Ball State University
2-14
Belmont
9-10
Baseball Falls At Belmont In 12 Innings
March 19, 2011 | Baseball
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Ball State baseball team suffered a hard fought loss Friday afternoon as the Cardinals dropped a 7-6 contest in 12 innings to Belmont at Shelby Park. The Bruins scored a run in the bottom of the ninth inning to send the game into extra frames before plating the game-winning run with a sacrifice fly in the 12th inning.
The Cardinals pounded out 16 hits in the loss as six different players posted a multiple-hit game. Sophomore Kirby Campbell (Muncie, Ind./Cowan) posted three hits and scored two runs while junior Mitch Widau (Richmond, Ind./Richmond) posted three hits and drove in three runs.
Belmont (9-10) opened the scoring quickly as it plated three runs in the bottom of the first inning against junior left-hander Cal Bowling (Muncie, Ind./Yorktown). Bowling issued back-to-back walks after opening with a strikeout before Nate Woods connected on a three-run home run for the early 3-0 lead.
The Bruins extended the lead to 5-0 with single runs in the third and fourth innings as Dylan Craig scored a run and drove in a run in consecutive innings. Bowling only lasted 4.0 innings and was charged with five runs on six hits as he walked a season-high five batters.
Ball State (2-14) answered back in the top of the fifth inning against Belmont starter Chase Brookshire. Sophomore Wes Winkle (Muncie, Ind./Yorktown) led off the inning with a single and moved into scoring position as Campbell doubled to right field to put two in scoring position.
Sophomore Blake Beemer (Dayton, Ohio/Northmont) drove in the Cardinals' first two runs as he ripped a single to right field and moved into scoring position as the Bruins tried to throw Campbell out at the plate. Widau made it a 5-3 contest as he followed with a single up the middle to plate Beemer to round out the inning.
The Cardinals narrowed the gap to 5-4 with a run in the sixth inning as junior Cody Elliott (Florence, Ky./Beechwood) led off the inning with a triple in the left center field gap. Sophomore Stephen Claypool (Dearborn, Mich./Divine Child) picked up an RBI as he grounded out to the right side of the infield.
Ball State took its first lead of the afternoon in the top of the seventh inning against Belmont reliever Josh Davis. Campbell led off the inning with a single and senior shortstop T.J. Baumet (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) followed with a base hit two put two aboard.
After a sacrifice bunt by Beemer moved both into scoring position, Widau doubled into right center field to give the Cardinals a 6-5 lead. Elliott continued the inning with a single and moved to second base with his hustle but Belmont reliever Matt Hamann was able to strikeout Claypool to end the threat and keep it a one-run contest.
Belmont battled back in the bottom of the ninth inning against sophomore left-hander Jon Cisna (Homer Glen, Ill./Lockport). Craig led off the inning with a single and Woods was hit by a pitch to put two aboard. After a sacrifice bunt moved both into scoring position, the Cardinals intentionally walked the ensuing batter to load the bases.
Cisna was able to induce a fly ball from Matt Zeblo but it was deep enough to allow Craig to score from third and tie the game. The Cardinals worked out of the inning as they got a ground ball to strand two on base.
Both teams went down quietly in the 10th and 11th innings before Belmont was able to scratch across the game-winning run in the 12th inning against right-hander Seth Hobbs (Marseilles, Ill./Seneca). Zeblo led off the inning with a double that forced the Cardinals to intentionally walk the next batter.
After a passed ball moved both into scoring position, Ball State was forced to issue another free pass to load the bases and make a force play at any base. Derek Hamblen drove in the game-winning run as he lifted a sacrifice fly to center field and Zeblo was able to score ahead of the throw for the 7-6 victory.
Hobbs (0-1) picked up the loss as he allowed one run on one hit in 1.1 innings of work as he was one of six Cardinals to pitch in the extra inning loss. Cisna worked 3.0 innings of strong relief but allowed one run on one hit. Redshirt freshman Kyle Raleigh (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills) turned in his best performance of the year as he tossed 2.0 shutout innings of two-hit baseball.
Jon Ivie (1-0) picked up the win for Belmont as he worked the final 2.0 innings and limited the Cardinals to just one hit. Hamann worked 3.1 innings of shutout relief while Brookshire ended after 6.0 innings of four-run baseball.
The Cardinals will look to even the series Saturday afternoon as they battle the Bruins at 1 p.m. (CT). Senior left-hander Derek Grabner (Fort Wayne, Ind./Lincoln Trail) is set to take the hill for the Cardinals in game two of the weekend.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: IVIE (1-0)
L: Hobbs, Seth (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Widau, Mitch 1 ; Campbell, Kirby 1
3B: Elliott, Cody 1
RBI: Beemer, Blake 2 ; Widau, Mitch 3 ; Claypool, Stephen 1
SH: Beemer, Blake 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Baumet, T.J. 1 ; Beemer, Blake 1 ; Elliott, Cody 1 ; Winkle, Wes 1 ; Campbell, Kirby 2
Batting:
2B: AKERS 1 ; ZEBLO 1
3B: CRAIG 1
HR: WOODS 1
RBI: HAMBLEN 1 ; CRAIG 1 ; WOODS 3 ; AKERS 1 ; ZEBLO 1
SH: EGERTON 1 ; BREEN 1
SF: HAMBLEN 1 ; ZEBLO 1
Base Running:
RUNS: MITCHELL 2 ; CRAIG 3 ; WOODS 1 ; ZEBLO 1
HBP: WOODS 1
