Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
Lipscomb
Big Inning Leads Baseball To 14-5 Victory Over Lipscomb
March 14, 2010 | Baseball
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - The Ball State baseball team picked up its fifth victory of the season as the Cardinals downed Lipscomb 14-5 Saturday afternoon at BB&T Coastal Field in the Caravelle Resort Classic hosted by Coastal Carolina. The Cardinals claimed the victory thanks in large part to a nine-run sixth inning that gave them the lead back for good.
Freshman third baseman Stephen Claypool (Dearborn, Mich./Divine Child) led the attack as he notched three hits, drove in two runs and reached base four times. Claypool has tallied six hits in the last two games. Junior second baseman Kolbrin Vitek (Bryan, Ohio/Bryan) finished the afternoon 3-of-4 at the plate and also drove in three runs.
Ball State (5-10) struck first in the bottom of the second inning against Lipscomb starter Davey Hackett. Sophomore first baseman Ian Nielsen (La Porte, Ind./La Porte) opened with a one out double to right field. Senior Kory Benbow (Muncie, Ind./Cowan) followed as he tallied his third home run of the season as he crushed a 1-1 pitch over the left field wall.
The Cardinals extended their lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the third inning as Claypool led off with a single. Senior Ryan Chenoweth (Fort Wayne, Ind./Homestead) followed with a bunt single to put two runners aboard. Vitek ripped the first pitch he saw into left center field for a two-run double.
Lipscomb (5-10) got back in the game in the top of the fourth inning as it tied the game against senior right-hander Morgan Coombs (West Terre Haute, Ind./Lincoln Trail). The Bisons loaded the bases with one out and Ryan Wilkins came through with the big hit as he tallied a grand slam home run to tie the game at 4-4. Lipscomb took its first lead with a run in the top of the fifth inning as it took advantage of the BSU passed ball to score an unearned run.
Ball State answered back in the bottom of the sixth inning in a big fashion as it plated nine runs in the inning to take a 13-5 lead. The Cardinals sent 12 batters to the plate in the inning as they recorded six hits while scoring a season-high nine runs in an inning.
Freshman Blake Beemer (Clayton, Ohio/Northmont) started things off with a one out single and fellow freshman Kirby Campbell (Muncie, Ind./Yorktown) followed with a single through the left side to put two aboard. Claypool continued the freshmen run as he notched a two-run double down the right field line to put the Cardinals back in front, 6-5.
Ball State kept the pressure on the junior T.J. Baumet (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) reached on a fielding error to put runners on the corners. Chenoweth drive in the Cardinals' seventh run of the game as he singled to right field to chase Hackett from the game. Vitek walked to load the bases against reliever Alex Ross. Ross uncorked a wild pitch to score another run and Dygert singled up the middle to put the Cardinals in front 9-5.
Ross continued to have controls issues as the Cardinals scored on another wild pitch and he walked Benbow to put two more aboard. Sophomore Nathan Koontz (Indianapolis, Ind./Brebeuf) doubled to right center field to scored two more. Koontz ended up scoring after a Ross throwing error and another wild pitch to give the Cardinals a 13-5 lead. The Cardinals tacked on their 14th run in the eighth inning as they took advantage of two more Lipscomb wild pitches.
Senior right-hander Scott Brothers Jr. (Monticello, Ind./Gulf Coast CC) earned his first victory of the season as he tossed four scoreless innings of relief and only allowed five hits. Coombs earned a no decision as he allowed five runs, only three earned, in 5.0 innings of work while striking out six batters. Hackett (1-2) was charged with the loss he allowed nine runs in 5.1 innings of work while allowing 12 BSU hits.
Ball State will conclude its spring break trip and the Caravelle Resort Classic Sunday afternoon as it faces Big Ten foe Illinois. First pitch is set for noon at Watson Field.
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