Ball State University Athletics
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Western Michigan
Baseball Drops 6-3 Decision Saturday At Western Michigan
April 26, 2008 | Baseball
KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- The Ball State baseball team suffered a 6-3 loss Saturday at Western Michigan as the Broncos evened the three-game weekend series at one game apiece.
The Ball State bats were silent for much of the day against Western Michigan starting pitcher Billy Morrison. The Cardinals were shut out through the game's first seven innings as the Broncos built a 6-0 lead.
Ball State (23-16, 8-6 MAC) tried to rally in the late innings but came up short.
The top of the Ball State order ignited a rally in the top of the eighth inning. Shortstop Dean Anna, center fielder Wayne Bond Jr. and first baseman Justin Rogers belted back-to-back-to-back home runs to cut Western Michigan's six run lead to 6-3 and chase Morrison from the game.
Anna's homer was his team-leading 11th of the season, while Bond's was his 10th of the year, good for second on the team. Rogers' homer was his seventh of the year.
Ball State held Western Michigan scoreless in the bottom of the eighth to give itself a chance, but Western Michigan reliever Derek Mosher sent the Cardinals down in order in the ninth.
Morrison earned the win, allowing three runs on eight hits in seven innings while striking out seven batters. Mosher picked up the save for the Broncos.
Ball State catcher Zach Dygert and left fielder Nate Fields led the Cardinals offensively with two hits each while four other Cardinals recorded one hit apiece.
Western Michigan (21-14-1, 6-8 MAC) opened the scoring Saturday in the bottom of the second inning when Bronco right fielder Joe Sheets sent the first pitch he saw over the left field fence.
Western Michigan then extended its lead to 3-0 in the third inning. Shortstop Grant Simotes plated one Bronco run on an RBI double, and first baseman Matthew Abro later brought Simotes home to score on an RBI single.
The Broncos then tacked on an unearned run in the fourth inning and one run apiece in the fifth and sixth frames to build their lead up to 6-0.
Abro and Sheets were two of four Western Michigan players to record two hits in the game, and Abro's two RBI were a game-high.
Ball State and Western Michigan will meet Sunday at 1 p.m. in the final game of the series at the Broncos' Hyames Field.
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