The Ball State softball team filled the stat sheet this weekend with a display of hitting and sometimes unhittable pitching.
Going 4-1 in the Phyllis Rafter Memorial, Ball State improved its overall record to 6-3 on the season and received much needed confidence to go into the Under Armour Invitational next weekend in Florida.
"I thought we stepped it up big time this weekend," junior catcher Amanda Montalto said. "We played our A game all weekend and we never gave up. I thought we did really well."
Ball State's offense got off to a hot start on Friday, scoring six runs against Kennesaw State. Freshman outfielder Jennifer Gilbert and Montalto each had three hits and an RBI in the game to lead the way offensively for Ball State.
On Saturday, the Cardinals continued their display of offense, defeating Tennessee State 13-5 and Mercer 8-1. Gilbert led the way offensively for Ball State with an incredible five RBIs and a home run in the two games.
"We expect a lot of things out of her, and she struggled a little bit last weekend," coach Craig Nicholson said. "She's going to be one of the people that can definitely make our offense go and it's good to see her have a good weekend and get back on track."
In the morning game Sunday, the Cardinals overcame a six-run first inning by Bowling Green to defeat the Falcons by the final score of 9-6. In the afternoon, however, the Cardinals struggled offensively against Georgia State, losing 5-2.
Against Bowling Green, the Cardinals scored seven runs in the second inning to take an 8-6 lead. Sophomore right-handed pitcher Audra Sanders picked up the pieces for Ball State's pitching staff, giving up two hits and striking out 10 batters in 6.2 innings.
"I was happy about the way I pitched and how my team was always behind me making plays and scoring runs," Sanders said. "However, I have to put these games behind me because we have many more games to play this season that are just as important, and some that are even more important than this weekend. I like to start every game as though my record is 0-0."
In the final game against Georgia State, Gilbert hit a two-run homer in the top of the first inning to give the Cardinals an early 2-0 lead. After falling behind 4-2 in the bottom of the first inning, Ball State struggled offensively the rest of the game and never could get back into rhythm.
"I felt our approach in the last game was not as good," Nicholson said. "We didn't do quite as good of a job at making adjustments as we did in the first four games this weekend, but we also went up against a type of pitcher that we haven't seen all year. We'll make those adjustments, we'll learn from it and we'll move on."
Even after losing their final game against Georgia State, Gilbert doesn't think that will affect the team's overall confidence and chemistry going into the Under Armour Invitational next week.
"We know we are a good team who can score on anybody, and we know that we can also come-from-behind and win a game towards the end," Gilbert said. "We know that we are that team that won't go away."
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