Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
24-16, 10-4
Bowling Green
15-24, 5-9
Baseball Evens Series with 3-1 Win over Bowling Green
April 23, 2016 | Baseball
MUNCIE, Ind. -- Alex Call's two-run home run in the seventh-inning broke open a tie game and lifted the Ball State baseball team to a 3-1 victory Saturday over Bowling Green.
The Cardinals opened the day with a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the new First Merchants Ballpark Complex and ended it by tying up this weekend's series at one game apiece.
Matt Haro pitched five scoreless innings in relief of starter Zach Plesac to hold Bowling Green in check. He helped Ball State remain atop the Mid-American Conference West Division at 24-16 (10-4 MAC). Bowling Green fell to 15-24 (5-9 MAC).
Haro scattered three hits on his way to the win, improving to 3-1 on the season, while BJ Butler tossed the final two innings to record his eighth save. In total, the duo combined to hold Bowling Green scoreless over the final seven frames.
Bowling Green struck first in the second inning when a two-out single from catcher Justin Mott scored RJ Williams. All three Ball State runs that followed also came with two outs.
Cardinals center fielder Matt Eppers evened the game in the fourth inning when he followed back-to-back walks with a single to plate Jarett Rindfleisch.
That was the only run surrendered by Bowling Green starting pitcher Zac Carey until the seventh inning. Ball State third baseman Sean Kennedy lined a shot off Carey's hip in the seventh, but the Falcon pitcher remained in the game. Two batters later, Call sent the first pitch he saw over the left field fence for his sixth home run of the season.
Butler came out of the bullpen to preserve the lead. Bowling Green managed a two-out base runner in each of the final two innings, but Butler struck out the next batter he faced both times.
Call also had a fifth-inning double and joined first baseman Caleb Stayton in leading Ball State offensively with 2-for-4 performances at the plate. Rindfleisch reached base three times, walking twice and being hit by a pitch. Roman Baisa tripled in the third inning but was stranded at third base.
Mott led Bowling Green at the plate, collecting three of his team's seven hits on the day.
The teams will meet again for the rubber game of the series Sunday at 1 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Haro, Matt (3-1)
L: CAREY, Zac (3-6)
S: Butler, BJ (8)
Batting:
RBI: MOTT, Justin 1
SH: WILLIAMS, RJ 1
Base Running:
RUNS: WILLIAMS, RJ 1
SB: BROWN, Kory 1
Batting:
2B: Call, Alex 1
3B: Baisa, Roman 1
HR: Call, Alex 1
RBI: Call, Alex 2 ; Eppers, Matt 1
SH: Spaulding, Ryan 1 ; Baisa, Roman 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Call, Alex 1 ; Rindfleisch, Jarett 1 ; Kennedy, Sean 1
CS: Maloney, Alex 1
HBP: Rindfleisch, Jarett 1
