Ball State University Athletics
Big Innings Lift Baseball to Victory over Toledo
May 06, 2006 | Baseball
Muncie, Ind. - - The Ball State baseball team used a pair of big innings to score a 9-4 victory over visiting Toledo Saturday afternoon at Ball Diamond. With the win, the Cardinals improve to 26-18 (12-7 Mid-American Conference) on the year, while the Rockets fall to 20-23 (7-13 MAC).
After two scoreless innings to open the game, Toledo broke onto the scoreboard first in the top of the third on a first-pitch home run from Jake Swint.
UT would not hold the advantage for long, as the Cardinals struck back in the bottom of the frame with five runs.
With one out, Matt Singleton drew a walk to start the rally, while Mike Sullivan was hit by a pitch and Brad Miller drew a walk to load the bases. Justin Rogers would drive in the first two BSU runs with an RBI double down the leftfield line. C.J. Webb would follow with a two run single.
Webb tried to stretch the play into a double, but only reached second successfully when the Toledo second baseman dropped the relay throw while trying to make the tag. Two batters later, a Chris Pestle triple off the center-field wall pushed home Webb.
The Cardinals would add four more runs in the bottom of the fifth on a Webb sacrifice fly and a three-run homer by Chris Pestle.
Trailing 9-1, Toledo would add one run in the sixth on a Dan Stong RBI single following a leadoff double from Scott Boley.
The Rockets would post two more runs in the top of the ninth, opening the frame with three-straight singles, including an RBI base hit from Drew Hoisington. After a Swint sacrifice fly pushed the second run across, two more singles would load the bases with one out. However, BSU reliever Ritchie Fralick struck out the next batter and forced a game-ending fly out to centerfield.
Starting pitcher Tyler Pritchard (.0 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 K) picked up his fifth win of the season by limiting the Rockets to a pair of runs over the first six innings. He also struck out five batters while improving to 5-2.
Fralick (3.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K) earned his third save in the contest, throwing the final three innings.
Toledo's Kyle Rawlings (2.2 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 0 K) suffered the loss, falling to 6-3 on the year. Also appearing on the mound for the Rockets were Jeff Cinadr (2.1 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 0 K) and Mike Inselmann (3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K).
The Cardinals and Rockets will conclude their three-game series at
