Saturday, February 23
Tuscaloosa, Ala.
1 p.m. (Noon CT)
Ball State University
2-4
8
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5
Alabama
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9
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Ball State
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Alabama
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Photo by: [Billy Hardiman Photography]
Cardinals Win One of Two Games at Alabama Sunday Afternoon
February 24, 2019 | Baseball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Ball State baseball team split a pair of games Sunday at Alabama. The Cardinals held off Alabama in the conclusion of Saturday's game, 8-5, but then fell in the rubber game, 6-0.
"I thought our guys competed well all weekend," Ball State head coach Rich Maloney said. "We played an outstanding game in our victory which took a total team effort."
Ball State (2-5) and Alabama (5-2) began the day by wrapping up the second game of the series. That game was halted in the bottom of the seventh inning yesterday due to rain and poor field conditions. The Cardinals were ahead 7-4 at that point keyed by a four-run second inning. Senior Griffin Hulecki had the pivotal hit in that frame, a two-out, two-run single through the left side.
After the Crimson Tide cut the deficit to one run in the fifth, Ball State responded with two more runs in the top of the sixth inning. Redshirt freshman Noah Navarro brought in one run with a sacrifice fly. Catcher Chase Sebby then added an RBI double, plating Aaron Simpson who had doubled earlier in the inning.
Sophomore hurler Kyle Nicolas made sure the 7-4 lead would hold up. The righty pitched the remaining three innings Sunday, striking out four batters and only allowing one run. Hulecki added an insurance run in the top of the ninth with an RBI double down the left field line.
Hulecki finished 2-for-5 with three RBIs to lead the Ball State offense. Simpson scored three times while Navarro and Sebby each touched home twice.
In the rubber game, Alabama's pitching carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning. Connor Shamblin went the first five innings and struck out five batters. Casey Cobb came on to work the sixth, but then gave up a leadoff single to Navarro in the seventh inning.
Keith Holcombe carried the Alabama offense, going 3-for-3 with a double, sacrifice fly and four total RBIs.
This was the first time these two teams had ever met. Ball State is now 12-27 all-time against current members of the SEC.
"We are making progress," Maloney said. "I was pleased that our defense improved drastically the last two games. We have work to do, but we are closer than our record indicates."
The Cardinals return to action next weekend in Charleston, South Carolina, with the start of their Spring Break trip. Ball State will face Charleston Southern and Notre Dame before heading even further south to Florida for the first full week of March.
For the most up-to-date news on the Ball State baseball team, please follow @BallStateBB, @CoachMaloney and @BallStateSports.
"I thought our guys competed well all weekend," Ball State head coach Rich Maloney said. "We played an outstanding game in our victory which took a total team effort."
Ball State (2-5) and Alabama (5-2) began the day by wrapping up the second game of the series. That game was halted in the bottom of the seventh inning yesterday due to rain and poor field conditions. The Cardinals were ahead 7-4 at that point keyed by a four-run second inning. Senior Griffin Hulecki had the pivotal hit in that frame, a two-out, two-run single through the left side.
After the Crimson Tide cut the deficit to one run in the fifth, Ball State responded with two more runs in the top of the sixth inning. Redshirt freshman Noah Navarro brought in one run with a sacrifice fly. Catcher Chase Sebby then added an RBI double, plating Aaron Simpson who had doubled earlier in the inning.
Sophomore hurler Kyle Nicolas made sure the 7-4 lead would hold up. The righty pitched the remaining three innings Sunday, striking out four batters and only allowing one run. Hulecki added an insurance run in the top of the ninth with an RBI double down the left field line.
Hulecki finished 2-for-5 with three RBIs to lead the Ball State offense. Simpson scored three times while Navarro and Sebby each touched home twice.
In the rubber game, Alabama's pitching carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning. Connor Shamblin went the first five innings and struck out five batters. Casey Cobb came on to work the sixth, but then gave up a leadoff single to Navarro in the seventh inning.
Keith Holcombe carried the Alabama offense, going 3-for-3 with a double, sacrifice fly and four total RBIs.
T9 | Griffin Hulecki's RBI double gives Ball State some more breathing room. ????
— Ball State Baseball (@BallStateBB) February 24, 2019
Ball State 8, Alabama 4 pic.twitter.com/nCY7j5rb97
This was the first time these two teams had ever met. Ball State is now 12-27 all-time against current members of the SEC.
"We are making progress," Maloney said. "I was pleased that our defense improved drastically the last two games. We have work to do, but we are closer than our record indicates."
The Cardinals return to action next weekend in Charleston, South Carolina, with the start of their Spring Break trip. Ball State will face Charleston Southern and Notre Dame before heading even further south to Florida for the first full week of March.
For the most up-to-date news on the Ball State baseball team, please follow @BallStateBB, @CoachMaloney and @BallStateSports.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Pachmayer, Mike (1-0)
L: Tyler Ras (0-1)
S: Nicolas, Kyle (1)
Batting:
2B: Simpson, Aaron 1 ; Sebby, Chase 1 ; Hulecki, Griffin 1
RBI: Simpson, Aaron 1 ; Navarro, Noah 2 ; Sebby, Chase 2 ; Hulecki, Griffin 3
SH: Sebby, Chase 1 ; Baker, William 1
SF: Navarro, Noah 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Simpson, Aaron 3 ; Navarro, Noah 1 ; Ricotta, John 1 ; Baker, William 1 ; Powell, Noah 2
Batting:
2B: Brett Auerbach 1
HR: Tyler Gentry 1
RBI: Keith Holcombe 1 ; Tyler Gentry 2 ; John Trousdale 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Joe Breaux 1 ; Brett Auerbach 2 ; Morgan McCullough 1 ; Tyler Gentry 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
3
H
2
RBI
1
AB
5
R
0
H
2
RBI
3
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
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