Ball State University
27-15, 0
Bowling Green
13-25, 0
Messina Homer Lifts Cardinals To Win
April 27, 2019 | Baseball
Cards improve to 13-1 at home
He hit a home run.
On Saturday, he did the opposite and found the same result. Messina pulled a solo blast out to left in the bottom of the 8th to lead Ball State to a 3-2 win over Bowling Green.
"It felt good off the bat, I got good extension on it and it flew," Messina said of his 6th homer to the Ball State Daily News. "Didn't need the wind today."
The junior from Kansas City also singled home a run in the 1st inning as the Cardinals clinched another MAC series win.
. @RossMessina!
— Ball State Baseball (@BallStateBB) April 27, 2019
3-2 good guys! #ChirpChirp pic.twitter.com/3bcypj4esn
The win lifted BSU to a 13-1 mark at home and 11-4 in conference play.
Before Messina's homer provided the final margin, the Cardinals found themselves in a pitcher's duel behind John Baker. The junior righty held Bowling Green to a single run over 6 innings and struck out 9, but he walked 4 batters. Baker struck out the final 2 batters he saw looking and left the game with a 2-1 lead.
Filth to end the 6th. You just tip your cap....
— Ball State Baseball (@BallStateBB) April 27, 2019
2-1 good guys pic.twitter.com/FTOpQAFpx3
Baker was in a battle with BG's Tyler Hays, who pitched one of his better games of the year. Hays held the Cardinals to only 2 runs, both of which came in the bottom of the 1st on RBI singles by Messina and William Baker. The Cardinals led 2-1 until Bowling Green scored on a sac fly in the 7th.
Brendan Burns got the last 8 outs of the game to secure the win. He struck out 3, and as BG threatened in the 9th inning, Burns rolled a double play ball that ended the game.
Messina went 2-for-4 with 2 runs and 2 RBIs, and he now has a streak of 5 straight multi-hit games. William Baker went 3-for-4 and Aaron Simpson had 2 hits.
Ball State (27-15, 11-4) will go for the series sweep Sunday at 1 p.m. Kyle Nicolas is scheduled to start for Ball State against BG right-hander Chase Antle.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Burns, Brendan (2-3)
L: SPEZIA, Jeremy (0-2)
Batting:
RBI: CROY, Brad 1 ; MCGUINNESS, Joe 1
SH: SCOTT, Jeff 1
SF: CROY, Brad 1
Base Running:
RUNS: MINORIK, Riley 1 ; LAMBERT, Neil 1
SB: MINORIK, Riley 1 ; WILSON, Jake 2 ; LAMBERT, Neil 1
HBP: WILSON, Jake 1 ; MCGUINNESS, Joe 1
Batting:
2B: Simpson, Aaron 1 ; Baker, William 1 ; Hulecki, Griffin 1
HR: Messina, Ross 1
RBI: Messina, Ross 2 ; Baker, William 1
SH: Sebby, Chase 1 ; Peltier, Ryan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Simpson, Aaron 1 ; Messina, Ross 2
SB: Messina, Ross 1
CS: Baker, William 1
