Contributions from the entire team resulted in a perfect weekend for the Ball State softball team as it went 3-0 in the Blue City Classic.
The Cardinals, now 7-2, had 22 hits over the combined three games with 11 different players recording at least one hit in the final game of the tournament. Pitchers Nicole Steinbach and Kelsey Schifferdecker struck out a total of 16 batters.
Ball State opened play against Murray State on Saturday afternoon, managing a 5-3 win after a two-run home run by sophomore Emily Dabkowski in the eighth inning. Senior Taylor Rager went 3-3 while senior Jenny Gilbert broke the records for home runs and overall runs scored in MAC play with her 58th career home run.
In the second game of the day, the Cardinals put up seven runs to defeat Morehead State 7-1. Sophomore Briana Evans, senior Audrey Bickel and junior Jessica Craft each had two hits while Steinbach struck out nine to record the win.
The Cardinals dominated in their last win against Southeast Missouri State, posting a score of 11-2 in six innings. Gilbert led going 3-4 with three runs scored and two RBIs.
Ball State’s five-run third inning ultimately gave the Cardinals the momentum to finish strong. Dabkowski started the rally with a single, scoring Evans and junior Loren Cihlar.
Completing the run rule, the Cardinals scored their last four runs on four hits in the bottom of the sixth inning. Schifferdecker struck out three batters and improved to 4-0 on the season.
Looking ahead, the Cardinals play again on Friday in the Louisville Slugger Invitational. The team will face host No. 4 Arizona State on Sunday, coached by former Ball State head coach Craig Nicholson. Current head coach Tyra Perry says the game will be no different than any other game the Cardinals will play.
“It doesn’t matter who is on the other side,” Perry said. “We have to play our game whether it’s a team that’s considered a top team in the country or one that isn’t.”
Ball State will also face both South Carolina and Florida International on Friday.
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