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Three seniors on the Ball State softball team added some extra celebration to their Senior Day, leading the team to a win in their last career game at the Softball Field at the First Merchants Ballpark Complex.
Loren Cihlar, Jessica Craft and Hanne Stuedemann were joined by parents, teammates and coaches after the game for gifts and a dinner that followed a doubleheader split against Northern Illinois.
"It was amazing having our parents and teammates there to celebrate with us," Craft said. "Being surrounded by all the people that you care about during the sport that you love really makes it special."
After the game, the seniors were draped with a feather boa and given a gift bag by their teammates as they walked to the middle of the infield with their parents. Head coach Tyra Perry presented each senior with a framed jersey also.
The celebratory dinner featured a lot of food and dozens of pictures showing memories of the seniors' careers on the field.
Cihlar, Craft and Stuedemann have played a big role in leading the Cardinals to three consecutive regular season Mid-American Conference titles.
"These girls have meant so much to our team and have been such terrific leaders," Perry said. "They don't let anything phase them, they accept any challenge given to them and overtake it with ease."
Ball State is currently on top of the MAC with a 10-3 record. With another title, the three seniors would become the first players in history to win the MAC regular season title four years in a row.
"We tell each other dynasty to motivate ourselves to go out and play hard and do everything we can to get that fourth ring," Stuedemann said. "We've made it part of this program that we go out and win the regular season title, and everyone on the team has known that since day one. It motivates us to go out and perform."
With six games in league play remaining, the seniors will look to use that motivation to complete the MAC regular season title sweep.
Ball State's final six MAC games are on the road, however. The Cardinals are 7-1 in conference away games so far this season.
"All season, we tell the team that it doesn't matter whether we are on the road or not," Cihlar said. "We will go out on any field and play like it is our field."
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