It wasn't supposed to end like this.
After a dominating regular season from the Ball State softball team that saw them accomplish so many things individually and as a group, an early exit in the Mid-American Conference wasn't expected.
Coach Craig Nicholson said many times as the season was winding down how focused his team was on closing out the season and recapturing the MAC tournament title that evaded them last year.
A 4-2 loss to Miami on Friday, the same team that eliminated them last season, ended Ball State's final chance to try and make a run through the losers bracket.
Now, all the Cardinals can do is wait to see if their outstanding season would be rewarded with an NCAA tournament berth. The selection show will air on ESPNU at 10 p.m. on Sunday.
Ball State swept Miami in the regular season in impressive fashion.
They knocked the MAC pitcher of the year Jessica Simpson around on April 15 to the tune of eight earned runs in a little over six innings of work.
Friday's performance was a very difference result. Simpson allowed two runs - only one of them earned - over seven innings while striking out 10 Ball State hitters.
The strength of the Cardinals disappeared in the MAC tournament. The Cardinals, who led the MAC in nearly every offensive category, scored only six runs in three games. The pitching showed up to keep Ball State in every game with two strong starts from senior pitchers Audrey Workman and Kim Mazzapica.
Miami took a two run lead in the fourth inning but Ball State rallied with a run in the fourth and fifth to tie it. A costly error in the sixth allowed one earned run and an unearned run for insurance.
The Cardinals threatened in the seventh with runners at first and second with two outs when Nicholson opted to pinch hit sophomore third baseman/shortstop Katrina Morales for senior shortstop Alison Mercado.
It was just the third at bat of the season for Morales and came in the place of first team All-MAC selection Mercado. Mercado held a .394 season average but had struggled on the day going 0-3 striking out three times against Miami's Simpson.
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