Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
#5 Bowling Green
Baseball Falls To Fifth-Seeded Bowling Green, 6-4
May 26, 2010 | Baseball
CHILLICOTHE, Ohio - The fourth-seeded Ball State baseball team suffered a 6-4 defeat to fifth-seeded Bowling Green Wednesday morning in the first game of the 2010 Mid-American Conference Tournament at VA Memorial Stadium. The loss drops the Cardinals' into the losers' bracket and they will face either No. 1 Central Michigan or No. 8 Ohio at 12:30 p.m. Thursday. The Chippewas and the Bobcats face off Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m.
Bowling Green opened the scoring in the top of the third inning against redshirt sophomore right-hander Perci Garner (Dover, Ohio/Dover). The Falcons got back-to-back singles from Matthew Pitzulo and Ryan Schlater with one out before T.J Blanton drew a walk to load the bases with two outs. Dennis Vaughn drove in the first run as he drew a seven-pitch walk to plate Pitzulo. BGSU broke the game open as Derek Spencer doubled into the left center field gap to clear the bases and give the Falcons a 4-0 lead.
After BGSU took a 5-0 lead, the Cardinals struck for two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning against Brennan Smith. Sophomore Cody Elliott (Florence, Ky./Beechwood) led off the inning with a bunt single and sophomore Mitch Widau (Richmond, Ind./Richmond) was hit by a pitch to put two aboard. Freshman Blake Beemer (Dayton, Ohio/Northmont) came through with a two-run triple into the right center field gap to make it a 5-2 contest.
Ball State narrowed the gap to 5-4 in the bottom of the seventh inning to chase Smith from the game. Senior Ryan Chenoweth (Fort Wayne, Ind./Homestead) reached base with one out on a fielder's choice to start the rally. Junior T.J. Baumet (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) followed with his seventh home run of the season over the right center field wall to make it a one-run game.
Bowling Green got a much needed insurance run in the top of the ninth inning against left-handed reliever Derek Grabner (Fort Wayne, Ind./Lincoln Trail). Schlater put the Falcons in front 6-4 as he hit a solo home run with one out in the inning to make it a two-run contest. Patrick O'Brien came on in the bottom of the ninth and retired all three batters he faced for his second save of the season to send the Falcons on in the winners' bracket.
Garner (5-3) picked up the loss as he allowed five runs on six hits in 7.0 solid innings as he struck out seven batters. Grabner was charged with one run on four hits in 2.0 innings. Smith (6-4) picked up the victory as he went 6.2 innings and allowed four runs on seven hits while striking out six batters.
Ball State will look to stay alive in the 2010 MAC Tournament Thursday afternoon as it faces either Central Michigan or Ohio at 12:30 Thursday afternoon at VA Memorial Stadium.
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