Even though the Ball State University softball team had a losing weekend, coach Craig Nicholson was pleased with the team's play.
On Sunday, the Cardinals (4-9) split their games. They defeated Western Illinois University 9-5 and then lost to Indiana University 6-2. The Cardinals were shut out by No. 20 Southern Illinois University 9-0 Saturday.
"I feel pretty good about [the weekend] because on the last day of the tournament, we played pretty well, and I see us getting better in certain areas that I felt we needed to get better in," Nicholson said.
The Cardinals tied the school's record of 18 home runs in a season Sunday. Ball State hit three home runs this weekend, all against Western Illinois.
Senior Taylor Yancey said she is excited about the team's early season accomplishment.
"It gives us something to build off," Yancey said. "A lot of teams have to wait until the end of the season to accomplish a goal like that, and for it to happen at the beginning of the season for us is just a great stepping stone."
Ball State also made some good improvements defensively this weekend, Nicholson said.
The Cardinals cut down their errors to three this weekend, after they committed 15 in five games last weekend. All of the team's errors came in Sunday's win against Western Illinois.
"We're getting better in that area and we just need to keep working it," Nicholson said.
He said both mental and physical issues have been causing the team's errors.
Yancey said the team is becoming more comfortable defensively. Being able to play outside on the dirt the past three weekends has really helped, she said.
"We definitely improved from the past two weekends," Yancey said. "We made a lot of progress. We have a lot of positives that we can take into other games."
Yancey and sophomore Allie Pennock had the best performances for Ball State this weekend, Nicholson said.
Yancey went 2-3 against Western Illinois with two home runs, a walk and five RBIs.
"She is really starting to swing the bat well," Nicholson said.
Pennock had four hits including the team's one hit against Southern Illinois. She singled in the fourth inning, and then stole second and third before being caught stealing home.
"I thought Saturday we were pretty much terrible," Nicholson said.
Nicholson said Southern Illinois' Cassidy Scoggins was the best pitcher Ball State has seen so far this season.
"We didn't make her pay for her mistakes, but she is a power pitcher," Nicholson said.
Pennock said the team had a lot of good energy on the weekend. She said there is still room for improvement.
"I just hope that we keep improving and I think we are," Pennock said.
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