The Ball State University softball team opens its season with a bang today. The Cardinals travel to Kennesaw, Ga., to participate in this weekend's Phyllis Rafter Memorial Tournament, and open the 2010 slate with games against Tennessee Tech University this morning and against Western Illinois University tonight.
This will be the second straight year Ball State has opened up its season with a tournament in Georgia. The Cardinals began the 2009 season by going 2-3 in the Georgia Softball Classic in Athens, Ga.
Last season, Ball State dominated Mid-American Conference play, going 18-3 (.857) before bowing out in the MAC Tournament. This season, the Cardinals hope to improve on last season's 11-21 (.344) non-conference record and work towards that goal begins today against Tennessee Tech and Western Illinois.
Battling inexperience last season, Tennessee Tech (0-0) had its first losing record in 11 years at 26-31. The Golden Eagles will be led by junior leadoff hitter and second baseman Lacie Coquerille, who earned First Team All-Ohio Valley Conference honors last season when she led the team in batting average (.320), runs (31) and hits (54).
In the circle should be sophomore Holly Thomas. Last season Thomas was named to the OVC All-Newcomer Team and finished the season with a 14-16 record a team-low 2.90 ERA.
Western Illinois, meanwhile, has already played five games this season. The Leathernecks are 3-2 and have already defeated the likes of the Big Ten's University of Minnesota, the Southeastern Conference's University of Arkansas, and most recently, the Big 12's Iowa State University.
Western Illinois is being led offensively by senior third baseman Julie DePolo. DePolo, who last season was picked to the Summit League All-Tournament team and as an All-Summit League Second Team selection, is hitting .421 in 19 at-bats with three doubles. Sophomore first baseman Jamie Goss, the reigning Summit League Freshman of the Year, has the team's lone homerun on the season and has a team-best six RBIs.
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