Ball State University
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Western Michigan
Baseball Drops Close Affair To Western Michigan, 2-0
May 07, 2011 | Baseball
MUNCIE, Ind. - In a game that featured just 10 total hits, the Ball State baseball team was held to four as it dropped a 2-0 contest to Mid-American Conference rival Western Michigan at Ball Diamond. The Cardinals fall to 8-11 in MAC play while the Broncos move a half game in front of BSU with a 9-11 league mark.
Western Michigan (21-25) left-hander Casey Webber picked up his fourth win of the season as he worked 7.1 strong innings and while striking out five. Troy Forton and Eric Heckaman combined for the final 1.2 innings in the shutout.
The Broncos struck first against junior right-hander Cal Bowling (Muncie, Ind./Yorktown) in the top of the fourth inning. Bowling issued a two-out walk to Jack Scanlon before Bad Wehrmeyer poked a run-scoring double down the left field to give the Broncos a 1-0 lead.
Western Michigan threatened in the top of the sixth inning as Forton reached an infield hit and Patrick Duncan single to put runners on the corners. After a 39-minute weather delay, left-hander Derek Grabner (Fort Wayne, Ind./Lincoln Trail) came on in relief and walked Jack Scanlon to load the bases. Grabner got a fly ball by Wehrmeyer to center fielder Cody Elliott (Florence, Ky./Beechwood) who threw a laser home to nab Forton at the plate for the inning-ending double play.
Western Michigan got a big insurance run in the top of the eighth inning after Grabner got two quick outs. Scanlon and Wehrmeyer put runners on the corners with back-to-back singles. Dustin Ditsworth put the Broncos in front 2-0 as he reach on a BSU fielding error allowing Scanlon to score the unearned run.
Ball State threatened in the bottom of the eighth inning as freshman Cody Campbell (Muncie, Ind./Cowan) drew a walk and freshman T.J. Weir (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo) lined a pinch hit single into left field with just one out to end Webber's afternoon. Forton came on in relief from first base and induced to fly ball outs to keep the Cardinals off the board.
The Cardinals had one final shot in the bottom of the ninth inning as Mitch Widau (Richmond, Ind./Richmond) drew a one out walk. After a ground ball moved Widau to second, Heckaman induced a foul pop fly to end the game and record his team-leading sixth save of the afternoon.
Bowling (4-5) was the hard luck loser as he worked 5.1 innings and only allowed one run on three hits before his afternoon was cut short by the weather delay. Grabner was strong in his first relief appearance of the season as he allowed one run on three hits in 3.2 innings.
The Cardinals and the Broncos will wrap up the three-game series Sunday afternoon. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at Ball Diamond.
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