Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
Huntington
Baseball Downs Huntington 18-1 On Military Appreciation Day
April 28, 2010 | Baseball
MUNCIE, Ind. - The Ball State baseball team celebrated Military Appreciation Day in style Wednesday afternoon as the Cardinals defeated Huntington 18-1 at Ball Diamond. The Cardinals honored current military members and military veterans with festivities before and during the game, including a flyover at Ball Diamond from a Navy T-45 Goshawk.
Ball State (20-21) pounded out 16 hits in the victory, including four home runs as it jumped out to a 15-0 lead after four innings. Freshman Kirby Campbell (Muncie, Ind./Cowan) tallied two hits and reached base four times in the victory to pace the Cardinals' attack. Freshman Stephen Claypool (Dearborn, Mich./Divine Child) drove in four runs in two at-bats, while junior Kolbrin Vitek (Bryan, Ohio/Bryan) drove in three runs in two-at bats as well.
The Cardinals opened the scoring quickly in the bottom of the first inning against Huntington right-hander Xyan Adkisson. Freshman Blake Beemer (Clayton, Ohio/Northmont) led off with an infield single and moved to second on a throwing error. After an error allowed Vitek put two aboard, Adkisson hit senior Zach Dygert (Angola, Ind./Angola) with a pitch to load the bases.
Sophomore Ian Nielsen (La Porte, Ind./La Porte) drove in the game's first two runs as he singled into left field. Senior Kory Benbow (Muncie, Ind./Cowan) followed with a run-scoring double off the left field wall to make it a 3-0 game. Claypool gave the Cardinals a six-run lead as he hit the first pitch he saw high over the right field wall for a three-run home run.
Ball State extended its lead to 12-0 with six more runs in the bottom of the second inning as it used the long ball to do most of its damage. Vitek recorded his team-leading 11th home run of the year with a three-run home run to open the scoring. Claypool drove in his fourth run of the game with a double down the right field line before Campbell hit his first career home run with a two-run shot over the left field wall.
After the Cardinals took a 15-0 lead after the fourth, Huntington scored its first run of the afternoon in the top of the sixth. Eric Shultz hit a solo home run over the right field wall to make it a 16-1 game. Ball State answered back with a run in the bottom half of the inning as sophomore Cody Elliott (Florence, Ky./Beechwood) had a run-scoring double off the right field wall.
The Cardinals capped the scoring in the bottom of the eighth inning with their four home run of the afternoon. Sophomore Mitch Widau (Richmond, Ind./Richmond) drew a one out walk before Baumet hit his fourth home run of the season to straight away center field to the final 18-1 margin.
Senior right-hander Brad Piatt (Galveston, Ind./Lewis Cass) picked up his second win of the year as he worked 5.0 shutout innings. Piatt held the Foresters to just three hits while striking out three batters. Four Cardinal relievers combined to pitch the final 4.0 innings and held Huntington to one run on just three hits. Adkisson (1-4) was charged with the loss as he allowed 12 runs on 10 hits in 2.1 innings.
Ball State returns to Mid-American Conference play this weekend as it hosts Eastern Michigan in a pivotal three-game series at Ball Diamond. The series gets underway Friday afternoon with first pitch at 3 p.m.
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