Ball State University
35-17, 19-5
Toledo
17-35, 4-20
Orselli Delivers Pinch-Hit, Walk-Off Winner for Cardinals
May 17, 2019 | Baseball
The win pushes Ball State's (35-17, 19-5 MAC) home record to an amazing 19-1. The Cardinals are neck-and-neck with Central Michigan (41-12, 20-5) for the top spot in the league standings. The regular season wraps up tomorrow.
"It's been a team effort all year long and these guys found a way to get it done," Ball State head coach Rich Maloney said. "This was a special game for our team. It took the whole team to get this thing done. We are proud of the guys."
The Cardinals found themselves down 6-2 after Toledo (17-35, 4-20) put up a six-spot in the fourth inning. However, reliever Nick Floyd came on and held the Rockets to only one hit the final five innings to give Ball State a chance at the comeback.
Ross Messina put the Cardinals back in the game with a two-run bomb in the fifth inning. The next frame, Ryan Peltier hit his second home run of the season to cut the deficit to one, 6-5.
The score remained at 6-5 until the bottom of the ninth inning. John Ricotta led off the ninth with his third hit of the afternoon, a sharp single through the left side. After Chase Sebby moved pinch runner Drey Jameson to second base with a sacrifice bunt, Griffin Hulecki laced another single to left field to tie the ball game.
WALK-OFF WINNER!!!! @aorselli42 has the winning single in the 9th for your Cardinals.
— Ball State Baseball (@BallStateBB) May 17, 2019
Ball State 7, Toledo 6 - Final#MACtion | #ChirpChirp pic.twitter.com/R4WRuXJhls
Two batters later, Orselli entered the game as a pinch hitter with runners at first and second. He took the 0-1 pitch off Toledo's Austin Calopietro back up the middle for the winning hit. This was Ball State's third walk-off victory this season (12-11 vs. Purdue Fort Wayne, March 20; 9-8 (13) vs. Kent State, March 29).
Ball State will honor its senior class before the start of tomorrow's regular season finale. Saturday's game is also First Merchants Ballpark Fan Day. Click here for more information. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
For the most up-to-date news on the Ball State baseball team, please follow @BallStateBB, @CoachMaloney and @BallStateSports.
Thoughts from @CoachMaloney following today's exciting win.#MACtion | #ChirpChirp pic.twitter.com/LbR0ZhMwvU
— Ball State Baseball (@BallStateBB) May 17, 2019
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Floyd, Nick (7-0)
L: CALOPIETRO, Austin (2-2)
Batting:
2B: MEYERS, Chris 1
HR: SCHWARTZENBERGER, Z. 1
RBI: BOSS, Brad 2 ; SCHWARTZENBERGER, Z. 2 ; COMPTON, Andrew 1 ; MOHNICKEY, Mark 1
SH: EITNIEAR, Thomas 1
Base Running:
RUNS: SCHWARTZENBERGER, Z. 1 ; MEYERS, Chris 1 ; DAVIS, Darryn 1 ; MOHNICKEY, Mark 1 ; MURPHY, Danny 1 ; JEFFERS, David 1
SB: BOSS, Brad 1
Batting:
2B: Baker, William 1
HR: Messina, Ross 1 ; Peltier, Ryan 1
RBI: Messina, Ross 3 ; Hulecki, Griffin 2 ; Orselli, Andre 1 ; Peltier, Ryan 1
SH: Sebby, Chase 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Simpson, Aaron 1 ; Baker, William 1 ; Messina, Ross 1 ; Ricotta, John 1 ; Jameson, Drey 1 ; Powell, Nick 1 ; Peltier, Ryan 1
SB: Baker, William 2
PO: Messina, Ross 2
