Cardinals Set Sight on MAC Tournament Run

Game #56 – No. 6 Eastern Michigan vs. No. 3 Ball State
Wednesday, May 23, 12:30 p.m.
Live Video | Live Audio | Live Stats | Social Media (@BallStateBB)

Game #57– No. 3 Ball State vs. No. 2 Miami
Thursday, May 24, 6 p.m.
Live Video | Live Audio | Live Stats | Social Media (@BallStateBB)

Game #58– No. 3 Ball State vs. No. 4 Central Michigan/No. 5 Toledo
Friday, May 25, 2 p.m.
Live Video | Live Audio | Live Stats | Social Media (@BallStateBB)

Projected Starting Pitchers (2018 stats)
Game One – John Baker, RHP (4-5, 3.89 ERA, 111 Ks
Game Two – Drey Jameson, RHP (7-1, 3.44 ERA, 93 Ks)

Around the Horn
Opening Pitch: Ball State enters the MAC Tournament as the No. 3 seed after winning 12 of its final 14 league games. During the final 14 MAC games, Ball State hit .283 as a team with eight home runs and 90 RBIs. Four Cardinals had at least 10 RBIs in that stretch – OF Jeff Riedel (16), OF Colin Brockhouse (13), SS Noah Powell (13) and C Chase Sebby (11). Seven Ball State players chipped in with a home run while the Cardinals averaged 7.5 runs per game.

The Cardinals lost two of three games to Eastern Michigan this year with both losses coming by one run. Five of Ball State's 10 MAC losses were by one run. A win over Eastern Michigan would put Ball State against Miami on day two of the tournament. The RedHawks won three of four games versus Ball State this spring. A loss to EMU would match Ball State against either No. 4 Central Michigan or No. 5 Toledo in the loser's bracket. The Cardinals won two of three from Toledo, but only won once against CMU.

Tournament History: Ball State's lone tournament title came 12 years ago (2006) when the Cardinals won four straight games over Western Michigan, Central Michigan and Kent State (twice).

This is the sixth straight year Ball State has qualified for the MAC Tournament. The Cardinals advanced to the title game in 2015 and 2013 under head coach Rich Maloney. The Cardinals are 7-9 the last five years in the MAC Tournament, but have also lost five straight games overall in the league tourney. In those five losses, the Cardinals averaged just 2.2 runs per game.

The last time Ball State and Eastern Michigan met in the MAC Tournament was the opening round in 2009. The Eagles won that game by a field goal, 19-16. EMU is 2-0 all-time versus Ball State in the league tournament.

This and That: Some random stats heading into the MAC Tournament …

• Ball State defeated every team in the MAC Tournament at least once this year. However, Ball State is 7-9 (.437) overall against the other five teams in the field.

• The Cardinals went 10-2 (.833) against the four MAC teams that did not qualify for the tournament.

• C Chase Sebby has reached base safely in 34 straight games.

• Four Ball State players earned MAC Player of the Week honors in 2018 while three pitchers got the nod for MAC Pitcher of the Week this spring.

• Ball State's best inning in run differential is the eighth (+23). The Cardinals have scored the most runs in the third inning (47).

Next Event

Players Mentioned

John Baker

Colin Brockhouse

Drey Jameson

Noah Powell

Jeff Riedel

Chase Sebby