Thursday, May 16
Muncie, Ind.
2:30 p.m.
Ball State University
34-17, 18-5
10
vs
1
Toledo
17-34, 4-19
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Toledo
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
7
1
Ball State
2
0
0
1
3
3
0
1
X
10
9
0
Sebby, Baker Lead Rout Over Rockets
May 16, 2019 | Baseball
Cardinals clinch first-round bye in next week's league tournament
MUNCIE - The race to the MAC Baseball Championship is on, and Ball State did its part Thursday by thumping Toledo 10-1. The victory clinched a first-round bye in next week's MAC Baseball Championship, and allowed the Cardinals (34-17, 18-5 MAC) to keep pace with league leader Central Michigan (20-5).
"You always want to play one less game in a tournament. Getting the bye is really important," head coach Rich Maloney said. "It helps with the pitching staff, it helps with the team. It's the first part of the process. We have 2 games left and now we just need to focus on playing good baseball."
One could make the case Chase Sebby had his best game of the season, finishing just a home run short of the cycle and driving in 4 runs. He finished 3-for-4 on the day and accounted for BSU's first 5 runs before he was pinch-hit for in the 8th inning. William Baker went 3-for-5 and scored 3 runs as a 3-1 game in the 5th became a rout. Ball State scored 7 times late - 3 runs each in the 5th and 6th innings - to put the game away. Aaron Simpson hit a solo homer - his 4th on the year - in the 8th inning to give the Cards their double-digit scoring day.
"Our offense led by Chase Sebby and Will Baker did a great job," Maloney said. "We grinded it out and moved runners and Chase and Will got big hits."
Drey Jameson (5-3) earned the win, working 7 innings while allowing just a run and striking out 8 batters. Jameson started a 1-5-2-6 double play early in the game that stifled an early Toledo rally. John Ricotta also added an exciting diving play at 1st base, with Jameson showing plus-athleticism to cover the bag on the play.
"Drey is a good pitcher," Maloney said after the game with a laugh. "Our expectations of him are so great because he's been so great so often. He didn't quite have his best stuff, but at the end of the day he went 7 innings and allowed just 1 run and his team won."
TEAM STRIKEOUT RECORD
Each year, a new strikeout record. Ball State pitchers have set a new single-season team record for the 3rd straight year by striking out 569 batters, beating last year's mark of 560. BSU was in the national lead in strikeouts and strikeouts per 9 innings heading into Thursday's game.
DREY RECORD WATCH
Jameson, who entered the day 3rd in the nation in strikeouts and strikeouts per 9 innings, concluded the regular season with 136 strikeouts. He'll start the MAC tourney needing 3 punchouts to tie the season school record set by former No. 1 pick Bryan Bullington in 2002.
HOME COOKING
Ball State improved to 21-1 at Ball Diamond this year. BSU has outscored opponents 192-103 in 22 home games so far this season. As a team, the Cardinals bat .339 at home while holding opponents to a .220 average.
Ball State and Toledo are scheduled to play Friday at 3 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m. to close the regular season. Saturday's game is First Merchants Bank Fan Day and the team will also be honoring this year's graduating seniors and recognizing the 1969 Cardinal team during the game. Fans can follow on Twitter and Instagram at @BallStateBB.
"You always want to play one less game in a tournament. Getting the bye is really important," head coach Rich Maloney said. "It helps with the pitching staff, it helps with the team. It's the first part of the process. We have 2 games left and now we just need to focus on playing good baseball."
One could make the case Chase Sebby had his best game of the season, finishing just a home run short of the cycle and driving in 4 runs. He finished 3-for-4 on the day and accounted for BSU's first 5 runs before he was pinch-hit for in the 8th inning. William Baker went 3-for-5 and scored 3 runs as a 3-1 game in the 5th became a rout. Ball State scored 7 times late - 3 runs each in the 5th and 6th innings - to put the game away. Aaron Simpson hit a solo homer - his 4th on the year - in the 8th inning to give the Cards their double-digit scoring day.
"Our offense led by Chase Sebby and Will Baker did a great job," Maloney said. "We grinded it out and moved runners and Chase and Will got big hits."
Drey Jameson (5-3) earned the win, working 7 innings while allowing just a run and striking out 8 batters. Jameson started a 1-5-2-6 double play early in the game that stifled an early Toledo rally. John Ricotta also added an exciting diving play at 1st base, with Jameson showing plus-athleticism to cover the bag on the play.
"Drey is a good pitcher," Maloney said after the game with a laugh. "Our expectations of him are so great because he's been so great so often. He didn't quite have his best stuff, but at the end of the day he went 7 innings and allowed just 1 run and his team won."
TEAM STRIKEOUT RECORD
Each year, a new strikeout record. Ball State pitchers have set a new single-season team record for the 3rd straight year by striking out 569 batters, beating last year's mark of 560. BSU was in the national lead in strikeouts and strikeouts per 9 innings heading into Thursday's game.
DREY RECORD WATCH
Jameson, who entered the day 3rd in the nation in strikeouts and strikeouts per 9 innings, concluded the regular season with 136 strikeouts. He'll start the MAC tourney needing 3 punchouts to tie the season school record set by former No. 1 pick Bryan Bullington in 2002.
HOME COOKING
Ball State improved to 21-1 at Ball Diamond this year. BSU has outscored opponents 192-103 in 22 home games so far this season. As a team, the Cardinals bat .339 at home while holding opponents to a .220 average.
Ball State and Toledo are scheduled to play Friday at 3 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m. to close the regular season. Saturday's game is First Merchants Bank Fan Day and the team will also be honoring this year's graduating seniors and recognizing the 1969 Cardinal team during the game. Fans can follow on Twitter and Instagram at @BallStateBB.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Jameson, Drey (5-3)
L: SMITH, Doug (3-5)
Batting:
2B: DAVIS, Darryn 2
RBI: DAVIS, Darryn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: SCHWARTZENBERGER, Z. 1
HBP: SCHWARTZENBERGER, Z. 1
Batting:
2B: Baker, William 1 ; Sebby, Chase 1
3B: Baker, William 1 ; Sebby, Chase 1
HR: Simpson, Aaron 1
RBI: Simpson, Aaron 1 ; Baker, William 2 ; Messina, Ross 1 ; Sebby, Chase 4 ; Hulecki, Griffin 1 ; Powell, Noah 1
SH: Simpson, Aaron 1
SF: Messina, Ross 1 ; Hulecki, Griffin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Simpson, Aaron 1 ; Baker, William 3 ; Messina, Ross 2 ; Ricotta, John 1 ; Sebby, Chase 1 ; Powell, Noah 1 ; Peltier, Ryan 1
SB: Baker, William 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
5
R
3
H
3
RBI
2
AB
4
R
1
H
3
RBI
4
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Baseball
OF/RHP
/ Baseball
1B
/ BaseballC
/ BaseballOF
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