Friday, April 29
Muncie, Ind.
3 p.m.
Ball State University
26-14, 20-4
7
vs
1
Central Michigan
28-11, 21-2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Central Michigan
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
1
0
Ball State
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
4
X
7
5
1
Amir Wright led the Cardinals with a 3-for-4 day at the plate with two runs scored and an RBI
Photo by: BSU Photo Services
Cardinals End Chippewas’ MAC 21-Game Winning Streak
April 29, 2022 | Baseball
MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State baseball team welcomed Central Michigan to the Ball Diamond at First Merchants Ballpark Complex on Friday for game one of a four-game series. Game one of the battle between first and second in the Mid-American Conference standings went to the Cardinals. Ball State relied on stellar pitching and timely hitting as BSU claimed a 7-1 victory of CMU.
Tyler Schweitzer improved to 7-2 on the season behind a seven-inning gem. He collected six strikeouts and surrendered just one earned run as he held CMU to just one hit on the day. Sam Klein earned his eighth save of the season in two innings of hitless ball with two strikeouts.
Amir Wright has reached safely in 39 of the 40 games this season. Wright led the Cardinals with a 3-for-4 day at the plate with two runs scored and an RBI. Zach Cole and Nick Powell each produced a three-run home run. Trenton Quartermaine extended his streak of reaching base safely to 16 games.
With the victory, Ball State improved to 26-14 overall and 20-4 in MAC play, while Central Michigan fell to 28-11 and 21-2 in conference play. The Cardinals ended the Chippewas' 21-game winning streak in the MAC and the 18-game overall winning streak.
The game started out as a pitcher's duel as Schweitzer and his counterpart Andrew Taylor surrendered just two hits combined and struck out 17 batters in the first seven innings.
In the top of the fourth inning, Powell made an outstanding running catch in the right center gap to track down a would-be double to keep runners off for CMU.
Cole ended the top of the seventh with a spectacular catch in left center. He was on a full sprint and made a leaping catch as he crashed into the wall. A lot of times you will see a player make a great defensive play and it leads to a great at bat. That happened for Cole in the bottom of the seventh as he blasted an opposite shot to left field for a three-run homer, for the game's first runs. The Cardinals took a 3-0 lead into the top of the eighth.
Central Michigan was able to get a run on the board in the top of the eighth.
In the home half of the eighth, Justin Conant led off with a nine-pitch walk. CJ Horn moved Conant to second with a sacrifice bunt. After a pitching change, Wright notched an RBI double down the right field line to score Conant. Quartermaine was intentionally walked and that turned out to be costly. Powell followed with a sinking line drive that went past a diving center fielder that rolled all the way to the wall. Powell was never slowed down and recorded an inside the park home run to put BSU on top 7-1 after eight innings.
The Chippewas managed to get a runner on base via a walk in the top of the ninth, but the Cardinals were able to keep them off the score board.
Taylor picked up the loss and fell to 6-3. He went seven innings with 13 strikeouts with three earned runs and a walk. CMU used three pitchers in relief that combined for one inning and gave up four runs on two hits with one strikeout. Justin Simpson recorded the lone hit for the Chippewas.
Ball State and Central Michigan return to the Ball Diamond at First Merchants Ballpark Complex on Saturday, April 30, for a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for noon and Saturday will also be First Merchants Ballpark Fan Day.
Ball State Athletics will host First Merchants Ballpark Fan Day on Saturday, as the baseball team hosts Central Michigan at noon and the softball team welcomes Bowling Green for a 1 p.m. first pitch next door.
It will be the event's fourth edition of gathering the community to support Ball State baseball and softball which are both in MAC title hunts.
The usual exciting trip to the ballpark will be infused with more fun thanks to First Merchants Bank, as the following deals and promotions will be in play: The first 300 spectators to arrive will receive a lunch package good for a hot dog, chips, and Pepsi drink. The first 200 spectators at each venue will receive an event T-Shirt (one shirt per fan). There will be drawings for prize packs during each inning
As always with baseball and softball games at Ball State, admission and parking are free of charge with games taking place inside the First Merchants Ballpark Complex.
From the Coach – Head Coach Rich Maloney
"This is the first time that Tyler has had to go over 100 pitches. He was probably a little jacked up in the top of the first. It's tough when you put Central's first two guys on, rarely do you hold them. That's one of the reasons they are a great team. Their first five guys are incredible. I'm sure he was a little jittery, that's understandable. There were a lot of scouts up there and I told him here's your chance to show them. To his credit, Tyler didn't buckle. We made two really good plays when we had to with Powell and Cole."
From the Student-Athlete – Junior Pitcher #31 Tyler Schweitzer
"I was a little jittery in the first inning, my heart was racing, but I finally settled in pretty well. Playing the No. 1 versus No. 2 is always exciting. I'm just happy for us getting the victory. It's a rivalry, it's big. We're going to see them for four good games every time. We need to come in with intensity and keep the intensity up the whole game."
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Tyler Schweitzer improved to 7-2 on the season behind a seven-inning gem. He collected six strikeouts and surrendered just one earned run as he held CMU to just one hit on the day. Sam Klein earned his eighth save of the season in two innings of hitless ball with two strikeouts.
Amir Wright has reached safely in 39 of the 40 games this season. Wright led the Cardinals with a 3-for-4 day at the plate with two runs scored and an RBI. Zach Cole and Nick Powell each produced a three-run home run. Trenton Quartermaine extended his streak of reaching base safely to 16 games.
With the victory, Ball State improved to 26-14 overall and 20-4 in MAC play, while Central Michigan fell to 28-11 and 21-2 in conference play. The Cardinals ended the Chippewas' 21-game winning streak in the MAC and the 18-game overall winning streak.
The game started out as a pitcher's duel as Schweitzer and his counterpart Andrew Taylor surrendered just two hits combined and struck out 17 batters in the first seven innings.
In the top of the fourth inning, Powell made an outstanding running catch in the right center gap to track down a would-be double to keep runners off for CMU.
Cole ended the top of the seventh with a spectacular catch in left center. He was on a full sprint and made a leaping catch as he crashed into the wall. A lot of times you will see a player make a great defensive play and it leads to a great at bat. That happened for Cole in the bottom of the seventh as he blasted an opposite shot to left field for a three-run homer, for the game's first runs. The Cardinals took a 3-0 lead into the top of the eighth.
It was an amazing pitcher's duel.
And then Zach Cole happened.
WHAT. A. WIN. CARDS!#ChirpChirp l #WeFly pic.twitter.com/AHmgsTk7rI
— Ball State Baseball (@BallStateBB) April 29, 2022
Central Michigan was able to get a run on the board in the top of the eighth.
In the home half of the eighth, Justin Conant led off with a nine-pitch walk. CJ Horn moved Conant to second with a sacrifice bunt. After a pitching change, Wright notched an RBI double down the right field line to score Conant. Quartermaine was intentionally walked and that turned out to be costly. Powell followed with a sinking line drive that went past a diving center fielder that rolled all the way to the wall. Powell was never slowed down and recorded an inside the park home run to put BSU on top 7-1 after eight innings.
The Chippewas managed to get a runner on base via a walk in the top of the ninth, but the Cardinals were able to keep them off the score board.
Taylor picked up the loss and fell to 6-3. He went seven innings with 13 strikeouts with three earned runs and a walk. CMU used three pitchers in relief that combined for one inning and gave up four runs on two hits with one strikeout. Justin Simpson recorded the lone hit for the Chippewas.
Ball State and Central Michigan return to the Ball Diamond at First Merchants Ballpark Complex on Saturday, April 30, for a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for noon and Saturday will also be First Merchants Ballpark Fan Day.
Ball State Athletics will host First Merchants Ballpark Fan Day on Saturday, as the baseball team hosts Central Michigan at noon and the softball team welcomes Bowling Green for a 1 p.m. first pitch next door.
It will be the event's fourth edition of gathering the community to support Ball State baseball and softball which are both in MAC title hunts.
The usual exciting trip to the ballpark will be infused with more fun thanks to First Merchants Bank, as the following deals and promotions will be in play: The first 300 spectators to arrive will receive a lunch package good for a hot dog, chips, and Pepsi drink. The first 200 spectators at each venue will receive an event T-Shirt (one shirt per fan). There will be drawings for prize packs during each inning
As always with baseball and softball games at Ball State, admission and parking are free of charge with games taking place inside the First Merchants Ballpark Complex.
From the Coach – Head Coach Rich Maloney
"This is the first time that Tyler has had to go over 100 pitches. He was probably a little jacked up in the top of the first. It's tough when you put Central's first two guys on, rarely do you hold them. That's one of the reasons they are a great team. Their first five guys are incredible. I'm sure he was a little jittery, that's understandable. There were a lot of scouts up there and I told him here's your chance to show them. To his credit, Tyler didn't buckle. We made two really good plays when we had to with Powell and Cole."
From the Student-Athlete – Junior Pitcher #31 Tyler Schweitzer
"I was a little jittery in the first inning, my heart was racing, but I finally settled in pretty well. Playing the No. 1 versus No. 2 is always exciting. I'm just happy for us getting the victory. It's a rivalry, it's big. We're going to see them for four good games every time. We need to come in with intensity and keep the intensity up the whole game."
Follow the Cardinals
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Schweitzer, Tyler (7-2)
L: TAYLOR, Andrew (6-3)
S: Klein, Sam (8)
Batting:
RBI: LECHNIR, Drew 1
SF: LECHNIR, Drew 1
Base Running:
RUNS: MARSEE, Jakob 1
SB: SHEPARDSON, Aidan 1
HBP: SHEPARDSON, Aidan 1
Batting:
2B: Wright, Amir 1
HR: Powell, Nick 1 ; Cole, Zach 1
RBI: Wright, Amir 1 ; Powell, Nick 3 ; Cole, Zach 3
SH: Horn, CJ 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Wright, Amir 2 ; Quartermaine, Trenton 1 ; Powell, Nick 1 ; Dobbins, Hunter 1 ; Cole, Zach 1 ; Conant, Justin 1
CS: Wright, Amir 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
2
H
3
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
3
AB
3
R
1
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
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