Ball State University
0-1
Oregon State
1-0
Baseball Gives No. 5 Oregon State a Scare in the Season Opener
February 20, 2016 | Baseball
SURPRISE, Ariz. – The Ball State University baseball team began its 2016 season Friday afternoon in Arizona as part of the Surprise College Baseball Classic against No. 5 Oregon State. The Pac-12 favorites held on for a 7-6 win in the opener.
The Cardinals (0-2) finished the opening day by falling to Utah Valley, 5-1.
Against Oregon State, Ball State jumped out in front after three innings, 2-1, thanks to sacrifice flies by senior Ryan Spaulding and junior Jarett Rindfleisch.
However, the Beavers (1-0) strung together five hits and three runs in the fourth inning to take the lead for good. Oregon State stretched its lead to 7-3 in the bottom of the sixth behind KJ Harrison's two-run double.
Ball State responded with three runs of its own in the following frame to keep the pressure on Oregon State. Junior Caleb Stayton came up with the only hit of the inning, but it was a huge one – a two-out, two-run single to right field – to bring the Cardinals back within one run at 7-6.
The Cardinals had one more scoring chance in the ninth inning when Spaulding led off the frame with a double to center field. Unfortunately, the next three hitters were unable to knock him home, allowing Oregon State to escape with the victory in the first-ever meeting between the two teams.
In the nightcap, Utah Valley (1-0) starting pitcher Danny Beddes kept the Cardinals in check through seven innings. The righty allowed two hits and a run in the first inning. Beddes held Ball State without a hit the ensuing six innings.
Center fielder Justin Erlandson and catcher Zac Willis each knocked in a pair of runs for the Wolverines.
Ball State is right back in action tomorrow evening against Utah. Game time is set for 8 p.m. ET (6 p.m. MT).
For the most up-to-date information on the Ball State baseball team, please follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateBB and @CoachMaloney.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Rasmussen, Drew (1-0)
L: Plesac, Zach (0-1)
S: Engelbrekt, Max (1)
Batting:
2B: Spaulding, Ryan 1
3B: Maloney, Alex 1
RBI: Spaulding, Ryan 1 ; Rindfleisch, Jarett 1 ; Stayton, Caleb 2 ; Tyler, Scott 1
SF: Spaulding, Ryan 1 ; Rindfleisch, Jarett 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Maloney, Alex 2 ; Spaulding, Ryan 1 ; Rindfleisch, Jarett 2 ; Eppers, Matt 1
CS: Maloney, Alex 1
HBP: Rindfleisch, Jarett 2
Batting:
2B: Donahue, Christian 1 ; Harrison, KJ 1
RBI: Donahue, Christian 1 ; Madrigal, Nick 2 ; Harrison, KJ 2 ; Nobach, Kyle 1 ; Kwan, Steven 1
SH: Grenier, Cadyn 1 ; Kwan, Steven 1
SF: Madrigal, Nick 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Donahue, Christian 3 ; Madrigal, Nick 1 ; Harrison, KJ 1 ; Nobach, Kyle 1 ; Anderson, Jack 1
CS: Morrison, Trever 1
HBP: Anderson, Jack 1
