Baseball Shuts Out Ohio To Claim Series Victory

Sunday, March 27

Muncie, Ind.

1 p.m.

Ball State University

4-18, 2-1

Ohio

12-11, 1-2

Ohio

Ball State

March 27, 2011 | Baseball

Box Score

By: Ball State Athletics

MUNCIE, Ind. - The Ball State baseball team claimed the Mid-American Conference series victory over Ohio with a 1-0 shutout of the Bobcats Sunday afternoon at Ball Diamond. The victory improves the Cardinals to 2-1 in MAC play this season and marks their first series victory of the year.

Senior right-hander Morgan Coombs (West Terre Haute, Ind./Lincoln Trail) and freshman left-hander Devin Wilburn (Wapahani, Ind./Selma) combined for the shutout as they limited Ohio to just four hits and only allowed one runner to reach third base in the victory. The shutout is the Cardinals' first of the season and the first since a 2-0 blanking of Northern Illinois last season (May 16, 2010).

Coombs (1-3) picked up the win as he tossed 6.0 shutout innings while allowing four hits and striking out five. Wilburn posted his first career save as he worked the final 3.0 innings and did not allow a base runner, retiring nine straight.

Ball State opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning against Ohio right-hander Jason Moulton. Junior Mitch Widau (Richmond, Ind./Richmond) and redshirt freshman Billy Wellman (Portland, Ind./Jay County) drew two-out walks. Freshman third baseman Kenny Mahala (Highland, Ind./Andrean) put the Cardinals in front 1-0 as he dropped a single over the shortstop's head and Widau beat the throw home for the game's first run.

Ohio (12-11, 1-2 MAC) threatened in the top of the fourth inning as Jensen Painter walked and Seth Streich was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Coombs settled in and recorded three straight outs to strand two on base keeping the Cardinals in the lead.

The Bobcats last threatened in the top of the sixth inning as they put two on base after one out taking advantage of an error and a walk. Coombs once again buckled down and got an infield pop fly and a ground out to end the threat.

Ohio would lead off the seventh inning with a single by Garrett Black that chased Coombs from the game. Wilburn came on in relief and induced three straight ground outs to strand Black at third base. The Bobcats would not have another base runner in the final two innings.

Moulton (1-2) picked up a tough loss as he posted a complete game working 8.0 innings of three hit baseball. He only allowed one run while striking out eight batters but issued five walks in the loss.

Ball State will be off during the midweek before returning to MAC action next weekend with a three-game series at Miami beginning Friday evening at 6 p.m.

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