» THIS WEEK IN BALL STATE SOFTBALL: The Ball State softball team returns to action Friday when it opens play in the three-day Charlotte Invitational with games versus Lehigh (11:30 a.m.) and Albany (1:30 p.m.) ... The Cardinals are also scheduled to play Lehigh (10 a.m.) and host Charlotte (3 p.m.) Saturday, as well as Albany (10 a.m.) again Sunday.
» THE OVERALL RECORD: Ball State enters the Charlotte Invitational with a 1181-1172-4 (.502) overall record dating back to 1975 ... The Cardinals have tallied 30-or-more wins in 16 seasons, most recently a 37-18 mark in 2021 .