The Ball State gymnastics team is stuck in neutral, if not reverse.
For the second consecutive week, scores dropped slightly from the week before. Ball State put up a 189.975 to finish in third behind Maryland (191.975) and Towson State (190.325).
With the pair of losses, the Cardinals dropped to 0-4 on the season.
The balance beam was Ball State's nemesis in Week 1, and the uneven bars were the problem in Week 2. On Friday night, both combined to be the Cardinals undoing. Ball State was forced to count multiple low scores in each event.
All three teams struggled on the bars, but Maryland (4-1) pulled away from Ball State with more than a point advantage on the beam.
In all, Ball State had five career highs along with five season highs Friday. Sophomore Nicole Allen had three career highs — bars, floor exercise and all-around — plus a season-high on the beam.
Allen and junior Brittney Emmons had three podium finishes for Ball State. Allen finished second on the bars and floor, while Emmons placed second in the vault and third on the floor.
Maryland swept the individual awards, including senior Abigail Adams' wins on the beam and floor.
Towson State (3-1) was led by junior Kacy Catanzaro and freshman Alexa Davis with a pair of top-three finishes each.
Coach Nadalie Walsh continued to tinker with her lineup, putting junior transfer MaryAnn Oehlerking in for her Ball State debut. Freshman Aftyn Siemer returned to the floor lineup after missing the Central Michigan meet.
Ball State's next meet will be against Mid-American Conference opponent Eastern Michigan on Jan. 29.
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