Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
IPFW
Baseball Uses Big Innings To Power Past IPFW, 24-6
April 08, 2008 | Baseball
FT. WAYNE, Ind. -- The Ball State baseball team got the bats going Tuesday in a 24-6 midweek win on the road at IPFW.
The Cardinals pounded out 17 hits and scored six runs in three different innings as they ran their current winning streak to 10 games.
Ball State left fielder Kory Benbow logged seven RBI in the contest -- including four on a grand slam -- and scored four runs. Shortstop Dean Anna also scored four runs in the win. Center fielder Wayne Bond Jr. was a perfect three-for-three in the game with three RBI.
Ball State (18-9) wasted no time Tuesday, scoring four runs in the top of the first inning. The Cardinals scored two runs on an RBI single from left fielder Kory Benbow and added another on an RBI single from infielder Nate Fields. The Cardinals then tacked on another run on a double steal.
After IPFW (6-18-1) plated two runs in the bottom of the first, the Cardinals picked up one in the second on an RBI double from Bond.
Ball State then exploded for 18 runs over the next four innings to put the game out of reach. The Cardinals scored six runs in the fourth, six in the fifth and six more in the seventh.
Bond and first baseman Matt Stoeklen highlighted the scoring in the fourth inning with a pair of run-scoring doubles. Bond's double scored two runs, while Stooeklen's cleared the bases to score three runs.
The six fifth-inning runs came on RBI singles from Fields and catcher Alex Schmid, an RBI ground out from second baseman Jeremy Hazelbaker and three walks with the bases loaded. The Cardinals drew a total of 10 walks in the game.
The Cardinals then tacked on their final six-run inning in the seventh, highlighted by Benbow's grand slam.
Ball State used seven pitchers in the team's only midweek game before this weekend's Mid-American Conference series with Bowling Green. Relief Pitcher Adam Quinn earned the win after pitching 1.1 innings without allowing a run or a hit.
The Cardinals will look for their 11th win in a row Friday in the series opener with Bowling Green. The last time Ball State won 11 straight was in its 2006 MAC Tournament Championship season.
