Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
Central Michigan (DH)
Baseball Sweeps Doubleheader At Central Michigan
April 24, 2010 | Baseball
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - The Ball State baseball team moved back into first place in the Mid-American Conference West Division Saturday afternoon as the Cardinals swept a pivotal doubleheader at Central Michigan to win the weekend series at Theunissen Stadium. The Cardinals battled for a 3-2 victory in game one before claiming the sweep with a 5-2 victory in game two as they snapped the Chippewas' 11-game home winning streak.
The victories improve the Cardinals to 11-4 in the MAC this season as they have now won all five of their MAC weekend series. Central Michigan, which came into the weekend alone in first place, now owns an 11-4 record in league play and lost a MAC weekend series for the first time all year.
The Ball State pitching staff combined to limit Central Michigan to just four runs in 18 innings of play as the Chippewas only had two scoring innings in the doubleheader. The Cardinals only walked two batters in the double dip while striking out eight batters.
Game One - Ball State 3, Central Michigan 2
Ball State tallied the first victory by a road team at Central Michigan Saturday afternoon by a 3-2 score in game one of a MAC doubleheader at Theunissen Stadium. The Cardinals' pitching staff tossed 8.0 shutout innings to lead the charge as they improve to 10-4 in MAC play while CMU falls to 11-1 at home this season.
Junior Kolbrin Vitek (Bryan, Ohio/Bryan) earned the victory as he went 6.0 strong shutout innings as he allowed seven hits while striking out three. Vitek held the Chippewas scoreless as he utilized three ground ball double plays to end threats in the victory.
Ball State opened the scoring in the top of the first inning for the second straight game as it plated three runs against CMU left-hander Rick Dodridge. Junior T.J. Baumet (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) led off the game by working a five-pitch walk. Vitek executed a perfect hit-and-run as he poked a single through the right side to put runners on the corners. The Cardinals accomplished a double steal to score their first run as Baumet came home on a throw to second base.
Sophomore Ian Nielsen (La Porte, Ind./La Porte) gave the Cardinals a two-run lead as he singled to right field and Vitek beat the throw home allowing Nielsen to advance into scoring position. Freshman Stephen Claypool (Dearborn, Mich./Divine Child) capped the inning's scoring as he place a single through the left side allowing Nielsen to score from second base to give BSU a 3-0 lead.
Central Michigan threatened in the bottom of the second inning as James Teas and Matt Faiman led off with back-to-back singles. Vitek buckled down and quickly struck out Scott Phillion looking before inducing an inning-ending double play off the bat of Ricky Clark.
The Chippewas tried to make some two-out noise in the bottom of the fourth inning as Vitek issued a walk to Teas with two outs. Faiman stroked a single through the right side to put runners on the corners. The Cardinals' defense came up with a big play as senior catcher Zach Dygert (Angola, Ind./Angola) threw out Faiman attempting to steal second to end the inning.
The Cardinals kept Central Michigan at bay once again in the bottom of the seventh inning. Faiman led off the inning with a single and moved to second on a single by Clark that put two aboard. Left-hander Derek Grabner (Fort Wayne, Ind./Lincoln Trail) induced back-to-back ground ball outs to get out of the inning without a run crossing the plate.
Central Michigan tried for a ninth-inning rally as Faiman singled with one out and Phillion doubled to put two in scoring position against Grabner. Senior Aaron Hammons (Greenfield, Ind./Greenfield Central) allowed a two-run single by Clark to narrow the BSU lead to 3-2. Hammons buckled down as he got a foul pop fly from pinch hitter Tyler Kipke and struck out Billy Anderson to end the game.
Grabner lasted 2.1 innings of relief and was charged with two runs on four hits while Hammons recorded the final two outs to notch his fourth save of the year. Dodridge (3-3) was charged with the loss as he allowed three runs on three hits in just 1.0 inning of work. Dietrich Enns was strong out of the bullpen as he tossed 6.2 shutout innings and only allowed three hits.
Game Two - Ball State 5, Central Michigan 2
Ball State completed the rare doubleheader sweep with a sound 5-2 victory over Central Michigan to claim the series victory. Three Cardinals' pitchers combined to limit the Chippewas to just two runs on seven hits as they posted eight shutout innings in the victory.
Sophomore right-hander Cal Bowling (Muncie, Ind./Yorktown) earned his third win of the season as he tossed 6.0 strong innings. Bowling limited the Chippewas to just two runs on six hits while striking out two batters and not walking anyone. Right-hander Heath Riley (Lafayette, Ind./Jefferson) added 2.0 shutout innings in relief while Hammons slammed the door shut in the ninth to notch his second save of the afternoon and fifth of the year.
Central Michigan looked to open the scoring in the bottom of the first inning against Bowling. Anderson led off the game with a single and moved to third base on back-to-back ground outs. Bowling worked out of the inning as he got Nate Theunissen to strike out looking to end the frame.
Ball State responded in the top of the second inning as it tallied the game's first runs against CMU right-hander Jake Sabol. Dygert led off the inning with a double down the left field line and came home to score as Nielsen reached on a two-base throwing error by CMU shortstop Robbie Harman. After a ground ball moved Nielsen to third, Sabol uncorked a wild pitch that allowed the Cardinals to take a 2-0 lead.
The Cardinals extended their lead to 4-0 with two more runs in the top of the third inning. Baumet led off the inning with a single and moved all the way to third on a throwing error by Sabol on a pickoff attempt. Vitek drove in the Cardinals' third run of the game as he ripped a line drive single to left field to plate Baumet. Dygert followed with another single to left field on a hit-and-run that put runners at the corners. Nielsen put BSU in front 4-0 as he lifted a sacrifice fly to the warning track in center field to drive in Vitek.
Ball State tacked on another run in the top of the fourth inning to chase Sabol from the game. Claypool led off the inning as he reached a CMU fielding error and moved to second on a wild pitch. Sophomore Mitch Widau (Richmond, Ind./Richmond) dropped a single into center field to put runners at the corners for CMU reliever Trent Howard. Baumet battled Howard and line an 0-2 pitch to left field for a run-scoring single to make it a 5-0 Ball State lead.
Central Michigan tallied its first runs of the contest in the bottom half of the fourth inning. Cornstubble started things off with a one-out single up the middle. Theunissen pulled the Chippewas within 5-2 as he hit his team-leading fifth home run down the right field line off Bowling.
The Chippewas threatened in the bottom of the sixth inning as Anderson led off with a single to center field. CMU attempted to hit-and-run with Cornstubble, but he lined out to center fielder Elliott who fired a strike to first base to double up Anderson and nullify the threat. Central Michigan also put two aboard in the bottom of the eighth against Riley who was able to work out of the jam as he got Cornstubble to pop out to the shortstop to end the inning.
Hammons secured the victory with a scoreless ninth inning to notch his second save in three hours. He recorded two quick outs before hitting a batter to extend the inning but induced a lazy ground ball to second base to end the inning and seal the victory.
The Cardinals step out of MAC play Wednesday afternoon as they host Huntington at 3 p.m. The game will be Military Appreciation Day at Ball Diamond as Ball State will honor those who are serving and those who have served in our nation's military.
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