Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
AKRON, Ohio - A missed opportunity. Two early long balls.
And though it was just the first inning, it set the tone and eventually it spelled the end for the Central Michigan softball team in the Mid-American Conference Tournament and to the Chippewas' season.
Ball State got two first-inning home runs and two Cardinal pitchers limited the Chippewas to four hits on Thursday as CMU fell, 5-1, in a tourney elimination game at Firestone Stadium. The Chippewas opened the tournament on Wednesday with an 8-6 10-inning loss to Toledo.