Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
UNC-Wilmington
Baseball Loses 4-2 Contest at UNC Wilmington
February 15, 2015 | Baseball
Ball State battled the host UNC Wilmington in its second game of the Buffalo Wild Wings Battle @ the Beach, but fell 4-2 to the Seahawks.
The Cardinals, who suffered a loss to Kentucky in the tournament's first game Friday, was slated to face Richmond Sunday but the game was cancelled due to impending weather conditions.
"Our boys battled all weekend but winning is about making plays," Ball State head coach Rich Maloney said. "Kentucky and UNCW made the plays and pitches when they had to. I was encouraged by the performance of B.J. Butler and our freshmen relievers this weekend."
After falling behind 4-0 through four innings, Ball State rallied for two in the top of the sixth to close the gap.
Elbert Devarie led off the sixth with a single. With a 3-2 count on Alex Call, Devarie was off and running and Call laced a grounder up the middle to put runners on first and third with no outs. It marked the 44th straight game Call has reached base safely. Jarett Rindfleisch singled between short and third base to score Devarie and move Call to second base.
With the score at 4-1, the Cardinals' Caleb Stayton singled to right to score Call from second and put runners at first and second with still no outs in the sixth and the gap closed to 4-2. Sean Kennedy walked to become the fifth straight Ball State batter to reach base. But, UNCW relief pitcher Austin Magestro entered from the bullpen and struck out three straight Cardinals to end the rally.
Ball State mounted another rally in the eighth inning, but UNCW left fielder Steven Linkous made a running grab and collided into the outfield fence, but held on to a Brandon Estep drive with two outs and the bases loaded.
Scott Baker, who was 7-5 on the mound last year after posting a 12-2 record in 2013 and earning MAC Pitcher of the Year honors, started the game for the Cardinals and lasted 3.2 innings. He gave up six hits and three earned runs, while striking out two and walking two.
B.J. Butler came on in relief and quieted the Seahawks bats. Butler pitched the final 4.1 innings, allowing no hits and no runs, while striking out six and walking only one.
Stayton was 2-for-4 on the day with one run-batted-in, while Call was 2-for-4 with one run scored.
With the loss, Ball State falls to 0-2 on the season and will return to action Friday at the Country Inn and Suites Elon Invitational. The Cardinals will open with Indiana State Friday at 4 p.m., before facing Elon and South Dakota State Saturday and South Dakota State in the tourney finale Sunday.
