Friday, February 24
Conway, S.C.
4 pm
Ball State University
at
Coastal Carolina
Cardinals Set to Take on Defending National Champs
February 23, 2017 | Baseball
Game #4– Ball State at #18 Coastal Carolina
Friday, Feb. 24, 4 p.m.
Live Audio | Live Stats | Social Media (@BallStateBB)
Games #5, 6 – Ball State vs. George Mason (DH)
Saturday, Feb. 25, 1 p.m.
Live Audio | Live Stats | Social Media (@BallStateBB)
Game #7 – Ball State vs. West Virginia
Sunday, Feb. 26, 11 a.m.
Live Audio | Live Stats | Social Media (@BallStateBB)
Projected Starting Pitchers
Friday – BJ Butler, RHP (0-0, 1.93 ERA, 2 Ks)
Saturday (Game 1) – Kevin Marnon, LHP (1-0, 1.80 ERA, 6 Ks)
Saturday (Game 2) – TBT
Sunday – TBT
Around the Horn
Facing the Champs: Ball State opens the weekend against defending NCAA champion Coastal Carolina. The Chants won the 2016 national title in their first-ever appearance at the College World Series. Coastal Carolina took down Arizona in the championship series, winning the final two games by scores of 5-4 and 4-3.
Series History: This will mark the third straight year and fourth time in the last five seasons that Ball State has made a trip to Coastal Carolina. The Cardinals are 0-12 all-time against the Chanticleers. However, six of the 12 games were decided by one or two runs. 3B Sean Kennedy was 3-for-4 with an RBI and run scored in last year's 12-5 loss against Coastal.
Ball State has only played West Virginia once and came up just short in a 7-6 loss in 2015. The two teams also played in Myrtle Beach that year.
This will be the first ever meeting between the Cardinals and George Mason..
Maloney, Stayton Pick Up Where They Left Off: C/1B Caleb Stayton ended the 2016 season reaching base safely in 20 consecutive games. Last weekend, Stayton reached base safely in all three games.
Meanwhile, SS Alex Maloney finished 2016 with hits in 17 of his final 20 games. He opened this season with multiple hits in two of three games last week.
Wins Vs. Ranked Teams: Thanks to an 8-3 win over No. 22 Maryland in the season opener, Ball State has now tallied at least one win over a ranked team in five straight seasons. Below are the wins over ranked programs since 2009:
2/17/17: 8-3 vs. #22 Maryland
3/11/16: 7-1 at #6 LSU
2/28/15: 2-1 vs. #25 Illinois
3/7/14: 10-8 (10) at #22 Kentucky
4/17/13: 5-3 at #19 Indiana
2/20/10: 5-2 at #15 Arkansas
3/20/10: 5-1 at #7 Louisville
4/22/09: 20-8 at #23 Ohio State
Welcome to the Team!: Six position players and two pitchers made their Ball State debuts during opening weekend. 2B Seth Freed recorded three doubles and led the team with four runs scored.
RHP John Baker tossed three scoreless innings of relief and recorded three strikeouts against No. 6 Louisville.
Friday, Feb. 24, 4 p.m.
Live Audio | Live Stats | Social Media (@BallStateBB)
Games #5, 6 – Ball State vs. George Mason (DH)
Saturday, Feb. 25, 1 p.m.
Live Audio | Live Stats | Social Media (@BallStateBB)
Game #7 – Ball State vs. West Virginia
Sunday, Feb. 26, 11 a.m.
Live Audio | Live Stats | Social Media (@BallStateBB)
Projected Starting Pitchers
Friday – BJ Butler, RHP (0-0, 1.93 ERA, 2 Ks)
Saturday (Game 1) – Kevin Marnon, LHP (1-0, 1.80 ERA, 6 Ks)
Saturday (Game 2) – TBT
Sunday – TBT
Around the Horn
Facing the Champs: Ball State opens the weekend against defending NCAA champion Coastal Carolina. The Chants won the 2016 national title in their first-ever appearance at the College World Series. Coastal Carolina took down Arizona in the championship series, winning the final two games by scores of 5-4 and 4-3.
Series History: This will mark the third straight year and fourth time in the last five seasons that Ball State has made a trip to Coastal Carolina. The Cardinals are 0-12 all-time against the Chanticleers. However, six of the 12 games were decided by one or two runs. 3B Sean Kennedy was 3-for-4 with an RBI and run scored in last year's 12-5 loss against Coastal.
Ball State has only played West Virginia once and came up just short in a 7-6 loss in 2015. The two teams also played in Myrtle Beach that year.
This will be the first ever meeting between the Cardinals and George Mason..
Maloney, Stayton Pick Up Where They Left Off: C/1B Caleb Stayton ended the 2016 season reaching base safely in 20 consecutive games. Last weekend, Stayton reached base safely in all three games.
Meanwhile, SS Alex Maloney finished 2016 with hits in 17 of his final 20 games. He opened this season with multiple hits in two of three games last week.
Wins Vs. Ranked Teams: Thanks to an 8-3 win over No. 22 Maryland in the season opener, Ball State has now tallied at least one win over a ranked team in five straight seasons. Below are the wins over ranked programs since 2009:
2/17/17: 8-3 vs. #22 Maryland
3/11/16: 7-1 at #6 LSU
2/28/15: 2-1 vs. #25 Illinois
3/7/14: 10-8 (10) at #22 Kentucky
4/17/13: 5-3 at #19 Indiana
2/20/10: 5-2 at #15 Arkansas
3/20/10: 5-1 at #7 Louisville
4/22/09: 20-8 at #23 Ohio State
Welcome to the Team!: Six position players and two pitchers made their Ball State debuts during opening weekend. 2B Seth Freed recorded three doubles and led the team with four runs scored.
RHP John Baker tossed three scoreless innings of relief and recorded three strikeouts against No. 6 Louisville.
Players Mentioned
RHP
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INF
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INF
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INF
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LHP
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C/1B
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