With eight games remaining on the schedule, the Ball State University softball team is on the outside looking in at the Mid-American Conference tournament.
Ball State (20-28, 6-8 MAC) is currently fifth in the MAC West standings and tenth overall in the conference.
All eight of the Cardinals' remaining games are at home against MAC opponents.
The top three teams from each division and the other two teams with the best conference record, regardless of division, make the MAC tournament.
"At minimum we have to get two wins out of this weekend if we are going to have a shot at getting in [the MAC tournament]," coach Craig Nicholson said. "If we get two, then I think we have a chance. If we get three we are probably pretty much in."
The remainder of the Cardinals' schedule kicks off today as they host a doubleheader against Eastern Michigan University (17-17, 7-3 MAC).
The Cardinals then play host to Central Michigan University (18-17, 5-5 MAC) Saturday and Sunday.
Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan are both ahead of Ball State in the MAC West standings. The Eagles are first in the division and the Chippewas are fourth.
"I don't think they get much more important than what we got going on this weekend," Nicholson said. "Obviously with Central [Michigan] being just ahead of us and Eastern [Michigan] is obviously in first but they're not that far ahead of everybody else. So I think these two games are huge to keeping ourselves in the race."
Ball State then hosts a doubleheader against Kent State University (24-15, 10-2 MAC) May 4. The Golden Flashes are currently atop the MAC East standings.
"Kent [State] is probably as good as it gets in our conference," Nicholson said. "I don't think they're unbeatable, but you are going to have to play really well to beat them. I think that is why this weekend is so big because I think these games this weekend are maybe a little bit more winnable than those two games against Kent [State] next weekend."
The Cardinals conclude their regular season against the University at Buffalo (3-19, 1-11 MAC). Ball State will host the Bulls May 5 and 6.
Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan and Kent State all swept Ball State last season. The Cardinals split their games against Buffalo.
Last year, Ball State finished the season 13-30 and 6-16 in the MAC. The Cardinals finished fifth in the MAC West and did not make the conference tournament.
For seniors Kelli Jeziorski and Taylor Yancey, this is the last chance to make the MAC tournament. The pair has not made the conference tournament in their four years at Ball State.
"It would be awesome [to make the MAC tournament]," Jeziorski said. "It's been the goal the last four years that I've been here. I've never seen it and it would make my last year that much more awesome."
Jeziorski, who plays left field, and Yancey, who plays third, have cemented their place in Ball State history this season. Yancey broke the single-season home run record with eight this season. Jeziorski and junior Abby Gross are tied for second with seven each.
Jeziorski and Yancey are also tied for the second most home runs in a Ball State career with 12. Gross, the catcher, holds the record with 14.
"[Jeziorski and Yancey] both obviously had very good years," Nicholson said. "They've gotten better as the year's gone on, especially offensively, and they're going to be two kids we're going to miss when they leave."
Yancey also leads the Cardinals with four triples. Her 39 runs scored this season are a MAC high and a Ball State record.
Jeziorski leads Ball State with 11 doubles this season.
The seniors are first and second in extra base hits this season for the Cardinals as Jeziorski has 19 and Yancey has 17.
They have also combined to drive in 49 runs. Jeziorski is second on the team with 27 and Yancey is third with 22. They trail Gross, who has 35 runs batted in.
While they are atop the record books, the Ball State seniors want to also be atop the conference standings.
"I want to go out on top," Yancey said. "I want to go out knowing I did everything I could to help my team win and to help my team be successful. I just want to go out on a positive note."
Despite the records, Ball State's home run leaders have not gone deep at home this season.
The designated player, freshman Amber Wolf, is the lone player to hit a home run at the BSU Softball Complex this season. She hit her homer April 8 against Northern Illinois University.
Ball State has to cut down on its mistakes to make the conference tournament, Nicholson said.
"We just have to play solid, fundamental softball," Nicholson said. "We have to make plays, limit people to three outs an inning and if we can do that, I feel like we're going to have a good opportunity to win."
The last time the Cardinals made the MAC Tournament was 2002, when they went 23-22 and 13-7 in the MAC. They finished second that season. Since then, they have not finished higher than fifth in the MAC West.
Ball State has made six conference tournaments in the softball program's history. The Cardinals are 8-9 all-time in conference tournament play.
"I truly believe that we are very capable of making it to the MAC tournament," Yancey said. "We just have to come out and play our best softball and win some key games. We definitely have a great opportunity to make it to the MAC tournament and once we make it to the tournament, anybody can win. It's anybody's ball game at that point."
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
