Ball State University
Wake Forest
Cards Use Big Inning To Take Second Straight From Wake
March 14, 2007 | Baseball
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Ball State baseball team scored all the runs it would need in the sixth inning Wednesday on the way to a 6-5 win over Wake Forest at Hooks Stadium.
The Cardinals exploded for six runs in the sixth to overcome a three-run deficit and hand the Demon Deacons a loss for the second straight day. With the win Ball State improves to 6-9 and extends its winning streak to three games.
Center fielder Ryan Chenoweth led the Cardinals with two hits on the day to improve his batting average to .319 on the season. He trails only first baseman Matt Stoeklen, who is hitting .348 after singling Wednesday to extend his hitting streak to six games.
Wake Forest starting pitcher Joel Ernst took a no-hitter into the sixth inning but loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth on two walks and an error. Ball State left fielder Justin Rogers then drew the third walk of the inning to bring home the Cardinals' first run.
The next batter, Stoeklen, picked up Ball State's first hit on a single to left field that scored two runs to tie the game 3-3. The Cardinals scored the go ahead run when designated hitter Joe Mack grounded into a double play, scoring Rogers from third base. Chenoweth then followed with his third home run of the season, a two-run shot over the right field fence.
When the smoke cleared, Ball State had turned a 3-0 deficit without a hit into a 6-3 lead with four hits.
Brad Piatt started the game on the mound for Ball State and allowed three runs - one earned - in four innings of work. Jeff Loveys and Tyler Pritchard each came out of the bullpen to throw one scoreless inning. Loveys finished as the Cardinals' pitcher of record, earning his first win of the season.
Josh Vollmer entered in the seventh inning and threw 1.2 innings. He allowed a Wake Forest run on an RBI single from shortstop Dustin Hood in the eighth inning before giving way to Ball State closer Kyle Heyne.
A two-out RBI double in the eighth inning from third baseman Tyler Smith brought Wake Forest to within one run at 6-5, but Heyne struck out the next batter to end the inning and then sent the Demon Deacons down in order in the ninth for his fourth save of the season.
Wake Forest did much of its damage in the first two innings. After loading the bases with one out in the first, the Demon Deacons pushed the first run across when Hood picked up an RBI by grounding into a fielder's choice. With the help of two Ball State errors, the Demon Deacons added two more runs in the second inning, one on a sacrifice fly from left fielder Ben Terry and one on an RBI single from first baseman Allan Dykstra, to take a 3-0 lead.
Chenoweth and Stoeklen each finished with two RBI on the day for Ball State, and Rogers had one.
Ball State returns to action Friday with its home opener at Ball Diamond. The Cardinals will take on Evansville at 11 a.m. to kick off the Ball State Invitational.
