Ball State University
Missouri
Baseball Drops Series Finale At Missouri, 7-6
March 08, 2009 | Baseball
The Cardinals got on the board first with a pair of runs in the top of the third inning against Missouri starter Nick Tepesch. Senior second baseman Nate Fields (Cincinnati, Ohio/Anderson) got things going with a two out single through the left side. Sophomore right-hander/designated hitter Kolbrin Vitek (Bryan, Ohio/Bryan) helped his own cause out a he tallied a two-run home run to put BSU ahead 2-0.
Ball State struck for two more in the top of the fourth inning as it once again used the long ball. Junior left fielder Kory Benbow (Muncie, Ind./Cowan) started things off with a single to left field to open the inning. Freshman first baseman Ian Nielsen (La Porte, Ind./La Porte) followed with his fourth home run of the season as he drilled a 0-2 pitch over the left field wall.
Missouri broke open for five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning against Vitek to take the lead for good. The Tigers took advantage of two Cardinal errors in the inning around three hits to take the 5-4 lead. Missouri's hits in the inning were the first registered against Vitek on the afternoon and were enough to chase him from the game.
After the Tigers added a run in the bottom of the sixth inning, Ball State scored a run in the top of the seventh inning to narrow the deficit to 6-5. Junior catcher Zach Dygert (Angola, Ind./Angola) recorded the Cardinals' third home run of the game as he ripped a two out solo home run to pull BSU within one.
Missouri added a big insurance run in the bottom of the seventh inning to take a two run lead. The Cardinals had one final push in the top of the ninth inning against Missouri closer Scooter Hicks. Junior centerfielder Jeremy Hazelbaker (Selma, Ind./Wapahani) led off the inning with a triple down the right field line. After an out, Vitek was able to plate Hazelbaker with a sacrifice fly to center field to pull the Cardinals within one run. Dygert followed with a single up the middle to put the tying run aboard, but Hicks was able to induce a ground out from Benbow to end the game.
Vitek was charged with four runs, three earned, in four innings. He allowed just three hits while walking two and striking out three batters. Senior left-hander Tom Mueller (Westfield, Ind./Westfield) (0-1) worked 2.1 innings and was charged with three runs, one earned, on two hits while walking three as he got the loss. Junior left-hander Aaron Hammons (Greenfield, Ind./Greenfield Central) threw 1.2 innings of scoreless relief.
Tepesch (1-1) recorded the win as he worked 6.2 innings of work and was charged with five runs on eight hits. He tallied 12 strikeouts while not walking a batter. Hicks picked up his third save of the season and second of the series after working the ninth.
Ball State will continue its road trip Tuesday afternoon as the Cardinals begin a two-game series at Southern Illinois. The Cardinals will play against the Salukis at 2 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday before coming home next weekend for a four-game series against Chicago State.
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