Ball State University
Bowling Green
Baseball's Streak Snapped Friday Against Bowling Green
April 11, 2008 | Baseball
By Andrew Lentz
ballstatesports.com
MUNCIE, Ind. ? In windy conditions Friday at Ball Diamond, Bowling Green used a strong offensive performance to put an end to the Ball State baseball team's 10-game winning streak with an 18-12 victory. The loss also marked the Cardinals' first defeat in Mid-American Conference play.
Ball State (18-10, 6-1 MAC) registered nine hits and four home runs in the game. The Cardinals led 8-7 after five innings, but the Falcons used three home runs to score five runs in the sixth and took the lead for good.
Left fielder Nate Fields and center fielder Wayne Bond Jr. paced the Cardinals offensively. Fields logged two hits and three RBI, while Bond added two hits, three runs and one RBI. Designated hitter Kolbrin Vitek also notched three RBI and drew three walks, while first baseman Justin Rogers led all Cardinals with four RBI.
It didn't take long for the two teams to put their bats to use. BSU took a 3-2 advantage on Vitek's third home run of the season into the second inning.
The game went back-and-forth throughout the first five innings. The Falcons (14-12, 5-2 MAC) responded in the second inning with two runs and added to their lead in the third on one of Derek Spencer's three home runs.
The Cardinals used home runs from Bond and Fields to regain the lead, 7-5, before Bowling Green tied the game heading into the bottom of the fourth inning. Shortstop Dean Anna led off the bottom of the fourth with a double and later scored on a ground out by Rogers to earn the Cardinals' last lead, 8-7.
BSU made things interesting with a three-run home run from Rogers in the bottom of the eighth inning to cut the lead to 14-11. But the top of the ninth saw the Falcons close the door on the Cardinals' comeback bid with four more runs.
The Cardinals managed a run in the bottom of the ninth but ultimately fell after the offensive showcase.
“We've gotten off to a strong start, and I think our guys expected them to hand us a victory today,” said Ball State coach Greg Beals. “We didn't do anything to win a baseball game today.”
BSU used three pitchers on the afternoon, including Tyler Pritchard, who pitched five innings. Brad Piatt pitched three innings out of the bullpen, while Heath Riley pitched one.
For Bowling Green, Nick Cantrell earned the victory on the mound. Cantrell did not allow a run or a hit in two innings.
