Ball State University
Anderson
Five-Homer Inning Helps Baseball To Victory Over Anderson
March 26, 2008 | Baseball
MUNCIE, Ind. -- Ball State right fielder Ryan Chenoweth entered the second inning of Wednesday's home opener against Anderson with a .400 batting average on the season but without a home run. By the time the second inning was complete, Chenoweth had tallied two in the homer column.
Chenoweth's home runs came as part of an 11-run second inning that helped lift the Cardinals to a 20-12 win over the Ravens on an offensive day at Ball Diamond. Ball State racked up 13 extra-base hits in the game on six home runs, six doubles and one triple.
Five of those home runs -- including a grand slam from second baseman Jeremy Hazelbaker -- came in the big second inning.
Hazelbaker led the Cardinals offensively with five RBI. Chenoweth logged a 3-for-5 day at the plate, and his one hit that was not a homer went for a double. Ten Ball State players hit safely as the Cardinals' pounded out 16 hits as a team.
Ball State (9-9) trailed early following a three-run first inning from Anderson (10-7). The Cardinals then picked up a run in the bottom of the first on a solo homer from first baseman Justin Rogers before exploding for their 11-run second.
In addition to Chenoweth's two blasts and Hazelbaker's grand slam, catcher Alex Schmid and designated hitter Nate Fields both went deep in the inning.
The Cardinals then padded their lead further with four more runs in the third inning. Fields and left fielder Kory Benbow each ripped RBI doubles in the inning, while Hazelbaker notched a sacrifice fly and Schmid plated another run on an RBI single.
Schmid and Chenoweth each recorded three RBI in the game.
The Cardinals tacked on two runs in the fifth inning and two more in the sixth, taking a 20-7 advantage into the final three innings. Anderson fought back, however, putting up five runs in the seventh to cut into the Cardinals' lead.
Anderson catcher Brad Lantz brought home one run with an RBI single, and the Ravens' then put up a grand slam of their own when shortstop Daniel Hiatt went deep to left field with the bases loaded.
With its lead cut to eight runs, Ball State managed to keep Anderson off the scoreboard for the final two innings. Reliever Adam Quinn pitched a scoreless eighth inning, and closer Kyle Heyne entered in the ninth inning and sent the Ravens down in order to close the door.
Tom Mueller earned the win for Ball State. The left-hander entered the game in the fourth inning and allowed one run in the two innings he pitched. Kolbrin Vitek started for the Cardinals and struck out three batters while allowing three runs in three innings. Ball State improved to 5-0 in games Vitek has started.
Lantz led Anderson at the plate with three hits, while Hiatt logged a team-high five RBI for the Ravens. Anderson starter Eric Smith took the loss.
In the win, Ball State set a season-high with six total home runs. The Cardinals reached the 20-run mark for the second time this year.
Ball State now heads back to the road for a three-game Mid-American Conference series this weekend at Kent State. The Cardinals will then return to Muncie for a five-game home stand, starting Tuesday against Indiana Tech.
