Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
Michigan
Baseball Falls To Michigan At Caravelle Resort Classic
March 13, 2010 | Baseball
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - The Ball State baseball team dropped a 12-8 contest to Big Ten foe Michigan Friday afternoon at BB&T Coastal Field in the Caravelle Resort Classic hosted by Coastal Carolina. The Cardinals rallied from an early eight-run deficit to tie the game in the sixth inning, but Michigan scored the game's final four runs to claim the victory.
Michigan (5-7) opened the game quickly against sophomore right-hander Cal Bowling (Muncie, Ind./Yorktown) as it scored two runs in the first, four in the second and two in the third inning to open to an 8-0 lead. The Wolverines tallied eight hits in the first three innings and took advantage of two Ball State errors to take the early lead.
Ball State (4-10) got back into the game in the top of the fifth inning against Michigan starter Matt Miller. Freshman Stephen Claypool (Highland, Ind./Andrean) led off the inning with a single and moved to second base as junior T.J. Baumet (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) reached on a Michigan error.
After a sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position, junior Kolbrin Vitek (Bryan, Ohio/Bryan) recorded a two-run single up the middle to plate the Cardinals' first runs of the game. Senior Zach Dygert (Angola, Ind./Angola) followed with a single two put runners at the corners for sophomore Ian Nielsen (La Porte, Ind./La Porte), who tallied a run-scoring single to make it a 6-3 contest.
Senior Kory Benbow (Muncie, Ind./Cowan) drove in the next run as he reached on a fielder's choice by Michigan. The Cardinals capped the scoring in the inning with back-to-back run-scoring singles from freshman Blake Beemer (Clayton, Ohio/Northmont) and Claypool to pull within two at 8-6.
Ball State fought all the way back and tied the game at 8-8 with two runs in the top of the sixth inning against reliever Matt Gerbe. Senior Ryan Chenoweth (Fort Wayne, Ind./Homestead) opened the inning with a walk and Vitek moved him into scoring position as he doubled to right center field. The Wolverines almost got out of the inning as they recorded two quick outs but Benbow tied the game with a two-run single.
The tie game was short-lived though, as Michigan came out in the bottom of the sixth inning and scored four runs to take a 12-8 lead. The Wolverines loaded the bases with consecutive hits and then took advantage of back-to-back Ball State errors to score four runs in the inning.
Freshman Michael Sandman (Newark, Ohio/Utica) picked up the loss in relief as he allowed three runs, only one earned, in 2.0 innings of work. Bowling got the no decision after going 3.1 innings and being charge with eight runs, only four earned.
Brandon Sinnery (1-0) earned the win for the Wolverines as he tossed 3.2 innings of scoreless relief to end the game as he allowed just four BSU hits. Miller got the no decision after going 4.2 innings and allowed six runs.
Ball State will continue the Caravelle Resort Classic Saturday afternoon as it faces Lipscomb at 5 p.m. at BB&T Coastal Field.
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