Ball State University
Michigan (DH)
Baseball Drops Both Games Of Doubleheader At Michigan
May 13, 2009 | Baseball
Game One ? Michigan 8, Ball State 5
The Cardinals fell in the first game of the doubleheader at Michigan 8-5 in seven innings Tuesday afternoon. The Cardinals had their three-game winning streak snapped with the loss as BSU was hindered by the Wolverine's seven-run second inning.
Freshman third baseman Tim Issler (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Xavier) provided the offensive spark as he tallied three hits to run his hitting streak to a career-high seven games. Left-hander Eric Van Matre (Selma, Ind./Purdue) provided four innings of solid relief for the Cardinals as he kept the game close for the attempted comeback. Van Matre allowed just three hits and one run while striking out four batters.
The Cardinals struck first against Michigan left-hander Mike Wilson in the top of the first inning. Senior second baseman Nate Fields (Cincinnati, Ohio/Anderson) and sophomore designated hitter Kolbrin Vitek (Bryan, Ohio/Bryan) started things off with back-to-back singles to right field. After a double steal moved both runners into scoring position, junior catcher Zach Dygert (Angola, Ind./Angola) lifted a fly ball to right field that allowed Fields to score the first run of the afternoon as BSU took a 1-0 lead.
Michigan answered back in the bottom of the second inning against freshman right-hander Cal Bowling (Muncie, Ind./Yorktown). The Wolverines opened the inning with two straight singles before Nick Urban hit a three-run home run just over the left center field wall. Michigan added four more runs in the inning courtesy of four singles, a walk and a hit by pitch to give the Wolverines a 7-1 lead after two innings.
The Cardinals chipped away at the deficit with two runs in the top of the fourth inning to chase Wilson from the game. Junior left fielder Kory Benbow (Muncie, Ind./Cowan) started things off with a walk and sophomore shortstop T.J. Baumet (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) followed with a single to left field. Issler drove in Benbow with a single to left field for the first run of the inning. After a walk loaded the bases, the Cardinals scored their second run of the inning as Michigan committed an error that allowed Baumet to score to narrow the deficit to 7-3.
After Michigan added a run in the fourth, Ball State came back out in the top of the fifth inning and scored two runs to narrow the margin to 8-5. Vitek led off the inning as he beat out an infield single. After an out, freshman first baseman Ian Nielsen (La Porte, Ind./La Porte) pulled the Cardinals within three as he crushed his ninth home run of the season into the trees in left center field.
The Cardinals made one final push in the top of the seventh inning as they loaded the bases with one out on a hit by pitch, a Michigan error and Issler's third hit of the afternoon. Michigan was able to work out of the inning and strand the bases loaded as it induced an infield pop fly and a strikeout to end the contest.
Bowling (3-1) was charged with his first career loss as he lasted just two innings and was charged with seven runs on eight hits. Matt Miller (1-2) picked up the victory in relief as he worked 1.2 innings and only allowed one hit. Eric Katzman tallied his first save of the season as he recorded the final out of the game.
Game 2 - Michigan 5, Ball State 2
The Cardinals dropped the second game of the doubleheader at Michigan 5-2 in seven innings despite out-hitting the Wolverines 8-3 in the loss. Michigan broke the game open with a four-run fourth inning to pick up its 29th victory of the season. Issler ran his hitting streak to seven straight games with a pair of hits in game two.
Michigan opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning against senior right-hander Adam Quinn (Crown Point, Ind./Crown Point). The Wolverines were able to plate a run without a hit as Kenny Fellows reached base on a BSU error. Fellows stole second base and scored on back-to-back ground balls to second base to put Michigan ahead 1-0.
The Cardinals finally broke through against right-hander Travis Smith in the top of the fourth inning. Vitek led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a ground ball. Nielsen reached on an infield hit to put runners at the corners. The Cardinals tied the game as they attempted a double steal with Vitek and Nielsen. Michigan helped the situation with a throwing error by the catcher to second that allowed Vitek to come home and tie the game at 1-1.
Michigan quickly retook the lead in the bottom half of the fourth inning as it plated four runs, only two earned, to take a 5-1 lead. The Wolverines opened the inning with their first hit of the game and put two on board with a walk. Jake McClouth drove in two runs to give Michigan the lead and the Wolverines took advantage of a BSU fielding error to score two more runs.
The Cardinals threatened in the top of the sixth inning as Vitek started things off with a one out single and Dygert drew a walk to put to aboard. Nielsen followed with a run-scoring double to left center field to narrow the gap to 5-2. Ball State loaded the bases with one out but Michigan reliever Tyler Burgoon was able to induce a ground ball double play to end the inning.
Quinn (2-4) was charged with the loss as he allowed five runs, only two earned, in 4.0 innings of work. Smith (6-5) picked up the victory as he worked 5.0 innings and allowed one unearned run on six hits. Burgoon tallied his fourth save of the season by working the final 1.2 innings.
The Cardinals will wrap up the 2009 regular season this weekend as they host a pivotal Mid-American Conference three-game series against MAC West Division leading Toledo. The series begins Thursday afternoon at 3 p.m. at Ball Diamond and runs through Saturday afternoon. The winner of the three-game series between the Cardinals and Rockets will claim the outright MAC West Division title and a top two seed in the upcoming MAC Tournament.
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