Ball State softball season preview: Cardinals expect strong chemistry leads to improvement

MUNCIE, Ind. — Ball State softball has experienced two distinctly different seasons under head coach Lacy Schurr.

In 2021, she led the Cardinals to a program-best 31 Mid-American Conference wins, only for the team to struggle with roster turnover and injuries last year, resulting in a 22-31 overall record.

Although BSU improved during conference play, going 15-14, it came up one game short of qualifying for the MAC tournament. They were picked to finish third in the conference before the season, and that disappointment has fueled a strong group of seven returnees and two top starting pitchers, as well as 10 newcomers.

"I think the returners have a little bit of a chip on their shoulder. We handled a lot of adversity last year throughout the season," Schurr said. "It was tough for them to be one game out, so our expectation is that we're in the tournament, if not winning the regular season."

More:Ball State baseball season preview: Cardinals hungry for breakthrough MAC championship

The Cardinals have not won a regular season or conference tournament title since 2014 and 2015, respectively, and were voted to finish fourth in the MAC in the 2023 preseason coaches poll. Returning extensive experience bodes well for Ball State's chances at redemption, but it'll have to overcome the loss of MAC Player of the Year, Faith Hensley, who transferred to the University of Alabama for her final year of eligibility.

Schurr and her players know that no individual is expected to replicate Hensley's 17 home runs and 40 RBIs, but the Cardinals are confident that improvement across the board will add production and balance throughout the lineup.

There's also a different vibe around this group than in previous years. Schurr said the team's upperclassmen leadership, spearheaded by fifth-year senior Amaia Daniel (2022 First Team All-MAC selection), redshirt senior Jazmyne Armendariz, senior Haley Wynn and junior Sammy-Jo Mata, has connected everyone in a unique and powerful way, resulting in the players working for one another, not just for themselves.

"Those four upperclassmen are just kind of taking the lead and kind of showing everybody the ropes," Schurr said. "It's been a lot of fun to watch them just kind of take everybody in, wrap their arms around them and create a really cool environment.

"I think 100% the strength of this team is their unity. As a coach, you always kind of wonder where the cracks are, what's gonna make them kind of pull apart from each other. But every time we think that we see something, they just come back together even stronger. That 100% is the thing that's gonna set this team apart."

More:Brady Sallee's Ball State legacy, historic season, built through strong relationships

The team's two new assistant coaches, Karen Marr and Jordan McNary, have also seamlessly blended into Ball State's culture. Marr coached Schurr during her playing days at the University of Louisville, so there was familiarity there, and Wynn said Marr and McNary have already found a good balance between pushing players to correct mistakes and being their "biggest cheerleaders" after signs of improvement.

Marr is also Australian, and there are now three Aussies, including freshman Bridie Murphy and redshirt freshman Aislinn Morris, in the program, a unique wrinkle that Schurr said leads to many laughs from their enjoyable accents and country-specific sayings.

So whether it's learning about Australia, playing flag football after workouts or hanging out outside of practice, everyone agrees that being around these Cardinals is always a good time.

"I think this is, honestly, one of the best teams I've been a part of in my four years here," Wynn said. "These are girls that I would do anything for."

Sophomore pitcher Angelina Russo echoed that sentiment, too, and feels more confident heading into this season as a result.

She enjoyed a terrific debut campaign in 2022, earning MAC Freshman Pitcher of the Year and All-Freshman Team honors with a 4.05 ERA in 143.1 innings. Russo also threw the first perfect game in program history, a 10-strikeout performance against Western Michigan on April 20, flashing the elite potential that has her coaches and teammates excited for Year 2.

Russo said she noted the teachable moments from last season and applied those lessons to her offseason training. She feels more comfortable now, ready to be one of the pitching staff's leaders.

"Probably the mentality (is what I learned). I just need to attack. I can't be afraid of batters," Russo said. "I need to go at everyone, trust in my stuff, trust in my defense, know that they've got my back no matter what. Just know that together we can do it."

Schurr and Wynn said Russo's development has been evident throughout the preseason. She is a budding star, but also needs to just be herself and not worry about trying to replicate her perfect game every time out.

"I think she's got stronger ... She's got some tools in her tool belt that she's sharpening, for sure," Schurr said. "Watching her develop with Karen has been really fun to watch. Her job is to not put too much pressure on herself and try to exceed expectations from last year. If she comes in and just does what she's capable of, she'll have a great year."

"Her confidence has jumped so much, and that's unbelievable to watch. Watching her pitch in bullpens now versus last year is just different, and it's actually intimidating. I'm very grateful that she's on my team and I don't have to face her because she just develops so much every single day and every single week," Wynn said. "We've been doing live as a team, and hitting off her (Day 1), I was like, 'Wow, she's killing it.' And then next week came in and I was like, 'What is that pitch and where did it come from?' So I'm very excited to see what she can do this year because it's gonna be crazy."

Ball State begins its season with a five-game slate in Birmingham, Alabama, for the Blazer Bash. The Cardinals begin with a double-header against Samford at 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17, and then face UAB twice on Saturday and finish against Lindenwood on Sunday.

BSU got off to a slow start to its non-conference schedule in 2022, so it'll look to find more early success this time around. Schurr and her players are confident they can, and they're excited to finally hit the diamond.

"Feeling really good," Schurr said. "This team's really kind of bonded together, so I'm really excited to see them play somebody else. They're fun to be around, they're competitive and they have some big goals set for themselves, so I'm really excited to see what they're going to do on the field."

Gus Martin is a sports reporter at The Star Press. Follow him on Twitter @GusMartin_SP, and contact him at gmartin@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Ball State softball: expect strong chemistry leads to improvement MAC