Saturday, May 11
Muncie, Ind.
12 p.m.
Ball State University
32-17, 16-5
5
vs
0
Ohio (GM 1)
16-29, 10-12
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Ohio
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Ball State
0
0
2
0
1
2
0
0
X
5
6
0
No-Hitter Drives Cards To Series Sweep
May 11, 2019 | Baseball
Baker, Jaksich combine for no-hitter, bunts key comeback in nightcap
MUNCIE - In between games Saturday, John Baker was asked how he'd celebrate pitching the first-ever 9-inning no-hitter in Ball State history.Â
"Win another game," he said.
Ball State (33-17, 17-5 MAC) followed through with that by clinching a sweep with a 6-5 win after Baker and Luke Jaksich made Ball State history with a combined no-hitter in a 5-0 win Saturday afternoon.
Baker continued his dominant junior season, improving to 7-1 and lowering his ERA to 1.60 with a performance for the ages. He retired 21 of the 25 batters he faced, finishing 7 no-hit innings with 9 strikeouts and 4 walks. He was unofficially at 116 pitches when Jaksich came in to pitch the 8th. Jaksich got the final 6 outs, striking out 3 and walking just 1 batter. The combined no-no went 148 pitches with a game time of 2:11.
Overall, it's the 3rd no-hitter in Ball State baseball history - the first since 1996. A trio of pitchers completed a 5-inning no-hitter against Taylor on April 11, 1996. In May of 1992, Curt Conley pitched a 7-inning no-hitter in a 3-0 win over Miami.
On the day, William Baker and John Ricotta each went 4-for-7, with Ricotta doubling twice. Aaron Simpson had 3 hits and scored twice. Here's what happened in each of Saturday's games:
GAME 1 - Ball State 5, Ohio 0
A win that will go down in Ball State history, Baker tore through Ohio's lineup for 7 innings before handing the ball to Jaksich to complete the historic accomplishment. Baker got the first 6 batters in order before issuing a walk in the 3rd inning. Mack Murphy then made a couple nice grabs in left field and already there was a feeling something good could happen. Baker, however, downplayed the idea that the zero under "visitor hits" on the scoreboard was a factor for him.
"I mean, it was in the back of my head a little, but I was just trying to make pitches and get the win for the team," the junior right-hander said.Â
In the 5th, Baker punched out a pair of Bobcats before Noah Powell made a great play in the hole at shortstop, finished with a pick at 1st base by Ricotta. Later, Baker retired the last 5 batters he faced.
Overall, only 2 Ohio baserunners reached 2nd base. All game it was soft contact, as Baker and Jaksich struck out 12 and forced 12 flyouts compared to just 3 groundouts.
An RBI double by Simpson and a sac fly from William Baker in the 3rd were more than enough for BSU to win. Will Baker added an RBI single in the 5th inning and Murphy put the game way out of reach with a 2-run single to center in the bottom of the 6th.Â
Baker said it was his first no-hitter at any level of baseball. Chase Sebby, who caught every inning of the weekend series, said he caught the first 6 innings of a no-hitter in junior college. Jaksich said he didn't really think about the no-hitter, but became a little excited during the game's final out.
GAME 2 - Ball State 6, Ohio 5
An expected rainfall was a constant presence in the nightcap, as the Cardinals quickly had to refocus and play 25 minutes after enjoying a historic no-hit pitching performance. Triples, bunts and a gutsy performance from Nolan Gazouski were the name of the game as Ball State completed the sweep.
Ohio made sure to make up for lost time early, getting out to a 5-1 lead after 3 innings. OU shortstop Tayber Funderburg walked and scored in the 1st inning and he'd add a 2-run single in the 2nd. Catcher Sebastian Fabik smacked a 2-run triple and with starting pitcher Kenny Ogg throwing a good game it seemed like Ohio might salvage a win. Ball State chipped away at the lead with a sac fly from Griffin Hulecki in the 4th and an RBI double from Ricotta in the 5th.
"You have to give Ohio credit," head coach Rich Maloney said. "I know they didn't come away with anything, but every game was a battle."
Trailing 5-3, the Cards built a 2-out rally in the 6th that featured a pair of excellent bunts and a 2-run triple by Simpson. After an Ohio error, Justin Conant bunted for a hit and then Simpson delivered the triple that tied the game 5-5. Will Baker than put down another bunt single, scoring the speedy Simpson for what would be the winning run.
Gazouski, who came up big in a similar situation 2 weeks ago vs. Bowling Green, closed the door. The right-hander pitched 3.2 innings for his first win of the season, striking out 5 and allowing just a pair of baserunners. Just moments after he entered the game in the 6th, he threw a double-play ball and then took the Cardinals home for the final 9 outs.Â
Ricotta and Will Baker each had 3 hits in the second game, and Ricotta and Simpson each drove in a pair of runs.
FOR THE SERIES
Ball State, the national leader in strikeouts per 9 innings, struck out 41 Ohio batters over the weekend. Six different pitchers (Baker, Jameson, Floyd, Gazouski, Burns, Nicolas) tallied 4 or more strikeouts, led by Baker's 9. Ohio hit just .172 over the weekend. Ball State pitchers own 559 strikeouts and are just 1 away from tying the single-season school record set last year. At the plate this weekend, BSU was led by Ricotta and Will Baker, who each had 5 hits and 7 total bases. Ross Messina scored a team-best 3 runs during the series.
JOHNNY BE GOOD
Here are a few notes to establish how good John Baker has been in recent weeks:
Through Saturday night's games, (May 11), Ball State is within a half-game of Central Michigan for the top spot. CMU enters May 12 having won 10 straight games. The top 2 teams in the regular season receive byes in the 6-team conference championship.
Just 3 games remain in the regular season, with BSU hosting Toledo May 16-18 at Ball Diamond. Saturday, May 18 is First Merchants Bank Fan Day where Cards fans can win prizes and enjoy free food. As always, check out @BallStateBB on Twitter and Instagram to follow the Cardinals.
Â
"Win another game," he said.
Ball State (33-17, 17-5 MAC) followed through with that by clinching a sweep with a 6-5 win after Baker and Luke Jaksich made Ball State history with a combined no-hitter in a 5-0 win Saturday afternoon.
Baker continued his dominant junior season, improving to 7-1 and lowering his ERA to 1.60 with a performance for the ages. He retired 21 of the 25 batters he faced, finishing 7 no-hit innings with 9 strikeouts and 4 walks. He was unofficially at 116 pitches when Jaksich came in to pitch the 8th. Jaksich got the final 6 outs, striking out 3 and walking just 1 batter. The combined no-no went 148 pitches with a game time of 2:11.
Overall, it's the 3rd no-hitter in Ball State baseball history - the first since 1996. A trio of pitchers completed a 5-inning no-hitter against Taylor on April 11, 1996. In May of 1992, Curt Conley pitched a 7-inning no-hitter in a 3-0 win over Miami.
On the day, William Baker and John Ricotta each went 4-for-7, with Ricotta doubling twice. Aaron Simpson had 3 hits and scored twice. Here's what happened in each of Saturday's games:
GAME 1 - Ball State 5, Ohio 0
A win that will go down in Ball State history, Baker tore through Ohio's lineup for 7 innings before handing the ball to Jaksich to complete the historic accomplishment. Baker got the first 6 batters in order before issuing a walk in the 3rd inning. Mack Murphy then made a couple nice grabs in left field and already there was a feeling something good could happen. Baker, however, downplayed the idea that the zero under "visitor hits" on the scoreboard was a factor for him.
"I mean, it was in the back of my head a little, but I was just trying to make pitches and get the win for the team," the junior right-hander said.Â
In the 5th, Baker punched out a pair of Bobcats before Noah Powell made a great play in the hole at shortstop, finished with a pick at 1st base by Ricotta. Later, Baker retired the last 5 batters he faced.
Overall, only 2 Ohio baserunners reached 2nd base. All game it was soft contact, as Baker and Jaksich struck out 12 and forced 12 flyouts compared to just 3 groundouts.
An RBI double by Simpson and a sac fly from William Baker in the 3rd were more than enough for BSU to win. Will Baker added an RBI single in the 5th inning and Murphy put the game way out of reach with a 2-run single to center in the bottom of the 6th.Â
Baker said it was his first no-hitter at any level of baseball. Chase Sebby, who caught every inning of the weekend series, said he caught the first 6 innings of a no-hitter in junior college. Jaksich said he didn't really think about the no-hitter, but became a little excited during the game's final out.
9 innings.
— Ball State Baseball (@BallStateBB) May 11, 2019
??hits. #ChirpChirp pic.twitter.com/BrrDye8Q50
GAME 2 - Ball State 6, Ohio 5
An expected rainfall was a constant presence in the nightcap, as the Cardinals quickly had to refocus and play 25 minutes after enjoying a historic no-hit pitching performance. Triples, bunts and a gutsy performance from Nolan Gazouski were the name of the game as Ball State completed the sweep.
Ohio made sure to make up for lost time early, getting out to a 5-1 lead after 3 innings. OU shortstop Tayber Funderburg walked and scored in the 1st inning and he'd add a 2-run single in the 2nd. Catcher Sebastian Fabik smacked a 2-run triple and with starting pitcher Kenny Ogg throwing a good game it seemed like Ohio might salvage a win. Ball State chipped away at the lead with a sac fly from Griffin Hulecki in the 4th and an RBI double from Ricotta in the 5th.
"You have to give Ohio credit," head coach Rich Maloney said. "I know they didn't come away with anything, but every game was a battle."
Trailing 5-3, the Cards built a 2-out rally in the 6th that featured a pair of excellent bunts and a 2-run triple by Simpson. After an Ohio error, Justin Conant bunted for a hit and then Simpson delivered the triple that tied the game 5-5. Will Baker than put down another bunt single, scoring the speedy Simpson for what would be the winning run.
Gazouski, who came up big in a similar situation 2 weeks ago vs. Bowling Green, closed the door. The right-hander pitched 3.2 innings for his first win of the season, striking out 5 and allowing just a pair of baserunners. Just moments after he entered the game in the 6th, he threw a double-play ball and then took the Cardinals home for the final 9 outs.Â
Ricotta and Will Baker each had 3 hits in the second game, and Ricotta and Simpson each drove in a pair of runs.
FOR THE SERIES
Ball State, the national leader in strikeouts per 9 innings, struck out 41 Ohio batters over the weekend. Six different pitchers (Baker, Jameson, Floyd, Gazouski, Burns, Nicolas) tallied 4 or more strikeouts, led by Baker's 9. Ohio hit just .172 over the weekend. Ball State pitchers own 559 strikeouts and are just 1 away from tying the single-season school record set last year. At the plate this weekend, BSU was led by Ricotta and Will Baker, who each had 5 hits and 7 total bases. Ross Messina scored a team-best 3 runs during the series.
JOHNNY BE GOOD
Here are a few notes to establish how good John Baker has been in recent weeks:
- In 37.2 innings of work dating back to April 1, John Baker has allowed just 7 runs.
- That includes his current stretch of allowing just 2 runs over the last 28.2 innings.
- He's only allowed 5 hits over his last 21.1 innings dating back to the Miami series.
Through Saturday night's games, (May 11), Ball State is within a half-game of Central Michigan for the top spot. CMU enters May 12 having won 10 straight games. The top 2 teams in the regular season receive byes in the 6-team conference championship.
Just 3 games remain in the regular season, with BSU hosting Toledo May 16-18 at Ball Diamond. Saturday, May 18 is First Merchants Bank Fan Day where Cards fans can win prizes and enjoy free food. As always, check out @BallStateBB on Twitter and Instagram to follow the Cardinals.
Â
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Baker, John (7-1)
L: LIBERATORE, Jack (6-5)
Batting:
2B: Simpson, Aaron 1 ; Hulecki, Griffin 1
RBI: Simpson, Aaron 1 ; Baker, William 2 ; Murphy, Mack 2
SH: Conant, Justin 1
SF: Baker, William 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ricotta, John 1 ; Hulecki, Griffin 1 ; Powell, Noah 2 ; Conant, Justin 1
CS: Baker, William 1
HBP: Powell, Noah 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
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RBI
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3
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H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
2
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
RHP
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INF
/ Baseball
RHP/3B
/ Baseball
OF/C
/ Baseball
IF-OF
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/ Baseball1B
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/ BaseballOF
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