Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
Chicago State
Piatt?s Gem Lifts Baseball Past Chicago State
March 13, 2009 | Baseball
MUNCIE, Ind. - - Behind a seven-inning, one hit effort from pitcher Brad Piatt, the Ball State baseball team opened its four-game home series versus Chicago State with a 10-1 victory Friday afternoon at Ball Diamond.
Over his seven innings for work, Piatt struck out eight Cougars, while issuing just one walk and limiting the guests to an infield single. The win moved Piatt's record on the year to 3-0, while the Cardinals improved to 7-6 as a squad. Chicago State fell to 0-13 with the loss.
BSU would provide all the runs it need for the victory in the third inning, with a five-spot on the Ball Diamond score board. Kolbrin Vitek opened the scoring with a one-out, two-run triple to center field, his first of two three-baggers in the contest.
A Kory Benbow single to left pushed in Vitek from third, while an Ian Nelson single drove in Zach Dygert, who walked to reach base, for BSU's fourth run of the frame. T.J. Baumet drove in the final run of the inning with his single to center field.
Ball State added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth on a Baumet RBI ground-out and a Jeremy Hazelbaker single to center.
The Cardinals pushed their advantage to 9-0 in the bottom of seven off an Aaron Etchison RBI double to left and a Tim Issler sacrifice fly.
Chicago State scored its lone run of the contest in the top of the eighth, on an RBI groundout from Jeremy Perez, while BSU responded in the bottom of the frame with a Nathan Koontz RBI double to end the scoring at 10-1.
James Tucker took the loss for the Cougars, falling to 0-5 on the year. In six innings of work, Tucker allowed seven runs, three of which were earned, and 10 hits while striking out five batters.
Scott Brothers Jr. pitched the final two innings for the Cardinals, giving up one run and one hit, while striking out three batters.
Vitek led the Cardinals at the plate with three hits, including two triples, while Hazelbaker, Nelson and Koontz each collected two hits.
For the game, BSU scored 10 runs on 13 hits with no errors, CSU tallied one run on two hits with three errors.
Ball State and Chicago State will return to action Saturday with a 1 p.m. double header at Ball Diamond. Admission to all BSU baseball games is free.
