Ball State University
2-13
Charlotte
12-3
Baseball Falls Late At Charlotte, 5-4
March 13, 2011 | Baseball
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Ball State baseball team fell just short of its first weekend series victory Sunday afternoon as Charlotte rallied for a 5-4 victory at Robert & Mariam Hayes Stadium. The 49ers scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to take the lead and held off the Cardinals' rally in the ninth inning to improve to 12-3 on the year while the Cardinals fall to 2-13.
Charlotte, which is receiving votes in multiple national polls, opened the scoring in the bottom of the fourth inning against senior right-hander Morgan Coombs (West Terre Haute, Ind./Lincoln Trail). The 49ers got the first two batters on base to chase Coombs from the game and quickly loaded the bases.
Right-hander Seth Hobbs (Marseilles, Ill./Seneca) came on and got the second out of the inning with a fielder's choice as the Cardinals got the force out at home. Charlotte was able to scratch a run across the plate as Cory Tilton reached on an infield single to make it a 1-0 contest. Hobbs ended the threat as he induced another ground ball for the third out.
Ball state came right back in the top of the fifth inning Stephen Claypool (Dearborn, Mich./Divine Child) drew a one out walk. Freshman Sean Godfrey (New Albany, Ind./New Albany) followed with a single up the middle to put two aboard. Fellow freshman Mitch Overley (Zionsville, Ind./Brebeuf) tied the game as he ripped a run-scoring single to right field to make it a 1-1 contest.
The Cardinals took their first lead of the afternoon in the top of the sixth inning. Senior shortstop T.J. Baumet (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) led off the inning and took the first pitch he saw high over the left field wall for his first home run of the season and a 2-1 BSU lead.
After Charlotte tied the game in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Cardinals re-took the lead at 3-2 with a run in the seventh inning. Godfrey led off the inning with a double down the left field line and was promptly sacrificed over to third base. Baumet drove in his second run of the afternoon as he lifted a sacrifice fly to center field.
Charlotte took advantage of a crucial fielding error in the bottom of the eighth inning to plate three unearned runs off the Cardinals' bullpen. The 49ers got a pivotal two-run single from Tony Montalbano and a RBI single from Ross Steedley for the 5-3 lead.
Ball State kept battling down to the final out against Charlotte closer Bryan Hamilton. Sophomore Kirby Campbell (Muncie, Ind./Cowan) pinch hit and led off the inning with an infield single. Campbell moved into scoring position on an errant pick-off throw but Hamilton got the next two outs of the inning to keep him at second base.
Sophomore Wes Winkle (Muncie, Ind./Yorktown) made it a one run game as he ripped a double down the right field line to plate Campbell and put the game-tying run in scoring position. Hamilton was able to secure his third save of the year as he got Baumet to strike out to end the contest.
Sophomore Jon Cisna (Homer Glen, Ill./Lockport Township) picked up the loss in relief as he allowed three unearned runs on three hits in 2.1 innings of work. Charlotte reliever John Hamilton improved to 1-1 with the victory as he tossed 1.1 innings of one-hit baseball.
Ball State opens the home portion of the 2011 schedule Wednesday afternoon as the Cardinals host Dayton. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. at Ball Diamond.
####
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hamilton, J. (1-1)
L: Cisna, Jon (0-1)
S: Hamilton, B. (3)
Batting:
2B: Widau, Mitch 1 ; Godfrey, Sean 1 ; Winkle, Wes 1
HR: Baumet, T.J. 1
RBI: Baumet, T.J. 2 ; Overley, Mitch 1 ; Winkle, Wes 1
SH: Overley, Mitch 1
SF: Baumet, T.J. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Baumet, T.J. 1 ; Catanzarite, Dominick 1 ; Campbell, Kirby 1 ; Godfrey, Sean 1
CS: Elliott, Cody 1 ; Winkle, Wes 2
HBP: Winkle, Wes 1
Batting:
2B: Wilson, J. 1
RBI: Tilton, Cory 1 ; Montalbano 2 ; Steedley, R. 1 ; Roland, J. 1
SH: Basen, S. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Elseser 1 ; Montalbano 1 ; Wilson, J. 1 ; Shaylor, C. 1 ; Roland, J. 1
HBP: Steedley, R. 1 ; Gillespie, K 1
