Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
Buffalo
Baseball Sweeps Saturday Doubleheader With Buffalo
April 05, 2008 | Baseball
MUNCIE, Ind. -- Pitching was a constant for the Ball State baseball team in Saturday's Mid-American Conference doubleheader with Buffalo at Ball Diamond.
The Cardinals allowed just one run in both games as they defeated the Bulls 3-1 in the opener and then got the bats going for a 16-1 victory in game two.
In the two games combined, Ball State out-hit Buffalo 22-6. Ball State starters allowed three hits in each game, while the Cardinals' bullpen pitched a combined six innings without allowing a single hit.
Justin Rogers -- a left fielder and first baseman -- led Ball State offensively with five combined hits in the two games.
With the pair of wins, Ball State improved its record to 16-9 overall and a perfect 5-0 in MAC play. The Cardinals also ran their season-best winning streak to eight games. With the two losses, Buffalo dropped its record to 7-19 and 2-5 in the MAC.
The teams will wrap up their three-game weekend series with the finale Sunday at 1 p.m.
Game 1 Recap
In Saturday's first game, Ball State starting pitcher Tyler Pritchard out-dueled Buffalo starter Jeffrey Hains as the Cardinals opened the day with a 3-1 win.
Pritchard -- who also earned the win in the series opener at Kent State a week ago -- picked up his second straight win on the mound. The senior right-hander pitched six strong innings Saturday, allowing one run and three hits. He matched his season-high with seven strikeouts.
Buffalo got to Pritchard for a run in the top of the fourth inning on a leadoff homer from first baseman Nick Walczak as the Bulls grabbed a 1-0 lead.
Ball State, however, responded quickly to match the Bulls in the bottom of the fourth. Rogers -- who led all players in the game with three hits -- ripped a leadoff double and moved to third base on a ground out by catcher Zach Dygert. Rogers then came home to tie the game 1-1 on an RBI single from designated hitter Kolbrin Vitek.
Vitek was back at it again in the sixth inning as Ball State grabbed a 2-1 lead. Center fielder Wayne Bond Jr. and Rogers led off with back-to-back singles, and Bond later scored on another RBI single from Vitek.
The Cardinals tacked on another run in the seventh inning when right fielder Ryan Chenoweth singled and came home to score on an RBI double from Bond.
Pritchard left the game after the sixth inning, but the Ball State bullpen picked up right where he left off. Brad Piatt came on to pitch 2.1 scoreless innings without allowing a hit. Closer Kyle Heyne then threw the final 0.2 innings to finish things off and earn his fifth save of the season.
Hains pitched well for Buffalo but took the loss. He allowed three runs -- two earned -- on eight hits in eight innings.
Walczak led the Bulls with two hits in the game.
Game 2 Recap
In game two of the doubleheader, Ball State starter Brenden Stines mirrored Pritchard's game one performance in virtually every statistical category.
Stines pitched six innings and allowed one run on three hits, leading the Cardinals to a 16-1 win. Like Pritchard, he also struck out seven Buffalo batters.
Stines gave up his one run in the first inning on an RBI double from Buffalo shortstop Jacob Rosenbeck. The junior right-hander surrendered hits to two of the first three batters he faced but then settled down and allowed just one hit over the next five innings.
As it was in the first game, Buffalo's 1-0 lead was short lived. The Ball State bats quickly heated up for three runs in the bottom of the first inning and three more in the second as the Cardinals grabbed a 6-1 lead and command of the game.
The first-inning scoring was highlighted by an RBI triple from Vitek, while the big play of the second inning was a two-run home run from shortstop Dean Anna.
Anna and Bond each collected two hits and logged two RBI in the game to lead Ball State. Rogers and catcher Alex Schmid also notched two hits apiece for the Cardinals, while designated hitter Joe Mack and second baseman Shannon McCormick each added a pair of RBI.
Ball State pounded out 14 hits in the game to just three for Buffalo. Rosenbeck led the Bulls at the plate with two hits and an RBI.
The Cardinals later put the game out of reach with six runs in the sixth inning and four more in the seventh.
For the second straight game, the Ball State bullpen did not allow a hit. Relief pitchers Aaron Hammons, Adam Quinn and Tom Mueller each pitched scoreless innings to close the game out.
