The Ball State University softball team will look to extend its seven-game winning streak today against the University of Dayton.
The team went 4-0 last weekend, defeating Bowling Green State University and the University of Toledo.
Coach Craig Nicholson said pitcher Elizabeth Milian will not start either game today, after starting four of the team's last five games. Milian will be available for relief if needed, Nicholson said, but he doesn't foresee her pitching more than three innings, in order to keep her fresh for Wednesday's game at Purdue University.
Laura Masch is slated to start the first game and freshman Kim Mazzapica is expected to start the second.
Masch is 5-3 on the season with a 3.29 ERA. She has 58 strikeouts in her 76.2 innings of work.
Mazzapica has given up seven earned runs, including two home runs in her 1.1 innings of work. Five of the runs were in the team's second game of the season against then-No. 16 University of Georgia.
Dayton enters the contest after splitting a doubleheader with George Washington University. Saturday's game was the first time Dayton had played in a week.
The Flyers tend to utilize all three of their pitchers. All three of them have appeared in more than 20 of the team's 35 games. The lowest ERA on the staff is that of Allie Falk at 4.32. Combined, the staff has allowed 222 runs, compared to 91 by Ball State. Likewise, Dayton has 91 strikeouts on the season. Elizabeth Milian has 146 by herself and the entire Cardinals staff has 219 on the season.
On the offensive side, Dayton has been shutout in eight games. The Flyers have also scored more than five runs twice this season, compared to seven for the Cardinals.
Assistant coach Stephanie De Feo said Dayton plays a lot of small ball, having 35 sacrifice bunts on the season. On the whole, Dayton averages less than one steal attempt per game, while Ball State averages almost three a game.
With Dayton's catcher throwing out six of 58 attempted stealers, it is expected for Ball State to test freshman catcher Courtney Kutsulis early and often.
The Flyers have some power, with eight of their nine typical starters having at least one home run. Masch typically throws fly ball pitches, which could be troublesome if the wind plays to the batters advantage.
The first pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m., and the second game will start approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.
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