Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
High Point
Baseball Posts Win Over High Point Saturday
February 21, 2015 | Baseball
Caleb Stayton provided the day's fireworks with a three-run homer on a line shot to right center in the eighth inning that led Ball State to a 6-3 win over High Point in the first game of a two-game day in Aiken, S.C.
The homer was the first of the season and sixth of Stayton's career and highlighted an eighth inning that Elbert Devarie opened with a single to left field to improve to 3-for-4 on the day. Alex Call's bunt single put runners at first and second with no outs, but a fielder's choice bunt by Jarett Rindfleisch got Devarie out at third. With two outs, Stayton's three-run homer cleared the bases and gave the Cardinals a 6-3 lead.
Zach Plesac started the game on the mound for the Cardinals and lasted 5.2 innings, allowing only two runs, while striking out seven. Devin Wilburn came on in relief and allowed only one hit against the seven batters he faced in 1.2 innings.
For the second straight day, B.J. Butler entered the game and in the eighth with one out and a runner on first, gave up a bloop single that tied the contest at 3-3.
Butler retired three straight batters in the ninth to end the game and earn the win to improve to 1-0 with one save on the season.
After giving up a first inning run to High Point, Ball State tallied two runs in the bottom of the fourth and one in the fifth to take a 3-1 lead, but the Panthers responded with another run in the sixth to close the gap to 3-2.
Ball State's two runs in the fourth came when Stayton singled to right field to score Call, who had walked to lead off the inning. Sean Kennedy reached on a fielder's choice that scored Call and the Cardinals led 2-0. Ball State added the third run in the fifth on a Devarie single to left field that scored Scott Tyler, who walked and advanced to third on a Ryan Spaulding base hit down the third base line.
Stayton was 2-for-4 in the game with four runs-batted-in and one run scored, including the game-winning HR. Call was 2-for-3 with two runs scored, while Devarie had one RBI in his 3-for-4 showing. Rindfleisch was 2-for-4 and scored two runs.
Ball State's batters two through five in the batting order combined for nine hits in 15 at-bats with five RBI and five runs scored.
With the win, Ball State evened its record at 2-2 on the season and will face Elon Saturday at 4:30 and again at 11 a.m. Sunday.
