Ball State University Athletics
Baseball Shut Out by Eastern Michigan
April 21, 2006 | Baseball
Junior shortstop Eric Earnhart (Urbana, Ohio/Urbana) posted Ball State's first hit of the game in the third inning with a single to right center, but the Cardinals failed to drive him home.
The Eagles struck in the third inning as Derek Lehrman scored from second on a single by Jeff Davis, giving EMU a 1-0 lead.
Redshirt-sophomore Ben Snyder (Bellevue, Ohio/Bellevue) pitched the first four innings, posting four strikeouts while allowing three hits, one earned run and two walks in the loss, which drops his record to 3-4 on the year.
After a 2:05 lightning/rain delay, the Cardinals added two hits in the top of the fifth – a single up the middle by senior left fielder Chris Pestle (Lafayette, Ind./McCutcheon) and a single to right field by Earnhart.
Freshman Jay Broughton (Indianapolis, Ind./Triton Central) took over the mound after the extended break and pitched three innings. Broughton struck out two batters, while surrendering six hits, six earned runs and four walks.
EMU added to its lead by scoring three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Josh Ivan started things off with an RBI double down the right field line, scoring Isaiah Gainforth from third. Steve Bradshaw knocked another double, this time to left field, to drive in Jeff Hehr and Ivan and give the Eagles a 4-0 lead.
The Eagles tacked on another run in the sixth as Lehrman singled up the middle to score Gainforth.
Cardinals' senior second baseman Kyle Dygert (Angola, Ind./Angola) drove a shot through the right side in the top of the seventh inning for BSU's fourth hit.
In the bottom of the seventh, Eastern Michigan scored three runs to extend its lead to 8-0. Davis was forced home on a bases loaded walk, then Matt Moffett doubled to left field scoring Bradshaw and Hehr.
Freshman pitcher Adam Quinn (Crown Point, Ind./Crown Point) made his fifth appearance of the season, taking over in the eighth inning and allowing just one hit.
Eastern Michigan's Jeff Fischer threw all nine innings, notching nine strikeouts while allowing four hits and walking one.
The Cardinals and Eagles meet again tomorrow at 5 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.
