Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
Buffalo
Baseball Defeats Buffalo 9-3 To Complete Series Sweep
April 06, 2008 | Baseball
MUNCIE, Ind. -- The Ball State baseball team completed a weekend sweep of Buffalo Sunday with a 9-3 victory in the final game of a three-game Mid-American Conference series.
The Cardinals' pitching -- which was strong all weekend -- continued its dominance Sunday. Ball State starter Kolbrin Vitek earned his fourth win of the season, allowing three runs (two earned) in seven innings. The freshman right-hander struck out six Buffalo batters and did not surrender a walk.
Ball State improved to 7-0 in games Vitek has started. The Cardinals upped their overall record to 17-9, while running their current winning streak to nine games. Ball State also remained perfect in MAC action at 6-0, the best record in the league.
While Vitek controlled things on the mound, the top of Ball State's order did the damage at the plate. The first four batters in the Cardinals' order combined to go 10-for-18 on the day with seven RBI and seven runs scored.
Leadoff hitter Dean Anna led all players with four hits in the game. The next three hitters -- center fielder Wayne Bond Jr., first baseman Justin Rogers and catcher Zach Dygert -- all added two hits apiece. Dygert also logged a game-high three RBI, while hitting both a triple and a home run.
Ball State opened the scoring in the first inning. The Cardinals picked up three straight hits to open the game. The last one was an RBI single from Rogers that put the Cardinals on top 1-0.
Buffalo, however, scored two runs in the second inning and another in the third to grab its largest lead of the weekend at 3-1.
That lead proved to be short. Ball State took a 4-3 lead with three runs in the bottom of the third on a two-run homer from Bond and an RBI ground out from left fielder Kory Benbow. The Cardinals never trailed again.
Bond's homer was his sixth of the season, which leads the Cardinals.
Ball State extended its lead with five runs in the fourth inning. Three of those runs came on a home run from Dygert -- his fourth of the year.
After Buffalo's runs in the second and third innings, Vitek settled in and held the Bulls scoreless over his final four innings. He sent Buffalo down in order in three of those innings and faced just four batters in the other.
Relief pitchers Eric Van Matre and Heath Riley combined to pitch the final two scoreless innings for the Cardinals' bullpen, which did not allow a run all weekend in eight innings of work over three games.
Ball State returns to action Tuesday with a midweek, non-conference game at IPFW. The Cardinals then return home for next weekend's three-game series with Bowling Green.
