Ball State University
19-19, 7-8
Bowling Green
10-25, 5-8
Ball State Holds Off Bowling Green in Rubber Game, 9-6
April 22, 2018 | Baseball
The Cardinals (19-19, 7-8 MAC) never trailed in the series finale and took a 6-4 lead into the bottom of the ninth. Bowling Green (10-25, 5-8) was down to its final out only to see Randy Righter hit a bloop single to center field to plate two runs and even the score.
In the 10th inning, Ball State capitalized on back-to-back walks to open the frame. A throwing error on a potential double play ball allowed pinch runner Drey Jameson to score the go-ahead run. Senior Seth Freed then gave the Cardinals some breathing room with an RBI single that eventually scored another run due to a pair of Bowling Green errors.
Sophomore pitcher Nolan Gazouski retired the Falcons in order in the bottom of the inning, featuring two strikeouts, to earn his second win of the season.
Ball State opened the game with two runs in the second and two more in the third to build an early 4-0 lead. Bowling Green responded with five straight two-out hits in the bottom of the third to cut the deficit to 4-3. The Cardinals added a run in the fifth while the Falcons struck back with a single tally in the seventh. Sophomore Noah Powell gave Ball State a 6-4 cushion with a two-out RBI double down the left field line in the top of the eighth inning.
Junior Zach Milam finished 2-for-2 with a walk and two-run single for the Cardinals. Freed chipped in with two RBIs while fellow senior Jeff Riedel scored three times.
Righter led Bowling Green at the plate by going 2-for-3 with a double and four RBIs.
Next up for Ball State is the start of a five game home stand against Indiana State this Wednesday, April 25. First pitch is set for 3 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: Gazouski, Nolan (2-3)
L: RICKENBERG, Wes (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Powell, Noah 1 ; Riedel, Jeff 1 ; Brockhouse, Colin 1
RBI: Powell, Noah 1 ; Freed, Seth 2 ; Brockhouse, Colin 1 ; Milam, Zach 2
SH: Kirkpatrick, Justin 1 ; Baker, William 2
SF: Freed, Seth 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Riedel, Jeff 3 ; Hulecki, Griffin 2 ; Freed, Seth 1 ; Brockhouse, Colin 1 ; Ricotta, John 1 ; Jameson, Drey 1
SB: Riedel, Jeff 1 ; Freed, Seth 2
HBP: Powell, Noah 1 ; Freed, Seth 1 ; Wintner, Rhett 1 ; Ricotta, John 1
Batting:
2B: RIGHTER, Randy 1
RBI: CROY, Brad 1 ; RIGHTER, Randy 4 ; DREWES, Derek 1
SF: RIGHTER, Randy 1
Base Running:
RUNS: SCOTT, Jeff 2 ; WILSON, Jake 2 ; CROY, Brad 1 ; SUNTKEN, Ty 1
