Ball State University
Miami
Pritchard Impressive On Mound, But Cards Fall At Miami
April 01, 2007 | Baseball
OXFORD, Ohio - The Ball State baseball team suffered a tough loss Saturday in a 2-1 pitchers' duel at Miami's McKie Field.
Ball State starter Tyler Pritchard had one of his best outings of the season, but the Cardinals could not provide enough offense to earn him the win.
Ball State (11-15, 2-3 MAC) will look to salvage one game of the three-game weekend series with Miami (15-9, 5-0 MAC) when the two teams meet Sunday at 1 p.m.
In Saturday's contest, Pritchard was perfect through 3.2 innings until Miami's Jordan Petraitis broke through with the RedHawks' first hit on a single to right field. Pritchard, though, got out of the inning without any damage and then shut Miami down in the fifth inning, as well.
It was the sixth inning, when Miami pushed a run across to break the scoreless tie. After Evan Armitage singled and advanced to second base on a wild pitch, Petraitis singled up the middle to plate the game's first run.
As quickly as Ball State had fallen behind, however, the Cardinals evened the score again. Ryan Chenoweth picked up a one-out single up the middle, then advanced to second base on a wild pitch and stole third base. Matt Gard then brought Chenoweth home with a sacrifice fly to right field, knotting the score at 1-1.
But the RedHawks managed to take the lead back in the seventh, scoring a run without a hit. Chris Nadeau reached first base after being hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Nadeau then advanced to second on a balk and moved to third on an Eric Darlage sacrifice bunt. Nadeau then came home to score on a Jeff Carroll sacrifice fly to center field.
Ball State managed a baserunner in both the eighth and ninth innings, but the Cardinals were not able to move either past first base. Ball State left eight runners on base in the game.
Miami's Bobby Oberschlake earned the win on the mound after pitching one inning in relief of Connor Graham, who left the game after 6.2 innings with the game tied 1-1. Graham allowed one run on four hits. Bailey Pratt earned the save for Miami, throwing the final 1.1 innings to seal the win.
Pritchard was just as strong on the mound for Ball State, allowing two runs on five hits in 7.2 innings. At the plate, the Cardinals collected six hits to Miami's five.
