Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
Akron
Baseball Drops 10-8 Decision Against Akron
March 21, 2009 | Baseball
Akron opened the scoring in the top of the first inning against BSU right-hander Brenden Stines (Granger, Ind./Penn). Kevin Haas led off the game in strong fashion as he ripped the third pitch he saw over the left field wall to give the Zips an early 1-0 lead. Stines was able to work around two base runners following the home run to keep the Zips only ahead by one.
Ball State came back in the bottom of the second inning to tie the game against Akron right-hander Frank Turocy. Freshman first baseman Ian Nielsen (La Porte, Ind./La Porte) started things off with a one out single through the left side. Nielsen was able to come all the way home as junior right fielder Ryan Chenoweth (Fort Wayne, Ind./Homestead) tripled into the right field corner to knot the game at 1-1.
Akron broke open the game in the top of the fourth inning as the Zips plated five runs to take a 6-1 lead. Akron took advantage of one crucial Ball State error as the Zips pounded out five hits in the inning to chase Stines from the game.
The Cardinals answered right back in the bottom of the fourth inning with four runs of their own. After BSU put two runners on, freshman designated hitter Nathan Koontz (Indianapolis, Ind./Brebeuf) executed a perfect hit-and-run as he ripped a single into right center field to plate both runs. Junior center fielder Jeremy Hazelbaker (Selma, Ind./Wapahani) capped the Cardinals' scoring in the inning as he hit a towering two-run home run down the right field line to pull BSU within one at 6-5.
The Zips added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning against BSU relievers Cal Bowling (Muncie, Ind./Yorktown) and Aaron Hammons (Greenfield, Ind./Greenfield Central). Ball State narrowed the gap in the bottom of the seventh inning as junior catcher Zach Dygert (Angola, Ind./Angola) crushed a solo home run over the left field wall to pull Ball State within two at 8-6.
Akron added a run in both of the eighth and ninth innings to go into the bottom of the ninth inning with a 10-6 lead. Ball State kept battling though against Akron closer Ryne Romick in its last at-bat. Hazelbaker started things off with a one-out bunt single and sophomore third baseman Kolbrin Vitek (Bryan, Ohio/Bryan) put two aboard as he singled to left field with two outs. Dygert kept the Cardinals' hopes alive as he ripped a two-run opposite field double down the right field line to narrow the gap to 10-8. Romick was able to get out of the inning though as he struck out the potential game-tying run for the final out of the game.
Stines (0-3) was charged with the loss as he worked 3.2 innings and allowed six runs, only two earned, on eight hits. Bowling was charged with two runs on four hits in 2.2 innings of relief work for the Cardinals. Turocy (1-4) picked up the victory for the Zips despite allowing six runs on nine hits in 6.2 innings of work.
Ball State and Akron will conclude its three-game series Sunday afternoon at Ball Diamond. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. between the Cardinals and Zips.
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