Ball State University Athletics
Softball Heads to Radford Invitational This Weekend
March 17, 2011 | Softball
MUNCIE, Ind. - Ball State Softball continues its non-conference action this weekend as the squad travels to Botetourt, Va. for the Radford Invitational at the Botetourt Sports Complex. The Cardinals enter tournament play with an 11-10 overall record after going 0-5 during the Under Armour Showcase in Clearwater, Fla. last weekend.
The three-day event features six teams in Ball State, Delaware, Georgetown, Pittsburgh, host Radford and Robert Morris, with support going towards Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the fight against breast cancer.
The Cardinals begin the tournament Friday with games versus the Delaware Blue Hens and the Georgetown Hoyas at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., respectively, followed by contests versus the Pittsburgh Panthers and host Highlanders at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday. The Cardinals will complete their play in the tournament Sunday against the Robert Morris Colonials at 9 a.m.
LAST TIME OUT: Ball State tallied a 0-5 mark during the Under Armour Showcase, including falling to then-No. 1 Florida, 21-0. The Cardinals also posted losses to the Long Island Blackbirds (3-1), the Connecticut Huskies (7-2), the Quinnipiac Bobcats (4-0) and St. Joseph's Hawks (7-3).
Ball State also played in two midweek contests Tuesday, March 8 in Orlando, Fla. at the UCF Softball Complex, defeating Monmouth and host UCF by scores of 6-2 and 7-5, respectively. Senior right fielder Alyssa Collins (Fortville, Ind./Mt. Vernon) had a standout week for the Cardinals, batting .409 in seven contests, in addition to scoring two runs and tallying two stolen bases.
SCOUTING THE CARDINALS: As a team, Ball State owns a .301 batting average, while its opponents are batting .291, in addition to scoring 94 runs (4.5 runs/game), while allowing 93 runs (4.4 runs/game).
Senior shortstop Alicia Barkley (Oklahoma City, Okla./Putnam City) leads the Cardinals offensively with a .413 batting average, in addition to five doubles and a team-leading two triples. Barkley, an exercise science major, has also driven in five runs and owns a team-high eight stolen bases.
Freshman Jennifer Gilbert (McKinney, Texas/McKinney) ranks second on the squad and first among her class with a .386 batting average, including seven doubles and team-highs in home runs (4) and RBI (21).
From the circle, junior Kim Mazzapica (Palm Harbor, Fla./East Lake) leads the team in 10 appearances with a 3.19 ERA in 26.1 innings, while sophomore Audra Sanders (Lynnville, Ind./Tecumseh) has made 14 appearances and owns a 6-6 mark on the season and a 3.36 ERA in 73.0 innings of work. Junior Audrey Workman (Wickenburg, Ariz./Wickenburg) owns a 5.10 ERA in 35.2 innings pitched, in addition to a 4-3 record with 10 appearances.
SCOUTING THE BLUE HENS: Friday's game marks the second time Ball State and Delaware will meet, as the Cardinals own the 1-0 series advantage. The Blue Hens enter tournament play with a 7-11 record after recording a split Tuesday in doubleheader action at Temple, falling 12-0 in five innings and defeating the Owls, 11-5. Sophomore Bertie Lake, a native of Endicott, N.Y., leads Delaware's charge, batting 11-for-25, including three doubles, one home run and five RBI, in addition to recording a .680 slugging percentage. Pitcher Amanda Stacevicz, from Cedar Grove, N.J., owns a 4-3 record on the season, appearing in nine games with a 4.09 ERA in 37.2 innings.
SCOUTING THE HOYAS: The contest between Ball State and Georgetown Friday stands as the first meeting between the two squads. Georgetown enters the Radford Invitational with a 3-17 record after falling to Princeton in doubleheader format, 11-6 and 9-1 (6), Wednesday at Guy Mason Field in Washington, D.C. Junior Casa Savarese, a native of Syosset, N.Y., leads the Hoyas with a .358 batting average, including five doubles, three RBI and a .453 slugging percentage. From the circle, junior Mackensey Carter has appeared in 13 contests, tallying a 3.23 ERA and a 3-8 record in 69.1 innings of work.
SCOUTING THE PANTHERS: Saturday's matchup with Pittsburgh stands as the first meeting between the two teams. The Panthers enter the weekend with a 13-5 overall record after tallying a 5-0 mark during the Buccaneer Challenge last weekend in Johnson City, Tenn., defeating South Carolina State, St. Bonaventure, North Carolina A&T and host East Tennessee State. Senior Ashley Amistade, a native of Washington, Pa., paces Pittsburgh with a .383 batting average, including three RBI and nine stolen bases, while junior Kelly Hmiel earned National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division I National Player of the Week honors Tuesday after earning tournament MVP accolades, tallying a .824 batting average, two doubles, six home runs, 16 RBI and a 2.000 slugging percentage. Pitcher Alyssa O'Connell, from Turnersville, N.J., owns a 4-1 record on the season, appearing in seven games with a 1.09 ERA in 25.2 innings.
SCOUTING THE HIGHLANDERS: The game between Ball State and Radford Saturday stands as the third meeting between the two squads, as the Cardinals own the 2-0 series advantage. Radford enter the tournament with a 14-9 overall record after recording a split against James Madison in a doubleheader Wednesday in Radford, Va. Hannah Ojeda leads the Highlanders' charge, batting 21-for-70, in addition to recording two doubles, one triple, two home runs and 12 RBI. From the circle, sophomore Jackie Jenkins leads the team in nine appearances, good for a 5-0 record with a 1.25 ERA in 39.1 innings, while freshman Stephanie Dameron has made 17 appearances and owns a 6-2 mark on the season and a 1.70 ERA in 57.2 innings of work. Senior Chelsea Kelley, a native of Roanoke, Va., owns a 2.49 ERA in 45.0 innings pitched, in addition to a 3-4 record with 11 appearances this season.
SCOUTING THE COLONIALS: Sunday's contest marks the sixth time Ball State and Robert Morris will meet, as the Cardinals own the 5-0 series advantage. Heading into the Radford Invitational, Robert Morris owns a 7-9 overall record after falling to Radford, 4-3, Sunday at the Under Armour Showcase. Senior Annie Dubovec, a native of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, leads the Colonials' charge with a .370 batting average, including three doubles, one triple, two home runs, 10 RBI and a .574 slugging percentage. As a pitcher, Dubovec also paces the squad with six appearances, tallying a 1.79 ERA and a 6-2 record in 27.1 innings of work.
COMING UP FOR THE CARDINALS: Head Coach Craig Nicholson and the team open the home portion of the 2011 schedule in a doubleheader versus Dayton at the BSU Softball Complex, beginning at 3 p.m. Thursday, March 24.
