Ball State University Athletics
Baseball Takes Game One From Broncos
April 28, 2006 | Baseball
Three bases-loaded walks in the second inning by Broncos' starter Dan O'Brien allowed the Cardinals to take an early 3-0 lead. Seniors Brad Miller (Muncie, Ind./Central), C.J. Webb (Mascoutah, Ill./Mascoutah) and Kyle Dygert (Angola, Ind./Angola) all crossed the plate.
WMU responded with one run in each of the fourth, fifth and sixth innings before BSU came back with two in the bottom of the sixth. Junior Matt Gard (Muncie, Ind./Central) posted an RBI groundout to drive in Dygert from third base, then junior Eric Earnhart (Urbana, Ohio/Urbana) singled up the middle to score Pestle and give Ball State a 5-3 lead.
Western Michigan tied the game at 5-5 in the seventh inning with its final two runs, as Nathan Marquardt drove a two-run shot over the left-field wall, bringing home Mark Abro from first base.
In the bottom of the seventh, Webb drove in the eventual game-winning run on a sac fly to center field. Senior Mike Sullivan (Valparaiso, Ind./Valparaiso) scored from third on the play.
Redshirt-sophomore Ben Snyder (Bellevue, Ohio/Bellevue) earned the win (4-4) after going seven innings, fanning seven batters, including five straight in the second and third innings. Snyder gave up five earned runs on 10 hits, while walking three batters.
Redshirt-sophomore Kyle Heyne (Coldwater, Ohio/Coldwater) picked up his eighth save of the season by closing out the final two innings. Heyne struck out three batters while walking just one.
Western Michigan's Drew Mahan (1-3) suffered the loss during his 1.1 innings of work.
The Cardinals host the Broncos again tomorrow and Sunday, both at 1 p.m.
