Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
Eastern Michigan
Vitek's Walk-Off Home Run Propels Baseball To Victory
April 30, 2010 | Baseball
MUNCIE, Ind. - Ball State junior second baseman Kolbrin Vitek (Bryan, Ohio/Bryan) hit a towering three-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to send the Cardinals into a frenzy as they downed Mid-American Conference West Division rival Eastern Michigan 13-12 Friday afternoon at Ball Diamond. The victory improves the MAC West Division leading Cardinals to 12-4 in league play as they rallied for four runs in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Vitek was the offensive catalyst in the victory as he recorded two home runs and drove in four runs while reached base four times. He moved into a first place tie in the MAC with 13 home runs on the year and raised his RBI total to 54, which is also tied for the league lead. Senior Zach Dygert (Angola, Ind./Angola) drove in three runs in the victory and hit his eighth home run of the year.
Eastern Michigan (21-22, 10-6 MAC) opened the scoring in the top of the first inning against redshirt sophomore right-hander Perci Garner (Dover, Ohio/Dover). The Eagles got back-to-back singles from Brent Ohrman and Zack Leonard to put runners at the corners. Garner worked out of the inning as he induced a ground ball double play that scored Ohrman and struck out Todd Graves to end the inning.
Ball State (21-21, 12-4 MAC) answered back in the bottom half of the inning against EMU right-hander Corey Chaffins. After two quick outs, Vitek launched his team-leading 12th home run over the left center field scoreboard to tie the game at 1-1.
The Cardinals took their first lead of the afternoon with three runs in the bottom of the second inning. Sophomore Ian Nielsen (La Porte, Ind./La Porte) drew a leadoff walk and sophomore Cody Elliott (Florence, Ky./Beechwood) moved him into scoring position with a two-out double down the right field line.
Sophomore Mitch Widau (Richmond, Ind./Richmond) came through with a two-run single through the left side and moved to second on a fielding error by the EMU leftfielder. Junior T.J. Baumet (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) put the Cardinals in front 4-1 as he ripped a run-scoring single to center field plating Widau.
Eastern Michigan responded back in the top of the third inning as it narrowed the BSU lead to 4-3 with two runs. Matt Skirving drove in the Eagles' first run with a double to right center field and Ben Magsig tallied an RBI single to center field to cap the inning. EMU took the lead back with four runs in the fourth inning to chase Garner from the contest. The Eagles took advantage of a crucial BSU fielding error that allowed Ohrman to hit a two-run home run to take a 7-4 lead.
The Cardinals answered right back in the bottom of the fourth to chase Chaffins from the game. Freshman Blake Beemer (Clayton, Ohio/Northmont) started the rally as he doubled into the right center field gap. The Eagles decided to pitch around Vitek and issued a walk to put two aboard. Dygert took advantage of the free pass as he crushed his eighth home run of the season over the left field wall to knot the game at 7-7.
Eastern Michigan took the lead back in the top of the seventh inning as it plated two runs against left-hander Derek Grabner (Fort Wayne, Ind./Lincoln Trail). The Eagles got a run-scoring single from Leonard to retake the lead and Kyle Klein lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to take a 9-7 lead. EMU extended the lead to 11-7 with two more in the top of the eighth inning.
Ball State narrowed the gap to 11-9 as it scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Vitek and Dygert started the inning off with back-to-back one out singles to chase EMU reliever Jordan Glover from the game.
Reliever Joe Battistelli came on and immediately was called for a balk that allowed Vitek to score and narrow the deficit to 11-8. Nielsen ripped a run-scoring single into left center field to plate Dygert. After walk put two aboard, Battistelli was able to induce an inning-ending ground ball double play to thwart the threat.
Eastern Michigan added an insurance run in the top of the ninth inning against BSU right-handed reliever Heath Riley (Lafayette, Ind./Jefferson). Skirving lined a one out single into center field and moved to second as Graves was walked to put two aboard. Andrew Marshall gave the Eagles a 12-9 lead as he lined a single into center field.
The Cardinals were down to their final three outs of the game and were trailing by three runs. Elliott opened the inning with his third hit of the afternoon as he singled up the middle. After an out, Baumet grounded softly to third base and beat the throw to first for an infield single to put two aboard. Beemer followed as he ripped a 1-0 pitch through the right side for a single, scoring Elliott from second to make it a 12-10 game and setting the stage for the game-winning hit.
Vitek came to the plate and worked a count in his favor as he took the first two pitches for balls. Battistelli needed to throw a strike and Vitek unleashed on a 2-0 fastball and sent it towering over the left field wall for the walk-off three-run home run.
Riley (1-1) picked up the victory as he worked the top of the ninth inning. Garner had his shortest outing of the season as he lasted just 3.2 innings and was charged with seven runs, only four earned, on eight hits.
Battistelli (3-1) was charged with his first loss as he allowed four runs on five hits in one inning of work. He entered the weekend with a 0.96 ERA in MAC play as he had allowed just one run in 9.1 innings this season. Chaffins also got a no decision as he was pulled after 3.2 innings as well as he allowed seven runs on nine hits.
The Cardinals and Eagles will continue their three-game series Saturday afternoon with first pitch set for 1 p.m. at Ball Diamond.
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