Baseball Tops Toledo in Series Opener, 7-6

MUNCIE, Ind. -- The Ball State baseball team won a back-and-forth series opener Friday against Toledo, 7-6, at First Merchants Ballpark Complex.

The top of the lineup got it done for the Cardinals with the 1-4 batters combining to go 9-for-17 with six RBIs. Noah Navarro drove in two of those runs, including what proved to be the game-winner with a sacrifice fly in the seventh.

Andre Orselli then came out of the bullpen in the eighth and proceeded to allow just one base runner to seal the deal in the first of four games this weekend.

"You gotta grind them out, and that's what we did today," BSU head coach Rich Maloney said. "We just found a way to get the W despite playing pretty average. But nevertheless, we found a way to get it done."

Ball State (10-8, 4-1 MAC) built a 4-1 lead behind two spots in both the second and fourth innings. Aaron Simpson homered as part of the fourth.

But Toledo (3-15, 1-4 MAC), which hit three home runs on the day, scored four straight runs over the next two innings to surge ahead, 5-4. The Cardinals, though, answered with two more in the bottom of the sixth on RBI doubles from Ross Messina and Trenton Quartermaine.

The teams then traded single runs in the seventh with Ball State plating the game-winner when Navarro's sac fly after three consecutive walks scored Justin Conant.

Tyler Schweitzer pitched 2.1 innings in relief of BSU starter John Baker to earn the win. Messina led the Cardinals with three hits on the day, while Toledo's Chris Meyers went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with two home runs.

The teams will square off again Saturday with a doubleheader of two seven-inning games. First pitch for game one is set for noon. Based on guidance surrounding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, general public attendance will not be permitted at First Merchants Ballpark Complex this season.

?? "We found a way to win, and that's what it's about." — @CoachMaloney on today's series opener with Toledo. pic.twitter.com/DBDQhXpRcS
— Ball State Baseball (@BallStateBB) March 26, 2021

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Team Stats

Ross Messina

Adam Tellier

Noah Navarro

Trenton Quartermaine

Players Mentioned

John Baker

Justin Conant

Ross Messina

Noah Navarro

Andre Orselli

Trenton Quartermaine

Tyler Schweitzer

Aaron Simpson

Players Mentioned

John Baker

Justin Conant

Ross Messina

Noah Navarro

Andre Orselli

Trenton Quartermaine

Tyler Schweitzer

Aaron Simpson