Friday, February 17
Clearwater, Fla.
7 pm
Ball State University
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Photo by: Ball State University Creative Services
Cardinals Take Down No. 22 Maryland in Opener, 8-3
February 17, 2017 | Baseball
CLEARWATER, Fla. – A five-run sixth inning was the difference as the Ball State baseball team opened the 2017 season with an 8-3 victory over No. 22 Maryland Friday evening at Spectrum Field.
Senior Matt Eppers came up with what proved to be the game-winning hit in the sixth, a two-out, two-run double down the left field line. Junior pitcher Colin Brockhouse made sure the lead stood up as he pitched the final 4.1 innings, equaled a career high with eight strikeouts and did not allow a run.
Ball State, the preseason favorite in the Mid-American Conference West Division, opened the scoring with a run in the fifth inning thanks to a two-out RBI single from sophomore Trent Theisen.
Maryland responded in the bottom of the fifth to briefly take the lead. The preseason Big Ten favorites capitalized on a Ball State error to score three times, including two unearned runs, to go in front, 3-1. The Cardinals avoided further damage as Brockhouse came on in relief and got out of a bases loaded jam with a strikeout.
Senior Caleb Stayton and newcomer Seth Freed notched RBI singles in the top of the sixth to level the contest. Eppers then doubled to score both Stayton and Freed.
Senior Sean Kennedy hit Ball State's first home run of the season, a two-run shot to left field in the eighth inning, to give the Cardinals some added breathing room.
This was the first-ever meeting between the two teams. The Cardinals have now knocked off a nationally ranked team for the fifth consecutive season. Last year, Ball State picked up a convincing 7-1 win at No. 6 LSU in mid-March.
Ball State continues its opening weekend in Clearwater, Florida tomorrow, Feb. 18, against defending SWAC champion, Alabama State. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.
For the most up-to-date information on the Ball State baseball team, please follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateBB and @CoachMaloney.
Senior Matt Eppers came up with what proved to be the game-winning hit in the sixth, a two-out, two-run double down the left field line. Junior pitcher Colin Brockhouse made sure the lead stood up as he pitched the final 4.1 innings, equaled a career high with eight strikeouts and did not allow a run.
Ball State, the preseason favorite in the Mid-American Conference West Division, opened the scoring with a run in the fifth inning thanks to a two-out RBI single from sophomore Trent Theisen.
Maryland responded in the bottom of the fifth to briefly take the lead. The preseason Big Ten favorites capitalized on a Ball State error to score three times, including two unearned runs, to go in front, 3-1. The Cardinals avoided further damage as Brockhouse came on in relief and got out of a bases loaded jam with a strikeout.
Senior Caleb Stayton and newcomer Seth Freed notched RBI singles in the top of the sixth to level the contest. Eppers then doubled to score both Stayton and Freed.
Senior Sean Kennedy hit Ball State's first home run of the season, a two-run shot to left field in the eighth inning, to give the Cardinals some added breathing room.
This was the first-ever meeting between the two teams. The Cardinals have now knocked off a nationally ranked team for the fifth consecutive season. Last year, Ball State picked up a convincing 7-1 win at No. 6 LSU in mid-March.
Ball State continues its opening weekend in Clearwater, Florida tomorrow, Feb. 18, against defending SWAC champion, Alabama State. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.
For the most up-to-date information on the Ball State baseball team, please follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateBB and @CoachMaloney.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Brockhouse, Colin (1-0)
L: Stiles,T (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Freed, Seth 1 ; Eppers, Matt 1
HR: Kennedy, Sean 1
RBI: Stayton, Caleb 1 ; Freed, Seth 1 ; Kennedy, Sean 2 ; Theisen, Trent 1 ; Eppers, Matt 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Baisa, Roman 1 ; Maloney, Alex 1 ; Stayton, Caleb 1 ; Freed, Seth 3 ; Kennedy, Sean 1 ; Theisen, Trent 1
SB: Alexander, CJ 1
CS: Kennedy, Sean 1
HBP: Stayton, Caleb 1
PO: Alexander, CJ 1
Batting:
2B: Lee,A 1
RBI: Jancarski,Z 1 ; Smith,K 1 ; Nickens,M 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Dunn,N 1 ; Morris,J 1 ; Lee,A 1
CS: Jancarski,Z 1
HBP: Jancarski,Z 1 ; Costes,M 1 ; Smith,K 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
3
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
AB
5
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
RHP
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