Ball State University
Akron
Early Offense Leads Baseball To Victory In MAC Opener
March 20, 2009 | Baseball
Ball State improves to 10-8 on the season overall and 1-0 in MAC action. This marks the fifth straight season that Ball State has won its MAC opener and the Cardinals improve to 31-10 in conference opening weekends since the 1995 season.
Junior right-hander Brad Piatt (Galveston, Ind./Lewis Cass) improved to 4-0 on the season as he allowed two runs, only one earned, in 5.2 innings of work. He struck out four batters without walking any to pick up the victory. Junior right-hander Morgan Coombs (West Terre Haute, Ind./Lincoln Trail) worked 2.1 innings of scoreless relief to earn his first save of the season as the Cardinals' bullpen held Akron scoreless for 3.1 innings.
Ball State jumped on the board quickly against Akron starter Tom Farmer as it plated three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Junior center fielder Jeremy Hazelbaker (Selma, Ind./Wapahani) led off the game with an infield single and senior second baseman Nate Fields (Cincinnati, Ohio/Anderson) walked to put two aboard.
After an error on Farmer put runners on the corners, sophomore third baseman Kolbrin Vitek (Bryan, Ohio/Bryan) singled to right field to plate Hazelbaker with the first run of the day. The Cardinals executed a double steal to put two in scoring position and junior left fielder Kory Benbow (Muncie, Ind./Cowan) brought home Fields with a single through the left side. Freshman first baseman Ian Nielsen (La Porte, Ind./La Porte) gave the Cardinals a 3-0 lead as he lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to bring home Vitek.
Akron came right out in the top of the second inning and tacked on a run to narrow the Cardinals' lead to 3-1. Designated hitter Jake Plata led off the inning with a home run over the right field wall on a 2-0 pitch from Piatt for his third home run of the season.
Farmer (1-3) settled in and kept the Cardinals at bay for most of the afternoon as he only allowed three runs on four hits in the complete game loss. The Zips added another run in the top of the fourth inning as Brandon White reached on a fielder's choice and came home to score after a single by Kyle Hallett and a Cardinals' error in the outfield to pull within one at 3-2. The Zips were threatening to tie the game in the fourth as Ryan Frazee ripped a line drive that appeared headed down the left field line but Vitek made a leaping stab for the third out of the inning.
The Cardinals worked out of a jam in the top of the sixth inning as Akron put together back-to-back singles with two outs to chase Piatt from the game. Junior right-hander Aaron Hammons (Greenfield, Ind./Greenfield Central) came on in relief and after allowing a walk to load the bases, Hammons induced a fly ball to center field to get out of the inning.
Coombs and the Cardinals slammed the door shut down the stretch with some good defense including a dazzling play in the top of the ninth inning. After an out, Akron's Kevin Haas lifted a fly ball into shallow center field but BSU shortstop T.J. Baumet (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) made a diving, over the shoulder catch to keep the bases empty. Coombs finished the game as he got John Turk to fly out to center field to cap off the victory.
Ball State and Akron will continue their MAC season-opening series Saturday afternoon. Game time is set for 1 p.m. at Ball Diamond and admission is free.
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