Ball State University
11-24, 7-5
Central Michigan (DH)
19-19, 8-5
Baseball Swept By Central Michigan In Doubleheader
April 23, 2011 | Baseball
MUNCIE, Ind. - The Ball State baseball team suffered just its second Mid-American Conference series loss of the season Saturday afternoon as the Cardinals dropped both games of a doubleheader to MAC West preseason favorite Central Michigan at Ball Diamond. Ball State dropped game one of the twin bill by a 12-3 margin before losing a tough 7-6 contest in the second game.
The two teams will wrap up the three-game series Sunday afternoon. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at Ball Diamond.
Game One - Central Michigan 12, Ball State 3
The Ball State baseball team suffered a 12-3 loss to Central Michigan in game one of the Saturday doubleheader at Ball Diamond. The Chippewas broke the game open with five runs in the third inning and three in the sixth take home the victory.
Ball State opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning against Central Michigan left-hander Trent Howard. Junior second baseman Mitch Widau (Richmond, Ind./Richmond) ripped his first triple of the season into the right center field gap with two outs. Widau came home to score on a passed ball to give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead.
Central Michigan answered back in the top of the second inning against junior right-hander Cal Bowling (Muncie, Ind./Yorktown). Matt Faiman led off the inning with a walk and moved all the way to third as Jordan Dean dropped a bloop single into left center field. Bowling limited the damage to just one run as he induced a sacrifice fly to center field that tied the game at 1-1.
The Chippewas broke open the game in the top of the third inning as they plated five runs and took advantage of a crucial Ball State fielding error. CMU posted five hits in the inning but the key play was with two outs and the bases loaded as the Cardinals misplayed an infield fly allowing two runs to score and continuing the inning.
Ball State chipped away at the deficit with two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning after two outs. After a fielder's choice allowed Sean Godfrey (New Albany, Ind./New Albany) to reach base, Tim Issler (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Xavier) reached on an infield single.
Howard got himself into trouble as he issued two wild pitches, including one on a third strike to Mitch Overley (Zionsville, Ind./Brebeuf) allowing him to reach base and scoring Godfrey from third. Sophomore Kirby Campbell (Muncie, Ind./Cowan) narrowed the gap to 6-3 as he ripped a single past the third baseman to bring Issler
The Chippewas ran Bowling from the game with three runs in the top of the sixth inning to take a 9-3 lead. Central Michigan posted three hits in the inning and took advantage of a BSU fielding error to run the lead to six. CMU added to its lead in the eighth and ninth innings to round out the scoring.
Bowling (4-3) picked up the loss as he allowed nine runs, only five earned, in 5.1 innings of work as Central Michigan posted eight hits. Howard (4-3) garnered the victory as he worked 7.0 innings and allowed three runs on seven hits while striking out eight.
Game Two - Central Michigan 7, Ball State 6
The Ball State baseball team suffered its second loss of the afternoon as Central Michigan scored two runs in the top of the ninth inning to take home a 7-6 victory at Ball Diamond. The loss drops the Cardinals to 7-6 in MAC play while Central Michigan improves to 9-5.
Ball State opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning against CMU right-hander Zach Cooper. Junior Cody Elliott (Florence, Ky./Beechwood) led off the inning beating out an infield single. Senior shortstop T.J. Baumet (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) gave the Cardinals the lead as he crushed his fourth home run of the season over the center field wall for a 2-0 lead.
Central Michigan answered right back in the top of the second inning against senior left-hander Derek Grabner (Fort Wayne, Ind./Lincoln Trail). Grabner issued a leadoff walk to Tom Howard before recording back-to-back outs. Robbie Harman singled through the left side to keep the inning going before Tyler Hall notched a two-run triple into center field to tie the game at 2-2.
The Chippewas took their first lead of the game in the top of the fifth inning as they scored three runs to take a 5-2 lead. William Arnold had the big hit of the inning as he posted a two-run triple into the right center field gap.
Ball State scratched across a run in the bottom of the sixth inning to pull within two at 5-3. Elliott got things going as he singled into left center field and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. Junior second baseman Mitch Widau (Richmond, Ind./Richmond) battled through an eight-pitch at-bat and dropped a run-scoring single down the left field line to score Elliott.
The Cardinals re-took the lead in the bottom of the seventh inning against CMU left-handed reliever Deitrich Enns. Sophomore Blake Beemer (Dayton, Ohio/Northmont) led off the inning reaching on a CMU fielding error before coming all the way home as freshman Cody Campbell (Muncie, Ind./Cowan) notched his first career triple off the center field wall to make it a one-run game.
The Cardinals tied the game as sophomore catcher Kevin Franchetti (Highland, Ind./Andrean) dropped down a perfect suicide squeeze bunt to score Campbell from third base with the tying run. Sophomore Kirby Campbell (Muncie, Ind./Cowan) drew a walk to keep the inning going. Campbell use his speed to move into scoring position as he stole second and advanced to third as the CMU throw went into the outfield. Elliott gave the Cardinals a 6-5 lead as he dropped a single over the shortstop's head to score Campbell.
Central Michigan rallied back in the top of the ninth inning against right-hander Michael Sandman (Newark, Ohio/Utica). The Chippewas got the inning going as Nate Theunissen reach on a fielding error by the Cardinals. Central Michigan put two in scoring position with one out as Hall doubled into center field.
The Cardinals elected intentionally walk Brendan Emmett but Sandman uncorked a wild pitch allowing Theunissen to score the tying run. Ball State saw the go-ahead run score on a passed ball plating Hall to make it a 7-6 game. Ball State was unable to put a runner on in the bottom of the ninth inning as Enns recorded three straight outs.
Sandman (1-1) picked up the hard luck loss as he worked 2.2 innings and allowed two unearned runs on just one hit. Grabner recorded a no decision as he allowed five runs on seven hits in 6.1 innings of work. Enns (5-1) got the victory despite allowing three runs on three hits in 3.0 innings of work. Cooper also got a no decision as he went 6.0 strong innings and struck out 11 batters.
Ball State and Central Michigan will close out the three-game series Sunday afternoon. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at Ball Diamond with senior right-hander Morgan Coombs (Terre Haute, Ind./Lincoln Trail) set to take the hill for the Cardinals.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: HOWARD, Trent (4-3)
L: Bowling, Cal (4-3)
Batting:
2B: HALL, Tyler 1
3B: FAIMAN, Matt 1
HR: HALL, Tyler 1
RBI: HALL, Tyler 3 ; EMMETT, Brendan 2 ; ARNOLD, William 1 ; RUSSELL, Sam 1 ; HELSEN, Rod 1 ; ADAMS, Jordan 1 ; HARMAN, Robbie 1
SH: HARMAN, Robbie 1
SF: ARNOLD, William 1 ; RUSSELL, Sam 1 ; HELSEN, Rod 1
Base Running:
RUNS: HALL, Tyler 2 ; ARNOLD, William 1 ; FAIMAN, Matt 3 ; DEAN, Jordan 1 ; RUSSELL, Sam 1 ; WROZEK, Eric 1 ; PHILLION, Scott 1 ; HARMAN, Robbie 2
SB: EMMETT, Brendan 1
HBP: HALL, Tyler 1
Batting:
2B: Beemer, Blake 1
3B: Widau, Mitch 1
RBI: Overley, Mitch 1 ; Campbell, Kirby 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Widau, Mitch 1 ; Godfrey, Sean 1 ; Issler, Tim 1
HBP: Baumet, T.J. 1
