Sunday, May 1
Muncie, Ind.
1 p.m.
Ball State University
29-14, 23-4
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Central Michigan
28-14, 21-5
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Central Michigan
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Ball State
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Photo by: Chad Smith
Dobbins Walks It Off, Cardinals Sweep Chippewas
May 01, 2022 | Baseball
MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State baseball team completed the sweep against Mid-American Conference foe Central Michigan on Sunday at the Ball Diamond at First Merchants Ballpark Complex. Hunter Dobbins was the hero today as he recorded the walk-off single to give the Cardinals a 4-3 victory.
Zach Lane led off the bottom of the ninth with a double down the left field line. Amir Wright hit a hard one-hopper back to the pitcher and was out at first, but advanced Lane to third with one out. Trenton Quartermaine and Nick Powell were intentionally walked to bring up the freshman Dobbins with bases loaded. Dobbins only needed one pitch as he lined one over the left fielder's head to give the Cardinals the walk-off victory.
The game started as a pitcher's duel and neither team had a hit in 2 1/2 innings. Lane recorded the game's first hit in the bottom of the third.
Casey Bargo got the start on the mound for the Cardinals and was perfect through 3 2/3 innings before he surrendered his first baserunner of the game on a hit batter.
The Chippewas' first hit of the game was a big one as Danny Wuestenfeld led off the top of the fifth with a solo home run to left field.
With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Zach Cole tied the game with a monster home run off the batter's eye in center field.
The Cardinal bats stayed hot in the bottom of the seventh as Lane and Quartermaine both launched solo shots to put Ball State on top, 3-1.
Central Michigan battled back and tied the game in the top of the eighth with two runs on three hits. It was not enough has the Cardinals were resilient and got the walk-off in the bottom of the ninth.
Wright has reached safely in 42 of the 43 games this season and extended his streak to 16 straight. Wright also extended his hitting streak to six games. Quartermaine has reached safely in 19-consecutive games. Lane led the Cardinals with a 3-for-4 day at the plate, including a home run. Cole finished with two hits in the game.
Bargo got a no decision and tossed a career-high 7 2/3 innings. He struck out five batters and surrendered just one earned run on three hits. Nate Dohm surrendered two earned runs on one hit. Sam Klein improved to 3-2 on the year with 1 1/3 innings of relief. He struck out three batters and scattered two hits.
Adam Mrakitsch got the start for the Chippewas and went six innings with four strikeouts. He gave up one earned run on four hits. Jake Jones got the loss and fell to 4-2 on the season. He went 2 1/3 innings in relief with two strikeouts and surrendered three earned runs on five hits.
With the win, the Cardinals improved to 29-14 overall and 23-4 in MAC play, while the Chippewas fell to 28-14 overall and 21-5 in league play. Ball State took over first place in the conference standings after a strong weekend.
Ball State returns to the diamond for a four-game series on the road against Kent State. Game one of the series is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Friday, May 6.
From the Coach – Head Coach Rich Maloney
"It doesn't get better than that when you play a quality team like Central Michigan. We've been neck-and-neck the last two years. There's so much emotion in all the games from both teams. To be able to come out on top against an outstanding team and program, it doesn't get better than that. I'm happy for our boys. I'm happy for the passion and energy they brought. So many guys contributed."
From the Student-Athlete – Junior Outfielder #6 Zach Cole
"The cool part about this team this weekend was the fact that everybody was all in every pitch. It didn't matter who was up or what the situation was. I had confidence in all of our guys 1 through 9."
From the Student-Athlete – Junior Infielder #26 Zach Lane
"This weekend was such an incredible experience. The atmosphere of the stadium we were able to have along with just the back-and-forth war between the two teams is something I'll never forget. That was by far the most fun I think any of us have had on a baseball field and it was all weekend long. I'm extremely thankful to have this opportunity to be surrounded by such a great family of teammates and coaches."
From the Student-Athlete – Freshman Catcher/DH #32 Hunter Dobbins
"It was electric. We had lots of timely hits. The pitching performances were outstanding. In the final seconds before the walk-off, it was man versus man. I looked at him and could tell he wanted no part of it. I wanted every bit of it."
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Zach Lane led off the bottom of the ninth with a double down the left field line. Amir Wright hit a hard one-hopper back to the pitcher and was out at first, but advanced Lane to third with one out. Trenton Quartermaine and Nick Powell were intentionally walked to bring up the freshman Dobbins with bases loaded. Dobbins only needed one pitch as he lined one over the left fielder's head to give the Cardinals the walk-off victory.
The game started as a pitcher's duel and neither team had a hit in 2 1/2 innings. Lane recorded the game's first hit in the bottom of the third.
Casey Bargo got the start on the mound for the Cardinals and was perfect through 3 2/3 innings before he surrendered his first baserunner of the game on a hit batter.
The Chippewas' first hit of the game was a big one as Danny Wuestenfeld led off the top of the fifth with a solo home run to left field.
With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Zach Cole tied the game with a monster home run off the batter's eye in center field.
The Cardinal bats stayed hot in the bottom of the seventh as Lane and Quartermaine both launched solo shots to put Ball State on top, 3-1.
Central Michigan battled back and tied the game in the top of the eighth with two runs on three hits. It was not enough has the Cardinals were resilient and got the walk-off in the bottom of the ninth.
Wright has reached safely in 42 of the 43 games this season and extended his streak to 16 straight. Wright also extended his hitting streak to six games. Quartermaine has reached safely in 19-consecutive games. Lane led the Cardinals with a 3-for-4 day at the plate, including a home run. Cole finished with two hits in the game.
Bargo got a no decision and tossed a career-high 7 2/3 innings. He struck out five batters and surrendered just one earned run on three hits. Nate Dohm surrendered two earned runs on one hit. Sam Klein improved to 3-2 on the year with 1 1/3 innings of relief. He struck out three batters and scattered two hits.
Adam Mrakitsch got the start for the Chippewas and went six innings with four strikeouts. He gave up one earned run on four hits. Jake Jones got the loss and fell to 4-2 on the season. He went 2 1/3 innings in relief with two strikeouts and surrendered three earned runs on five hits.
With the win, the Cardinals improved to 29-14 overall and 23-4 in MAC play, while the Chippewas fell to 28-14 overall and 21-5 in league play. Ball State took over first place in the conference standings after a strong weekend.
Ball State returns to the diamond for a four-game series on the road against Kent State. Game one of the series is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Friday, May 6.
From the Coach – Head Coach Rich Maloney
"It doesn't get better than that when you play a quality team like Central Michigan. We've been neck-and-neck the last two years. There's so much emotion in all the games from both teams. To be able to come out on top against an outstanding team and program, it doesn't get better than that. I'm happy for our boys. I'm happy for the passion and energy they brought. So many guys contributed."
From the Student-Athlete – Junior Outfielder #6 Zach Cole
"The cool part about this team this weekend was the fact that everybody was all in every pitch. It didn't matter who was up or what the situation was. I had confidence in all of our guys 1 through 9."
From the Student-Athlete – Junior Infielder #26 Zach Lane
"This weekend was such an incredible experience. The atmosphere of the stadium we were able to have along with just the back-and-forth war between the two teams is something I'll never forget. That was by far the most fun I think any of us have had on a baseball field and it was all weekend long. I'm extremely thankful to have this opportunity to be surrounded by such a great family of teammates and coaches."
From the Student-Athlete – Freshman Catcher/DH #32 Hunter Dobbins
"It was electric. We had lots of timely hits. The pitching performances were outstanding. In the final seconds before the walk-off, it was man versus man. I looked at him and could tell he wanted no part of it. I wanted every bit of it."
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Klein, Sam (3-2)
L: JONES, Jake (4-2)
Batting:
2B: CAMILLETTI, Mario 1
HR: WUESTENFELD, Danny 1
RBI: CAMILLETTI, Mario 1 ; SIMPSON, Justin 1 ; WUESTENFELD, Danny 1
Base Running:
RUNS: CAMILLETTI, Mario 1 ; WUESTENFELD, Danny 1 ; PROCTOR, Adam 1
HBP: SIMPSON, Justin 1
Batting:
2B: Powell, Nick 1 ; Lane, Zach 1
HR: Quartermaine, Trenton 1 ; Cole, Zach 1 ; Lane, Zach 1
RBI: Quartermaine, Trenton 1 ; Dobbins, Hunter 1 ; Cole, Zach 1 ; Lane, Zach 1
SH: Peltier, Ryan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Quartermaine, Trenton 1 ; Cole, Zach 1 ; Lane, Zach 2
HBP: Wright, Amir 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
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