WEST LAFAYETTE -¡-¡- Allowing four runs in the first inning proved to be too much for the Ball State University softball team.
Pitcher Laura Masch gave up five runs on four hits with five walks in 1.2 innings of work in the 7-1 loss.
Coach Craig Nicholson said the Cardinals (20-17, 10-1 Mid-American Conference) put themselves at a big disadvantage by giving up the four runs in the first to a team as good as the Boilermakers (21-14, 5-5 Big Ten).
"We were flat," Nicholson said. "We just made too many mistakes to win today."
Nicholson said he had planned on starting Milian Wednesday earlier in the week, but because of Tuesday's rainout of the doubleheader against the University of Dayton, he changed his game plan to allow each pitcher to pitch half the game.
"My plan was to get them both a little bit of work to get ready for the weekend, but obviously it didn't work out quite how I wanted," Nicholson said.
After 3.1 innings from Milian, Nicholson decided to bring in freshman Kim Mazzapica for the sixth inning. In her one inning of work, Mazzapica struck out one in four batters faced.
"She pitched well," Nicholson said. "She put everything where she wanted. We've been trying to get her some innings, but it hasn't been working out because of the rainouts and stuff."
The Cardinals found it hard to get their offense started, managing three hits on the day. The only run for the Cardinals came in the second inning off a passed ball that scored right fielder Alyssa Collins.
Ball State will look to rebound from the loss this weekend when it is home against Northern Illinois University (11-27, 6-4 MAC) and Western Michigan University (14-14, 8-2 MAC).
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