Do you know any woman who actually follows up and calls back? Of course not... that's not how the "dance" works. Most women cannot and will not initiate. It goes against their wiring. They want the man to take charge and arrange for a date.
You used the phrase, "Send the ball to her". She has no business carrying the ball. You are in charge. As a man you don't hand initiative over to the woman. She will fumble almost every time.
It is AFTER your first date when the woman running after the man comes into play. At that point she starts to get hooked, and that's when the man manages the relationship so that she is running after the him.
Until you take initiative and establish that you are a take-charge man, she will see absolutely nothing to run after in the first place.
Picture the scenario... You're chatting with a woman and things are flowing nicely. If she likes you, she is DYING to give you her number. You say in a casual and friendly way, "Hey, why don't you give me your number and we'll stay in touch", or some such thing. I sometimes soften it with "Why don't you...", at other times I'll say, "Give me your number...".
Boldness impresses in a positive way. Timidity impresses in a negative way. Women are deeply attracted to boldness.
In the beginning of getting to know a woman, the ball is completely in the man's court. It's all you until you hook her. Even after that, it is up to the man to manage the relationship.