Ball State University
6-21, 4-3
Bowling Green
10-15, 4-3
Baseball Drops Pitching Duel To Bowling Green, 2-0
April 08, 2011 | Baseball
MUNCIE, Ind. - Ball State junior right-hander Cal Bowling (Muncie, Ind./Yorktown) turned in his third straight complete game performance Friday afternoon but the Cardinals dropped a 2-0 decision to Mid-American Conference rival Bowling Green at Ball Diamond. The loss drops the Cardinals to 4-3 on the year in MAC play while the Falcons improve to 4-3 in league contests.
Bowling (3-2) was the hard-luck loser as he allowed two runs on 10 hits while striking out five batters. He becomes the first Ball State pitcher to post at least three complete games in a season since Brian Lynch recorded seven complete games during the 2003 season. The loss also marks the first blemish of Bowling's career in MAC play as he opened his career 8-0 against league foes in 12 starts.
Bowling Green right-hander Cody Apthorpe and right-hander Mike Frank combined to shutout the Cardinals as they held Ball State to just five hits. Apthorpe improves to 3-3 on the season as he went 7.0 innings allowing four hits and striking out eight batters. Frank tossed the final two innings and held the Cardinals to one hit for his second save.
Bowling Green broke a scoreless game in the top of the fifth inning as it took a 2-0 lead. The runs snapped Bowling's scoreless inning streak at 21.2 innings as he hadn't allowed a run since the first inning of the MAC opener against Ohio (March 25).
Clay Duncan led off the inning with a single and moved to third as Logan Walker singled to put runners at the corners. Bowling came within inches of getting out of the inning as he got a ground ball from Franklin Lancaster. The Cardinals tried to turn the double play but Lancaster beat the throw at first base allowing Duncan to score the first run of the afternoon. Lancaster stole second base and came home to score as Frank Berry singled up the middle for the 2-0 Bowling Green lead.
Ball State threatened in the bottom of the fifth inning against Apthorpe. Senior T.J. Baumet (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) worked a two out walk and moved into scoring position as junior Cody Elliott (Florence, Ky./Beechwood) doubled down the left field line. Apthorpe worked out of the threat as he induced a fly ball to center field to strand both runners.
Ball State brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning against Frank. Freshman Kenny Mahala (Highland, Ind./Andrean) gave the Cardinals some life as he ripped a one out double into the left center field gap. Frank was able to thwart the rally as he induced two ground balls to end the game for the Falcons.
Ball State and Bowling Green will continue its series Saturday afternoon. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at Ball Diamond.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: APTHORPE, Cody (3-3)
L: Bowling, Cal (3-2)
S: FRANK, Mike (2)
Batting:
RBI: BERRY, Frank 1 ; LANCASTER, Patrick 1
SH: SCHLATER, Ryan 1 ; DUNCAN, Clay 1 ; MARTIN, Patrick 2
Base Running:
RUNS: DUNCAN, Clay 1 ; LANCASTER, Patrick 1
SB: BERTI, Jon 1 ; LANCASTER, Patrick 1
CS: BERTI, Jon 1
Batting:
2B: Elliott, Cody 1 ; Mahala, Kenny 1
Base Running:
SB: Elliott, Cody 1
HBP: Widau, Mitch 1
