Ball State University
Central Michigan
Baseball Drops Series Opener At Central Michigan, 7-3
April 18, 2008 | Baseball
MT. PLEASANT, Mich. -- The Ball State baseball team fell 7-3 Friday in the first game of a three-game Mid-American Conference series at Central Michigan.
Left fielder Kory Benbow led the Cardinals offensively with three hits in the game, while center fielder Wayne Bond Jr. and catcher Zach Dygert each recorded an RBI.
The game was tied 3-3 through seven innings before the Chippewas broke through with four runs in the eighth inning to take control. Central Michigan scored the go-ahead run on an RBI single from catcher Dale Cornstubble and went on to add three more runs in the inning.
Central Michigan pitcher Eric Lawrence then came back out for the final inning and sent the Cardinals down in order. Lawrence pitched a complete game, allowing six hits while striking out nine batters. Two of the three runs he allowed were earned.
The game was a back-and-forth contest over the first six innings.
Ball State (21-12, 7-3 MAC) got on the scoreboard with an unearned run in the third inning. Third baseman T.J. Baumet led off with a walk and moved to third base when shortstop Dean Anna reached on an error. Baumet then scored on a sacrifice fly from Bond.
Central Michigan (17-18, 6-6 MAC) threatened in the bottom of the third, putting runners on first and second with no outs. Ball State starter Tyler Pritchard, though, retired the next three batters in order to end the inning.
The Chippewas then broke through with two runs in the fourth on a single from Cornstubble to take a 2-1 lead. Cornstubble led Central Michigan with three hits and three RBI.
Ball State responded with a pair of runs in the fifth inning to take the lead back at 3-2. The Cardinals scored runs on an RBI single from Dygert and a Central Michigan error.
Central Michigan then knotted the game 3-3 on an unearned run in the sixth inning.
Pritchard allowed three runs -- two earned -- in six innings. He struck out five batters but earned a no-decision after leaving after six innings with the game tied.
Neither team managed a run in the seventh inning, but Central Michigan's four-run eighth inning put the game away.
Ball State and Central Michigan will resume their three-game series Saturday with a 2 p.m. first pitch.
