Ball State University Athletics
Baseball Eliminated From NCAA Regional
June 04, 2006 | Baseball
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Playing against the No. 8 team in the nation for the second time in three days, Ball State could not extend its season in the NCAA Regional.
The Cardinals rallied late with four runs in the eighth inning, but it was not enough to overcome a six-run Kentucky lead. The Wildcats tacked on a run in the ninth inning and held on for a 12-9 win.
Kentucky, held to one run in Friday's loss to Ball State, pounded out 19 hits and scored in all but three innings. Ball State finishes the season 38-22. Kentucky (44-16) advances to the regional championship game against College of Charleston.
"The last game of the season is always hard. Our 10 seniors have just been fabulous to our program," Ball State coach Greg Beals said. "I'm proud of the way we played. We kept competing and got in position to win the ballgame. We were one big hit away."
After Ball State had tied the score 4-4 with a three-run second inning, Kentucky bounced back with three runs of its own in the third to take the lead for good.
The Wildcats scored two runs in the inning on a Ryan Wilkes double and added the third on an Antone DeJesus sacrifice fly to take a 7-4 lead.
Ball State clawed within two runs on a Mike Ayala RBI groundout in the bottom of the third inning, but Kentucky tacked on two in the fourth and two in the seventh to extend its lead to 11-5.
In the eighth inning, Ball State loaded the bases before a Mike Sullivan single to center field scored two runs. After Brad Miller was intentionally walked for the second time in the game, Justin Rogers singled to right field to score another run. C.J. Webb then drew a bases-loaded walk to score the final run for Ball State.
After Kentucky added their run in the top of the ninth, the Cardinals had just one base runner in the bottom of the inning.
Ball State compiled 16 base hits in the game, including three each by Sullivan, Webb and Kyle Dygert. The Cardinals finished 1-2 in the regional, which was the school's first tournament appearance since 1969.
"This is a new situation for all of us," Dygert said. "Coming in here, we were excited, but it was kind of a learning experience for us. I had a great time, and it was a great experience."
