Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
Ohio
Baseball Earns 10-1 Victory Over Ohio In MAC Opener
March 27, 2010 | Baseball
ATHENS, Ohio - Three Ball State pitchers combined to limit Ohio to only four hits and one unearned run Friday evening as the Cardinals opened Mid-American Conference play with a strong 10-1 victory over the hosting Bobcats at Bob Wren Stadium. Offensively, the Cardinals tallied 16 hits as all nine starters recorded a hit to lead Ball State to its fourth straight victory in a MAC opener.
Ball State and Ohio will play a doubleheader Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. to wrap up the three-game series. The scheduled series finale Sunday has been moved due to forecasted inclement weather for Athens.
Redshirt sophomore right-hander Perci Garner (Dover, Ohio/Dover) was dominant in his first career collegiate start as he improved to 2-0 on the season. Garner worked 5.0 innings and limited Ohio to three hits and one unearned run while striking out three batters. Junior left-handed reliever Derek Grabner (Fort Wayne, Ind./Lincoln Trail) worked 3.0 strong innings as hit held Ohio without a hit while freshman Michael Sandman (Newark, Ohio/Utica) added a scoreless ninth inning to seal the victory.
Junior shortstop T.J. Baumet (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) was one of three Cardinals to tally three hits in the victory. Baumet drove in a season-high four runs from his leadoff position. Junior second baseman Kolbrin Vitek (Bryan, Ohio/Bryan) continued his strong play as he notched three hits, including a solo home run over the batter's eye in the eighth inning.
The Cardinals (7-14, 1-0 MAC) opened the scoring in the top of the second inning against Ohio starter Seth Streich. Senior catcher Zach Dygert (Angola, Ind./Angola) reach on a walk and moved into scoring position as Streich was called for a balk. Sophomore first baseman Ian Nielsen (La Porte, Ind./La Porte) drove in the game's first run as he singled up the middle to plate Dygert from second base.
Ball State broke the game open in the top of the fourth inning as it plated four runs, all coming after two outs in the inning. Senior Kory Benbow (Muncie, Ind./Cowan) and freshman Stephen Claypool (Dearborn, Mich./Divine Child) led off with back-to-back singles. After a wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position, Streich got two quick outs to slow the Cardinals' threat.
Baumet came through with his first big hit of the night as he ripped a two-run single to center field to put the Cardinals in front by three. Freshman Blake Beemer (Clayton, Ohio/Northmont) followed with his first career home run as he ripped the first pitch of the at bat high over the right field wall for a 5-0 Ball State lead.
Ohio (2-16, 0-1 MAC) scored an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth inning as it took advantage of the Ball State error to score an unearned run to make it a 5-1 contest.
The Cardinals answered back in the top of the sixth inning as Baumet, Beemer and Vitek led off the inning with three straight singles. Dygert followed with the clutch hit as he ripped a two-run double to right center field against Ohio reliever Ben Trimbur. Ohio was able to work out of the inning without any more damage as BSU took a 7-1 lead.
Ohio tried to mount a rally in the bottom of the sixth inning as Gauntlett Eldemire drew a leadoff walk to end the night for Garner. Grabner came out of the bullpen and quickly ended the inning as he induced a ground ball double play and struck out a pinch hitter on three pitches.
Ball State tacked on its eighth run of the contest in the top of the eighth inning. Vitek led off with the inning as he hit a towering solo home run over the batter's eye in center field for his team-leading fifth home run of the season.
The Cardinals added two more runs in the top of the ninth inning as Claypool reached on an error and sophomore Cody Elliott (Florence, Ky./Beechwood) singled up the middle to give all nine BSU starters a hit on the night. Baumet followed as he ripped a two-run double into left center field to give the Cardinals a 10-1 lead.
Streich (0-2) was charged with the loss as he allowed five runs on eight hits in 4.1 innings of work. Trimbur tossed the final 4.2 innings of work and was tagged for five runs on eight hits.
The two teams will wrap up their three-game series Saturday afternoon with a 1 p.m. doubleheader at Bob Wren Stadium. Sunday's scheduled contest has been moved due to forecasted inclement weather.
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