Throughout the season, Ball State has rolled through the toughest competition in the Mid-American Conference. Ball State swept Bowling Green in the last weekend. The Cardinals swept the Miami Redhawks in an offensive explosion earlier in the season.
But Ball State avoided one big opponent throughout the MAC schedule. That will change Thursday when Ball State plays its first MAC tournament game against defending MAC tournament champions No. 5 seed Western Michigan.
The scheduled series between the two teams earlier in the season was cancelled due to inclement weather.
Even though Western Michigan is a No. 5 seed, having a team that Ball State isn't familiar with may help their cause Thursday.
Coach Craig Nicholson said in an interview earlier in the week he wasn't sure which starter he would go with in the first tournament game.
"I like the way both of them threw the ball this weekend," Nicholson said. "It will just be matchups a little bit. It depends on who we play."
Unfortunately for Nicholson, it's hard to develop the better matchup when you haven't faced the team all season. Senior right-hander Kim Mazzapica has some success last season against Western Michigan while senior right-hander Audrey Workman has pitched well of late and in dominating fashion at times.
Nicholson said the Cardinals need to be ready for the level of competition other teams will bring after running away with the MAC regular season title.
"I don't really worry too much about nerves or those kinds of things," Nicholson said. "This team is just so loose anyways, we just go play."
Ball State had normal practices to prepare and Nicholson said the goal was just to keep the team with as normal a schedule as possible.
The Cardinals will play Thursday at 5p.m. and will not have to play again until the next day win or lose.
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