Ball State University Athletics
BSU 2, Wright State 1
March 28, 2006 | Baseball
After seven scoreless innings on both sides, Wright State registered the first run of the game in the top of the eighth as Amin Abusaleh singled to drive in Brian Shoup from second base. Shoup reached on an error and advanced to second on the play.
Ball State struck back in the bottom of the eighth as senior first baseman Brad Miller (Muncie, Ind./Central) knocked a double into left center field, driving in senior center fielder Mike Sullivan (Valparaiso, Ind./Valparaiso), who reached on a walk.
The tie score extended through the ninth inning and into a 10th, marking the second extra inning contest of the season for BSU. The Cardinals defeated UAB 11-10 in 13 innings Feb. 19.
In the top of the 10th, redshirt-sophomore pitcher Kyle Heyne (Coldwater, Ohio/Coldwater) struck out the first two Raiders and forced the third to groundout.
Junior designated hitter Matt Gard (Muncie, Ind./Central) struck out to open the Ball State 10th, but reached first on a wild pitch. Freshman Nate Fields (Cincinnati, Ohio/Anderson) entered the game as a pinch runner and advanced to second after junior shortstop Eric Earnhart (Urbana, Ohio/Urbana) walked. Senior catcher Matt Singleton (Ft. Wayne, Ind./Homestead) was hit by a pitch, forcing both runners over one base, then Sullivan knocked a single to left center scoring Fields from third base for the game-winner.
Heyne (2-4) earned the win after going three innings in a relief capacity with five strikeouts, surrendering one hit with no walks or earned runs.
Freshman Jay Broughton (Indianapolis, Ind./Triton Central) made his second start of the year, finishing five innings with one strikeout, five walks, three hits and no runs against. Senior Jeff Michael (Elkhart, Ind./Concord) pitched two innings of scoreless middle relief for BSU.
Wright State relief pitcher Nate Stevens suffered the loss after entering the game in the bottom of the ninth. Stevens allowed one run on two hits and one walk, while posting one strikeout. Starter Erich Schanz pitched seven scoreless innings, notching four strikeouts while allowing six hits and walking two batters.
The Cardinals travel to West Lafayette, Ind., tomorrow to square off with Purdue (11-5) at 3 p.m. Mike Perleberg and Joel Nickels of WCRD will broadcast the game online at www.wcrd.net or on the baseball schedule page at www.ballstatesports.com.
