With two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning of game two against Butler University on Tuesday, the Ball State University softball team tied the score at 3-3.
However, the Cardinals (18-14) could not push across the winning run as Allie Pennock was thrown out at home for the final out of the inning, ending the Ball State rally. Butler (9-8) then responded in the first extra inning to cap off a 4-3 victory and even the day's doubleheader at one game apiece.
"The kid made a great throw," Ball State coach Craig Nicholson said. "There's nothing you can really do about that.
Even though the Cardinals got a bad break from a great play by Butler, Nicholson said, they should have played better.
"I didn't feel like we played very well today," he said. "I felt we left way too many opportunities out there."
Before losing the second game of the doubleheader, Ball State won the first game against Butler 6-2. The game was the home opener for the Cardinals, but catcher Abby Gross said the team did not come out ready to play for it.
"We came out a little flat," the senior said. "I don't think our play was as good as it should be. We definitely should have had two easy wins."
Tuesday's extra-inning loss marked the third time in the past two days the Cardinals went into extra innings. On Monday Ball State split its doubleheader at Valparaiso University with a 1-0 loss in eight innings and a 4-3 win in nine innings.
Nicholson said it is nice to get the experience of playing close games but it is not all positive.
"Two of the games, one [Tuesday] and the loss [Monday], should have never got to that point," he said.
The Cardinals took the lead in the bottom of the first inning of game one against Butler with an RBI single by Gross. Ball State did not relinquish the lead the rest of the game as Gross led the team with three RBIs. She was a triple away from the cycle as she added a solo home run in the third inning and an RBI double in the sixth to added to her single.
Kathryn Wilczynski also added multiple RBIs in the win, as she went two-of-three with a pair of runs batted in. The freshman also went two-of-three in the second game of the doubleheader. With the four hits Tuesday, Wilczynski improved her two-day statistics, including Monday's doubleheader, to six-of-12 with six RBIs.
"She's really had two really good days back-to-back, and I hope she keeps that going into the weekend," Nicholson said.
Laura Masch improved her record to 4-3 on the season in the Cardinals' win, and Elizabeth Milian picked up her third save of the season. Masch went five innings and allowed two earned runs on six hits, two walks and three strikeouts. Milian relieved Masch for the final two innings and struck out four batters.
Tiffany Garofano lost the second game to drop to 5-6 this year. She allowed two runs on seven hits in 4.2 innings. She also walked three and struck out four. Milian again came in to relieve the starter and allowed two runs, one earned, on four hits and a walk in 3.1 innings.
Ball State now turns its attention to this weekend's games, the first of the Mid-American Conference season. The Cardinals play host to a doubleheader against Ohio University on Friday and the University of Akron on Saturday and Sunday.
Gross said Tuesday's games were a good eye-opener and made Ball State realize it cannot expect to win games as it heads into MAC play.
"Our past couple games we've obviously been flat, and we're going to have to step it up if we want to win," she said.
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