Ball State added eight freshmen to the roster this season and the stats show that leadership on the field is coming from the rookies as well as the veterans.
But in coach Craig Nicholson’s eyes, his freshmen players aren’t freshmen.
“With us, when we are already in school for five or six months before we start out season, they have a little bit more time to adjust to what they’re doing,” Nicholson said. “I think that helps them get in the position that they’re in where they can contribute right away.”
Freshmen pitchers Nicole Steinbach and Kelsey Schifferdecker played in their first collegiate tournament as they competed in the Kennesaw State University Classic on Feb. 16 and 17 and finished with 15 combined strikeouts on the weekend.
“Before the first weekend we came out, I had to really prepare myself because everyone knew it was me and Kelsey coming in as freshman,” Steinbach said.
The freshmen pitchers competed in the Central Arkansas Tournament in the second weekend tournament on the schedule and finished the five-game weekend with 24 combined strikeouts. Steinbach recorded a career-high of 10 strikeouts against Grambling State during the weekend.
Freshman shortstop Selena Reyna has started each game on the schedule this season and is fielding 1.000 percent.
Freshmen outfielders Sammi Cowger, Sasha Margulies and second baseman Emily Dabkowski each recorded their first collegiate hits in the past two weekends.
“They get a chance daily to work on things and to feel good about what they’re doing as a hitter,” Nicholson said.
The Cardinals have had leadership at the plate by the upperclassmen as well as Jennifer Gilbert, who is currently tied with the school career home run record of 38. Gilbert has hit five home runs after the first two weekends of play, followed by junior third baseman Aubrey Bickel with three.
“I feel like with how young the team is we bonded really well and we kind of fit like a puzzle piece,” Steinbach said. “The underclassmen really listen to the upperclassmen.”
