Friday, March 24
Muncie, Ind.
3 pm
Ball State University
5
vs
6
Kent State
Senior INF Alex Maloney
Photo by: Mike Janes Photography
Kent State Holds Off Ball State in MAC Opener, 6-5
March 24, 2017 | Baseball
MUNCIE, Ind. – Ball State and Kent State, the preseason baseball favorites in the Mid-American Conference, opened league play with an exciting finish Friday afternoon at First Merchants Ballpark Complex. The visiting Golden Flashes took a 6-3 lead into the bottom of the ninth and narrowly held on for a 6-5 victory.
Ball State (11-11, 0-1 MAC) sophomore Griffin Hulecki led off the ninth inning with a double off the left-center field wall. Following a strikeout, pinch hitter Zach Milam dropped a ball into the left field grass for a single to put runners on first and third. Freshman Joe Gunn then reached base on a fielding error, which also scored Hulecki, to cut the deficit to 6-4.
Sophomore Maverick Bacon made the score 6-5 with an RBI groundout and moved the tying run into scoring position. Senior Matt Eppers nearly delivered the tying hit, but Kent State (13-6, 1-0) right fielder Luke Burch made a diving stab to end the game.
The Cardinals jumped on top of Kent State quickly behind an Alex Maloney three-run home run in the bottom of the first inning. Kent State battled back with two runs in the third and two more in the fourth to take the lead for good, 4-3. Tim DalPorto evened the score at 3-all with his first home run of the season, a laser shot right inside the left field foul pole. Three batters later, John Hawkins produced an RBI double to the left center gap.
The Golden Flashes added a run in the eighth and one more in the ninth off the Ball State bullpen to stretch their lead to 6-3.
Ball State had chances to score in the fifth and sixth innings, but did not get a lucky break. In the fifth with two outs and senior Matt Eppers on first, sophomore Roman Baisa split the outfielders in left-center field gap. However, the ball bounced over the fence forcing Eppers to stay at third base. Kent State escaped that jam with a ground out.
Senior Sean Kennedy led off the sixth with a bloop double. Unfortunately, he was thrown out attempting to move to third on Hulecki's fly ball to right field.
Kent State starting pitcher Eli Kraus settled down after a shaky first inning and limited the Cardinals to just three hits the ensuing six innings.
Ball State starter BJ Butler was the unlucky loser as he gave up four runs, but just one earned, in seven innings of work.
The two teams will be back in action tomorrow afternoon, March 25, with first pitch set for 1 p.m.
For the most up-to-date information on the Ball State baseball team, please follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateBB and @CoachMaloney.
Ball State (11-11, 0-1 MAC) sophomore Griffin Hulecki led off the ninth inning with a double off the left-center field wall. Following a strikeout, pinch hitter Zach Milam dropped a ball into the left field grass for a single to put runners on first and third. Freshman Joe Gunn then reached base on a fielding error, which also scored Hulecki, to cut the deficit to 6-4.
Sophomore Maverick Bacon made the score 6-5 with an RBI groundout and moved the tying run into scoring position. Senior Matt Eppers nearly delivered the tying hit, but Kent State (13-6, 1-0) right fielder Luke Burch made a diving stab to end the game.
The Cardinals jumped on top of Kent State quickly behind an Alex Maloney three-run home run in the bottom of the first inning. Kent State battled back with two runs in the third and two more in the fourth to take the lead for good, 4-3. Tim DalPorto evened the score at 3-all with his first home run of the season, a laser shot right inside the left field foul pole. Three batters later, John Hawkins produced an RBI double to the left center gap.
The Golden Flashes added a run in the eighth and one more in the ninth off the Ball State bullpen to stretch their lead to 6-3.
Ball State had chances to score in the fifth and sixth innings, but did not get a lucky break. In the fifth with two outs and senior Matt Eppers on first, sophomore Roman Baisa split the outfielders in left-center field gap. However, the ball bounced over the fence forcing Eppers to stay at third base. Kent State escaped that jam with a ground out.
Senior Sean Kennedy led off the sixth with a bloop double. Unfortunately, he was thrown out attempting to move to third on Hulecki's fly ball to right field.
Kent State starting pitcher Eli Kraus settled down after a shaky first inning and limited the Cardinals to just three hits the ensuing six innings.
Ball State starter BJ Butler was the unlucky loser as he gave up four runs, but just one earned, in seven innings of work.
The two teams will be back in action tomorrow afternoon, March 25, with first pitch set for 1 p.m.
For the most up-to-date information on the Ball State baseball team, please follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateBB and @CoachMaloney.
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