Ball State University Athletics
Cardinals Wrap Up MAC Play at Toledo
May 12, 2016 | Baseball
Game 1 - Ball State at Toledo
Friday, May 13, 3 p.m.
ESPN3 | Live Stats | Social Media (@BallStateBB)
Game 2 - Ball State at Toledo
Saturday, May 14, 1 p.m.
ESPN3 | Live Audio | Live Stats | Social Media (@BallStateBB)
Game 3 - Ball State at Toledo
Sunday, May 15, 1 p.m.
ESPN3 | Live Audio | Live Stats | Social Media (@BallStateBB)
Fans can tune in for FREE on their computer by visiting the links above. Please note, fans can also listen to the broadcast on their mobile devices by purchasing the premium upgrade (on-time fee of $4.99) on the BallStSports app found in iTunes and Android stores.
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ball-state-sports/id580853822?mt=8
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.neulion.android.collegesports.bsu.premium&hl=en
Projected Starting Pitchers
Game 1 - Kevin Marnon, LHP (4-5, 4.09 ERA, 46 Ks)
Game 2 - Matt Haro, LHP (5-1, 2.56 ERA, 31 Ks)
Game 3 - Brendan Burns, RHP (5-3, 3.64, 42 Ks)
Game Notes
Opening Pitch: Ball State wraps up its conference schedule this weekend at Toledo. If the Cardinals win two games, they will clinch the MAC West Division title for the second time in the last three years. Two wins would also guarantee Ball State would be no worse the No. 3 seed at the upcoming MAC Tournament.
Ball State is hitting a league-best .308 against MAC opponents. However, the Cardinals are only hitting .235 in league road games. LF Roman Baisa has been a bright spot in MAC road games as he is hitting .423 with eight stolen bases.
Series History: Ball State holds a slight 67-56 lead in the all-time series that dates back to 1965. Toledo won two of three games at Ball State last year, but the Cardinals responded with a 3-2 win on the opening day of the 2015 MAC Tournament.
OF Scott Tyler finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs in the tournament win, while RHP BJ Butler kept Toledo off the board in the ninth inning to earn the save.
Preserving the Lead: Ball State is 25-0 this season when leading after seven innings.
RHP BJ Butler has been particularly effective as he has made 10 consecutive appearances in MAC games without allowing a run. Butler has five wins and two saves in that stretch.
Last weekend against Eastern Michigan, Butler pitched two innings to earn the save in the 10-7 win on May 6 and then pitched the final five innings on May 8 to record the win in the 8-3 triumph.
Kennedy Coming on Strong: Over the last 10 games, 3B Sean Kennedy is batting .406 (13-of-32) with a home run, nine RBIs, eight runs scored and nine walks.
Kennedy had perhaps his best game of the season on May 11 against Indiana State. The junior went 3-for-4 with a home run and a season-high three RBIs.
Haro Expected to Get Pitching Nod: LHP Matt Haro, who has been one of Ball State's most consistent long relievers this season, is expected to make his first MAC start on Saturday.
Haro is 3-0 with a 2.12 ERA in 17 innings pitched in six MAC appearances.
