Ball State University Athletics

Ball State Trending Up in MAC Reese/Jacoby Trophy Standings
June 04, 2021 | General
MUNCIE, Ind. - - With two programs crowned Mid-American Conference champions and three earning runner-up finishes, Ball State Athletics climbed up the charts in the final standings for the Reese and Jacoby trophies as announce by the league office Friday (June 4).
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In the battle for the Reese Trophy, which honors the top men's athletic program in the MAC, the Cardinals placed third among the league's 12 schools for its best finish since taking second in 2013.
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Football led the way for Ball State's six men's teams, winning the 2020 MAC Football Championship Game and earning the MAC West Division title with a 5-1 league record. Football went on to win the 2020 Offerpad Arizona Bowl for the first bowl victory in program history and finished the season ranked 23rd in the AP Top 25 poll with a 7-1 overall record.
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Baseball finished its 2021 campaign second in the MAC race with a 29-11 league record while boasting a 38-18 overall mark. The Cardinals just missed out on an at-large berth in the NCAA Division I Baseball Championships as one of the first four teams out of the tournament.
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The Cardinals also boasted third-place finishes in golf and tennis, as well as a fourth-place effort by swimming & diving, on the men's side.
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Ball State has won the Reese Trophy four times (1989, 1990, 1993 and 1998), while finishing runner-up three times (1992, 2001 and 2013).
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In the battle for the Jacoby Trophy, which honors the top women's athletic program in the MAC, the Cardinals placed fifth among the league's 12 schools for its first top-five finish in over a decade.
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Tennis paved the way for Ball State's 12 women's teams, capturing its third MAC title in the last five conference seasons with a 13-1 league ledger. The Cardinals finished the season with a 22-4 overall record, including a 22-match winning streak, to reach the NCAA Division I Women's Tennis Championships for just the second time in program history.
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Two women's squads also earned MAC runner-up finishes for Ball State. Soccer captured the MAC West Division title with a 6-2-1 overall record and lost to East Division champion Bowling Green (5-1-0) by a 2-1Â score in a hotly contested league championship game.Â
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Softball won a program-record 31 league games, finishing conference play with a 31-8 MAC mark to trail only Miami (36-2). Overall, softball finished the season with a 37-18 record and established new program records for batting average (.329) and on-base percentage (.415).
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The Cardinals also received top-five conference finishes from cross country (fifth), field hockey (fifth), gymnastics (fifth) and swimming & diving (fifth) on the women's side.
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Ball State has won the Jacoby Trophy five times (1998, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003), while finishing runner-up once (1994).
Â
In the battle for the Reese Trophy, which honors the top men's athletic program in the MAC, the Cardinals placed third among the league's 12 schools for its best finish since taking second in 2013.
Â
Football led the way for Ball State's six men's teams, winning the 2020 MAC Football Championship Game and earning the MAC West Division title with a 5-1 league record. Football went on to win the 2020 Offerpad Arizona Bowl for the first bowl victory in program history and finished the season ranked 23rd in the AP Top 25 poll with a 7-1 overall record.
Â
Baseball finished its 2021 campaign second in the MAC race with a 29-11 league record while boasting a 38-18 overall mark. The Cardinals just missed out on an at-large berth in the NCAA Division I Baseball Championships as one of the first four teams out of the tournament.
Â
The Cardinals also boasted third-place finishes in golf and tennis, as well as a fourth-place effort by swimming & diving, on the men's side.
Â
Ball State has won the Reese Trophy four times (1989, 1990, 1993 and 1998), while finishing runner-up three times (1992, 2001 and 2013).
Â
In the battle for the Jacoby Trophy, which honors the top women's athletic program in the MAC, the Cardinals placed fifth among the league's 12 schools for its first top-five finish in over a decade.
Â
Tennis paved the way for Ball State's 12 women's teams, capturing its third MAC title in the last five conference seasons with a 13-1 league ledger. The Cardinals finished the season with a 22-4 overall record, including a 22-match winning streak, to reach the NCAA Division I Women's Tennis Championships for just the second time in program history.
Â
Two women's squads also earned MAC runner-up finishes for Ball State. Soccer captured the MAC West Division title with a 6-2-1 overall record and lost to East Division champion Bowling Green (5-1-0) by a 2-1Â score in a hotly contested league championship game.Â
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Softball won a program-record 31 league games, finishing conference play with a 31-8 MAC mark to trail only Miami (36-2). Overall, softball finished the season with a 37-18 record and established new program records for batting average (.329) and on-base percentage (.415).
Â
The Cardinals also received top-five conference finishes from cross country (fifth), field hockey (fifth), gymnastics (fifth) and swimming & diving (fifth) on the women's side.
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Ball State has won the Jacoby Trophy five times (1998, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003), while finishing runner-up once (1994).
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