Saturday, February 22
Houston, TX
2 p.m. (1 CT)
Ball State University
2-3
6
at
3
Houston Baptist
1-6
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
R
H
E
Ball State
0
0
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
6
8
0
HBU
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
9
0
Simpson's Homer Lifts Cards In Extras
February 22, 2020 | Baseball
HOUSTON - For the second straight day, the Ball State baseball team got an extra-innings, game-winning hit from a senior to pick up a victory. Aaron Simpson's three-run homer in the 11th inning was the key play in BSU's 6-3 victory at Houston Baptist on Saturday.
Ball State (2-3) trailed 3-0 early but scored three times in the 4th inning to tie the score. The Cardinals' bullpen held up until the 11th when Simpson pulled a ball over the fence down the left-field line. Tyler Schweitzer was credited with the win as Ball State now is in position to earn a road sweep on Sunday.
"Our boys have shown true grit finding ways to win two close ballgames," head coach Rich Maloney said. "We got good pitching, solid defense and timely hitting to win those games. Several different guys stepped up. We've won our first series of the year and we have a chance for a sweep on Sunday."
SIMPSON'S HOMER
On Friday, senior Ross Messina's extra-inning RBI hit was the difference in a 5-3 BSU win and Simpson provided the winning hit Saturday. Like Messina, another senior outfielder - Simpson made a winning play on offense in extra innings. Simpson batted in the 11th and lifted the first pitch he saw down the left-field line for a three-run homer. Zach Cole and Justin Conant - who both singled early in the inning - both scored on the play.
FROM THE 'PEN
In both of BSU's win at HBU, relief pitching has set the stage for seniors' heroics. Since the 2nd inning of Saturday, Feb. 15, BSU relievers have combined for for 13.2 innings of one-run ball with 20 strikeouts. Zach Losey has been strong twice, working 7.0 innings and allowing just one run. Tyler Schweitzer, a freshman from Fishers, Indiana, has pitched 4.1 innings and not been charged with a run.Â
"Orselli, Losey and Schweitzer were marvelous in relief roles," Maloney said.
OTHER THAN ONE PITCH, IT'S A BREEZE
All of HBU's scoring came on a single swing in the bottom of the 2nd inning. HBU's Matt Solomon hit a three-run homer to break a scoreless tie but that was all the scoring Houston Baptist would manage the entire game.Â
QUALITY KYLE
Kyle Nicolas started and delivered the first quality start of the season for Ball State, pitching 6.0 innings while yielding three runs with seven strikeouts. Nicolas has a pair of no-decisions on the year, but he has a 2.45 ERA through 11 innings and 5.0 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
SWEEP THE LEG
Ball State can score a road series sweep Sunday afternoon when it finishes the series against Houston Baptist at 3 p.m. ET. Chayce McDermott is scheduled to make the start on the mound for Ball State.
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Ball State (2-3) trailed 3-0 early but scored three times in the 4th inning to tie the score. The Cardinals' bullpen held up until the 11th when Simpson pulled a ball over the fence down the left-field line. Tyler Schweitzer was credited with the win as Ball State now is in position to earn a road sweep on Sunday.
"Our boys have shown true grit finding ways to win two close ballgames," head coach Rich Maloney said. "We got good pitching, solid defense and timely hitting to win those games. Several different guys stepped up. We've won our first series of the year and we have a chance for a sweep on Sunday."
SIMPSON'S HOMER
On Friday, senior Ross Messina's extra-inning RBI hit was the difference in a 5-3 BSU win and Simpson provided the winning hit Saturday. Like Messina, another senior outfielder - Simpson made a winning play on offense in extra innings. Simpson batted in the 11th and lifted the first pitch he saw down the left-field line for a three-run homer. Zach Cole and Justin Conant - who both singled early in the inning - both scored on the play.
FROM THE 'PEN
In both of BSU's win at HBU, relief pitching has set the stage for seniors' heroics. Since the 2nd inning of Saturday, Feb. 15, BSU relievers have combined for for 13.2 innings of one-run ball with 20 strikeouts. Zach Losey has been strong twice, working 7.0 innings and allowing just one run. Tyler Schweitzer, a freshman from Fishers, Indiana, has pitched 4.1 innings and not been charged with a run.Â
"Orselli, Losey and Schweitzer were marvelous in relief roles," Maloney said.
OTHER THAN ONE PITCH, IT'S A BREEZE
All of HBU's scoring came on a single swing in the bottom of the 2nd inning. HBU's Matt Solomon hit a three-run homer to break a scoreless tie but that was all the scoring Houston Baptist would manage the entire game.Â
QUALITY KYLE
Kyle Nicolas started and delivered the first quality start of the season for Ball State, pitching 6.0 innings while yielding three runs with seven strikeouts. Nicolas has a pair of no-decisions on the year, but he has a 2.45 ERA through 11 innings and 5.0 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
SWEEP THE LEG
Ball State can score a road series sweep Sunday afternoon when it finishes the series against Houston Baptist at 3 p.m. ET. Chayce McDermott is scheduled to make the start on the mound for Ball State.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Schweitzer, Tyler (1-0)
L: Pronger, Brent (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Porter, Devin 1
HR: Simpson, Aaron 1
RBI: Simpson, Aaron 3 ; Quartermaine, Trenton 1 ; Conant, Justin 2
SH: Powell, Noah 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Simpson, Aaron 1 ; Sebby, Chase 1 ; Navarro, Noah 1 ; Quartermaine, Trenton 1 ; Cole, Zach 1 ; Conant, Justin 1
SB: Sebby, Chase 1 ; Conant, Justin 1
HBP: Simpson, Aaron 1
Batting:
2B: Gonzales, Johnny 1
HR: Solomon, Matt 1
RBI: Solomon, Matt 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Gonzales, Johnny 1 ; Franson, Trent 1 ; Solomon, Matt 1
SB: Soriano, Nathan 1
PO: Wayne, Parker 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
5
R
1
H
1
RBI
3
AB
6
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
6
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
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