allison Mercado started off Ball State's (23-11) scoring in the bottom of the second with a two-out double in to right center field.
After a walk by junior Sadie Robertson, sophomore Jennifer Gilbert smashed a double off the very top of the wall in left center that scored Mercado.
A passed ball scored Robertson and a walk from senior catcher Amanda Montalto was followed by another double from sophomore first baseman Taylor Rager that cleared the bases.
Coach Craig Nicholson was happier with the way his team played with the lead than he was Friday. Nicholson said the ability to add on before Akron could make a comeback was a big part of the game Saturday.
But it was a disappointment the way the Cardinals let the Zips get back into the game, Nicholson said.
"You open the door and you give them a little momentum," he said. "Crazy things can happen and all of a sudden a team that probably should be down and out starts to believe it has a chance and starts to have better at bats.
"I always tell our kids the last out of the game is the toughest one to get and again today that proved to be true."
Senior Kim Mazzapica (13-3) went the distance for the Cardinals and shut down Akron for six innings before getting shelled in the top of the seventh. She was able to escape with the lead and the win.
Nicholson said Mazzapica may have been tiring after throwing some in the first game and starting the second game of the double header on Friday.
Ball State finishes up the weekend series with Akron Sunday at 1 p.m.
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