Ball State University
12-31, 8-12
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Western Michigan
22-25, 10-11
Baseball Falls In 12 Innings To Western Michigan
May 08, 2011 | Baseball
MUNCIE, Ind. - The Ball State baseball team suffered a hard-fought 5-4 loss in 12 innings to Mid-American Conference rival Western Michigan Sunday afternoon at Ball Diamond. Western Michigan rallied for three runs in the final three innings to force extra frames before Ryan McMillin posted an RBI-single in the 12th inning.
Ball State (12-31, 8-12 MAC) opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning against WMU left-hander Steve Laudicina. Junior Cody Elliott (Florence, Ky./Beechwood) led off the game as he singled up the middle. Elliott quickly moved into scoring position after a sacrifice bunt before stealing his team-leading 14th base. Junior Mitch Widau (Richmond, Ind./Richmond) put the Cardinals in front 1-0 as he grounded out to shortstop plating Elliott.
Western Michigan (22-25, 10-11 MAC) answered back in the top of the third inning against senior right-hander Morgan Coombs (West Terre Haute, Ind./Lincoln Trail). The Broncos posted two hits in the inning to put runners on the corners with two outs before the Cardinals committed a fielding error at third base allowing the tying run to score unearned.
The Cardinals retook the lead in the bottom of the third inning as sophomore Wes Winkle (Muncie, Ind./Yorktown) and Elliott started things with back-to-back one out singles. After a walk to senior T.J. Baumet (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) loaded the bases, Widau drew a bases loaded walk scoring Winkle. Sophomore Blake Beemer (Dayton, Ohio/Northmont) put the Cardinals in front 3-1 as he reached on an infield single against WMU reliever Mike Moyer. Moyer was able to get out of the inning as he induced two straight ground balls to strand the bases loaded.
Ball State added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth inning as Baumet was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Widau followed with a perfect hit-and-run to left field putting runners at the corners. Beemer gave the Cardinals a 4-1 lead as he lifted a sacrifice fly to deep right field to plate Baumet.
Western Michigan narrowed the gap to 4-3 with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh inning to chase Coombs from the game. Jack Scanlon led off with a walk and moved to second as Tim Cross singled down the left field line with two outs. Jimmy Martinez followed with a single that ricocheted off Coombs' leg. Coombs scrambled for the ball and overthrew first base for a two-base error allowing two runs to score, trimming the Cardinals' lead to one run.
The Broncos tied the game in the top of the eighth inning against freshman left-hander Devin Wilburn (Selma, Ind./Wapahani). Troy Forton led off the inning as he reached on a two-base error by the Cardinals' right fielder. After a fly ball moved Forton to third base, Jack Scanlon reached on a bunt single to score the tying run.
The Cardinals threatened in the bottom of the ninth as freshman Kenny Mahala (Highland, Ind./Andrean) led off with a pinch hit single. After a sacrifice bunt, the Broncos intentionally walked Elliott to set up the double play. Forton was able to strike out Baumet before issuing a walk to Widau to load the bases with two outs. The Broncos were able to get out of the inning and force extras as Beemer struck out to end the frame.
Western Michigan took its first lead of the afternoon in the top of the 12th inning against senior left-hander Derek Grabner (Fort Wayne, Ind./Lincoln Trail). Martinez got the rally going as he drew a one-out walk before moving to second as Zach Thoma reached on an infield hit. Grabner got the second out of the inning as he struck Forton out but Ryan McMillin poked a run-scoring single up the middle to plate Martinez with the go ahead run.
Ball State had one last chance in the bottom of the 12th inning against WMU closer Eric Heckaman. Widau led off the inning with a single and Beemer drew a four-pitch walk to put the first two aboard in the inning. Heckaman got an infield pop fly on an attempted bunt before inducing a game-ending double play off the bat of freshman Sean Godfrey (New Albany, Ind./New Albany).
Grabner (1-5) picked up the loss as he allowed one run on three hits in 3.2 innings of work. Coombs was stellar on the mound in his second start of the weekend as he went 6.2 innings and allowed three unearned runs on five hits while striking out eight batters.
Forton (2-1) earned the victory for the Broncos as he worked 5.0 shutout innings and limited the Cardinals to just two hits. Heckaman posted his team-leading seventh save of the year by working a scoreless 12th inning.
Ball State steps out of MAC action Wednesday afternoon as it travels to West Lafayette, Ind., for a meeting with Big Ten foe Purdue.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: FORTON, Troy (2-1)
L: Grabner, Derek (1-5)
S: HECKAMAN, Eric (7)
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Batting:
RBI: McMILLIN, Ryan 1 ; SCANLON, Jack 1
SH: SIMOTES, Grant 1
Base Running:
RUNS: MARTINEZ, Jimmy 1 ; FORTON, Troy 1 ; SCANLON, Jack 1 ; DITSWORTH, Dustin 1 ; CROSS, Tim 1
SB: SCANLON, Jack 1 ; DITSWORTH, Dustin 1
Batting:
2B: Franchetti, Kevin 1
RBI: Widau, Mitch 2 ; Beemer, Blake 2
SH: Baumet, T.J. 1 ; Franchetti, Kevin 1 ; Winkle, Wes 1
SF: Beemer, Blake 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Elliott, Cody 2 ; Baumet, T.J. 1 ; Winkle, Wes 1
SB: Elliott, Cody 1
CS: Baumet, T.J. 1 ; Weir, T.J. 1
HBP: Baumet, T.J. 1
