Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
Notre Dame
Baseball Falls At Notre Dame, 11-5
March 24, 2010 | Baseball
NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The Ball State baseball team dropped an 11-5 contest at Notre Dame Tuesday evening at Frank Eck Stadium in its final tune-up before Mid-American Conference play begins this weekend. With the loss, the Cardinals fall to 6-14 on the season while the Fighting Irish improve to 8-11 on the season.
Freshman Kevin Franchetti (Highland, Ind./Andrean) tallied two of the Cardinals' nine hits in the loss with a double and a triple and drove in his first two career runs. Notre Dame was led by Matt Scioscia, who drove in three runs in the victory as the Fighting Irish five straight in the all-time series against Ball State.
Notre Dame opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning against senior right-hander Brad Piatt (Galveston, Ind./Lewis Cass). The Fighting Irish took advantage of a leadoff walk and single to put the first two aboard. Notre Dame scored the first run of the game on a ground ball out and tallied its second run with a double by Mick Doyle to right field to take a 2-0 lead.
Notre Dame broke the game open in the bottom of the second inning against freshman right-hander Michael Sandman (Newark, Ohio/Utica). The Fighting Irish scored six runs in the inning to take an early 8-0 lead it tallied six hits and took advantage of one BSU error in the inning.
Ball State struck for its first two runs in the top of the third inning. Junior shortstop T.J. Baumet (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) led off the inning with a single and moved into scoring position as freshman Blake Beemer (Clayton, Ohio/Northmont) continued his strong play by doubling down the right field line to put runners at second and third. Junior Kolbrin Vitek (Bryan, Ohio/Bryan) drove in the Cardinals' first run as he grounded out to shortstop to plate Baumet.
The Cardinals loaded the bases as senior Zach Dygert (Angola, Ind./Angola) drew a walk and sophomore Ian Nielsen (La Porte, Ind./La Porte) singled up the middle. Notre Dame secured the second out on a force out at home, but BSU scored its second run as senior Ryan Chenoweth (Fort Wayne, Ind./Homestead) drew a bases loaded walk to chase Irish starter Ryan Sharpley from the game. Notre Dame got out of the inning as Franchetti flew out to the warning track in right field to end the inning.
The teams traded single runs with Notre Dame scoring one in the third and the Cardinals adding one in the fourth. Ball State got its run as Baumet tripled into right center field and came home to score as Vitek doubled down the left field line to make it a 9-3 deficit.
After the Irish extended the lead to 11-3, Ball State added its fourth run in the top of the fifth inning as Franchetti drove in the first run of his career with a run-scoring double. The Cardinals narrowed the gap to 11-5 with another run in the seventh inning as Franchetti drove in his second run as he tripled off the right center field wall.
Piatt (0-3) was charged with the loss as he allowed two runs on two hits in 1.0 inning of work. He was one of seven Cardinal pitchers on the afternoon as BSU used the game to set up its pitching staff for the opening of MAC play this weekend. Sophomore Cody Elliott (Florence, Ky./Beechwood) highlighted the Cardinals' final four shutout innings on the hill as he tossed 2.0 innings and only allowed one hit.
Ryan Richter (1-0) picked up the victory in relief as he worked 4.1 innings and allowed three runs on six hits while striking out four batters. Sharpley got the no decision as he lasted 2.2 innings and allowed two runs but walked five batters.
Ball State opens the 2010 Mid-American Conference season this weekend as it travels to Athens, Ohio for the a three-game series against the Ohio Bobcats. First pitch Friday is set for 6 p.m.
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