Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
UAB
Baseball Splits Doubleheader, Heyne Breaks Saves Record
February 24, 2008 | Baseball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Ball State closer Kyle Heyne entered this weekend's season-opening series at UAB needing one save to take sole possession of the top spot on the Cardinals' career saves list.
In the first game of Saturday's doubleheader, Heyne let an opportunity to accomplish that feat slip through his fingers as UAB scored a come-from-behind 11-10 victory in the ninth inning.
The fifth-year senior got a second chance in Saturday's second game and made the most of it.
Heyne recorded a perfect final inning to secure a 3-2 win for Ball State and earn the 25th save of his career. He entered the season tied atop the career list at 24 with former Cardinal Ron Schrock (1983-85). He now owns the mark by himself.
"It's been so valuable to have a guy like Kyle that we can really count on and trust to go out there and finish off ball games," Ball State head coach Greg Beals said. "A record like that says a lot about Kyle, and I think it also says a lot about our team that we've been able to put the ball in his hand with a lead and give him a chance to get that record."
In addition to breaking the record, Heyne helped Ball State (1-2) secure its first win of the young season. UAB (2-1) leads the four-game weekend series two games to one, but all three games have been decided by one run. The final game is slated for Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Blazers' Young Memorial Field.
GAME 2 RECAP
After a high scoring first game, Ball State won a 3-2 pitcher's duel in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader.
Neither team managed a run through the first six innings as both starting pitchers controlled the game. Ball State starter Brad Piatt pitched six scoreless innings while UAB starter Brandon Wallace allowed two unearned runs in seven innings.
Both of those runs came in the seventh inning when Ball State plated one on a throwing error and another on an RBI groundout from catcher Alex Schmid. UAB quickly answered in the bottom of the seventh with two runs of its own to even the score at 2-2.
The eighth inning proved to be the decisive one as Ball State manufactured the go-ahead run. Third baseman T.J. Baumet led off with a single before advancing to second base on a balk and to third on a groundout to the right side by center fielder Wayne Bond Jr. Baumet then came home to score on an RBI groundout from second baseman Jeremy Hazelbaker, putting the Cardinals ahead for good.
Ball State right-hander Heath Riley, who had taken over for Piatt in the seventh inning, retired the side in the eighth inning to get the ball to Heyne in the ninth. Riley, a redshirt freshman, earned the first win of his collegiate career.
The Cardinals were out-hit 10-4 in the win but stayed in the game with strong pitching and defense. Ball State turned four double plays in the game to prevent UAB's chances for more runs.
GAME 1 RECAP
In the first game of Saturday's doubleheader, Ball State took a lead in the late innings but surrendered it in the ninth as the Cardinals dropped an 11-10 decision.
Left fielder Nate Fields homered twice in the game for Ball State, and designated hitter Kolbrin Vitek picked up three hits to lead Ball State offensively.
The Cardinals held a slim 10-9 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth inning, but UAB rallied to take take the win and a 2-0 lead in the weekend series. Blazer first baseman Ryan Keedy brought home the game-tying run with an RBI double. After an intentional walk to load the bases, center fielder Cody McMurry singled home the winning run for UAB.
UAB's Kyle Roberson earned the win after pitching the final two innings. Heyne took the loss for Ball State.
Keedy and McMurry, along with UAB third baseman Luke Stewart, led the Blazers with three RBI each. Fields and Vitek each logged three RBI for Ball State.
The Cardinals trailed by as many as four runs before rallying for two in the seventh and three in the eighth to take a 10-9 lead. Fields' second home run of the game accounted for the two seventh-inning runs. Ball State loaded the bases in the eighth inning to set the table for an RBI groundout from second baseman Jeremy Hazelbaker and a two-run single off the bat of center fielder Wayne Bond, giving the Cardinals a brief one-run lead.
UAB did most of its damage in the fourth inning with seven unearned runs. The Blazers recorded only two hits in the inning but sent 10 batters to the plate with the aid of three walks and a pair of Ball State errors. Stewart put an exclamation point on the inning for UAB with a three-run homer that put the Blazers on top 9-5.
The inning allowed UAB to overcome an early 5-2 Ball State lead. The Cardinals had scored three runs in the first inning -- two of them on an RBI single from Vitek -- and two in the third inning on Fields' first home run and an RBI double from Vitek. Fields' home run was the first of his Ball State career.
Right-hander Brenden Stines started the game for Ball State. He allowed eight runs -- but just two earned -- in 3.2 innings. Left-hander Eric Van Matre and right-hander Aaron Hammons combined to throw four innings out of the Cardinals' bullpen without having a run charged to them. The pair allowed just one hit over those four innings.
