Ball State University Athletics
Softball Prepares For Battle Of The Birds On Senior Weekend
May 01, 2009 | Softball
MUNCIE, Ind. ? The Ball State softball team (16-3 in the Mid-American Conference) faces Miami 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday for Senior Day at the BSU Softball Complex to round out conference play before heading into the tournament. The Cardinals have only lost once at home for an 8-1 record.
Already the best conference record for head coach Craig Nicholson in his three years, two more wins gives Ball State the fifth best number of conference victories in school history.
Hammering In The HRs
Over the last 12 game days, four Cardinals have joined Jen Reifschneider on the home run list. The four plus Reifschneider tallied the same number of home runs (8) as Reifschneider did in the first half of the season. Kamilah Holle, Amanda Montalto, Jen Moore and Kate Wilczynski combined for five home runs last week alone. Reifschneider blasted out three home runs in two games last week for 11 total on the year. Only one of her home runs has been notched at home. The team also has one more home run than last season with 16, the third most in a season at Ball State.
Ball State still boasts five players batting over a .300 clip. Alyssa Collins leads the way with a .358 average on 54 hits, second in the MAC. Alicia Barkley leads the team in MAC play batting a .439 average. Barkley also has 14 multiple-hit games, while Collins has 13.
National Rankings
As a team, the Cardinals rank 15th in the nation in triples per game and stolen bases per game. At 4th in the nation, Lisa Rozanski is one shy of tying the national leader with seven triples. She is also tied for 17th in the nation with 30 stolen bases. As a sophomore, Rozanski already owns the Ball State single-season stolen bases record (43) and career stolen bases record (73).
BSU Rankings
Allie Pennock is five shy of tying the career-run record at 95. She is also second in school history in games played with 209; the most is 223 set by Abby Gross last season. Holle is right behind her with 202 games played in her career.
The pitching staff currently has 276 strikeouts this season, second most in a single-season. Elizabeth Milian owns a 2.16 ERA on a 19-13 record. She has struck out 185 batters this season. Laura Masch posts a 7-6 record (5-1 in MAC) with 75 strikeouts.
ABOUT MIAMI
The RedHawks (13-7 in MAC) are currently fourth overall in the conference, second in the East Division, after losing both games to Ohio and splitting with Akron last week. Miami is led by freshman outfielder Jordan McElroy who owns a .345 average with 51 hits. Sarah Billstrom is right behind her with a .341 clip that includes five home runs.
In the circle, pitcher Jessica Simpson posts a 2.16 ERA with a 19-11 record that includes eight shutouts which tie for 19th in the nation.
TOURNAMENT UPDATE: The 2009 MAC Tournament is May 6-9 at Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio. The double elimination tournament features the top eight teams in the conference. The two division winners are automatically seeded one and two by their record. The next best six teams regardless of division make the tournament and are seeded three through eight. Here is the current tournament seedings with the tiebreakers computed when applicable:
In Right Now:
1. Ball State 16-3
2. Kent State 14-3
3. Western Michigan 13-5
3. Miami 13-7
5. Ohio 11-9
6. Akron 10-9
7. Northern Illinois 9-9
8. Bowling Green 6-12
Outside Looking in:
9. Buffalo 6-12
10. Toledo 6-12
11. Eastern Michigan 5-13
12. Central Michigan 1-16
The top six teams have clinched spots in the MAC Tournament. Only Central Michigan has been eliminated from making the bracket. The other five teams will compete for two final spots over the last weekend.
Sunday is Senior Day for Ball State's six seniors: Natalie Bejarano, Tiffany Garofano, Katelyn Gunderson, Kamilah Holle, Laura Masch and Allie Pennock. Sunday's game only will be aired on local broadcast channel WCRD 91.3 FM, and live stats will not be available.
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