Ball State University Athletics
Baseball Announces 2024 Regular Season Schedule
November 20, 2023 | Baseball
Nonconference Slate Highlighted by 10 Games Against 6 NCAA Tournament Opponents
Full Schedule | Roster
The Ball State baseball team and head coach Rich Maloney have released their 2024 regular season schedule, which features 10 games against teams that made the NCAA Tournament last season.
All told, the Cardinals are scheduled to play six NCAA Tournament qualifiers in 2024, including road series at Florida A&M in early March and NC State in late April. Other who fit that bill will be Iowa (Feb. 17), Coastal Carolina (Feb. 24), Indiana (Apr. 9 and 23) and Indiana State (May 14).
The Mid-American Conference schedule consists of 30 game and features three-game series against the other 10 teams in the MAC (Buffalo doesn't have a baseball team).
"We are excited about the 2024 baseball schedule. We're going to play some great opponents," Maloney said. "Iowa will be picked near the top of the Big Ten. Coastal Carolina is a perennial mid-major power. We also play a three-game series against ACC powerhouse NC State. All of that in addition to our MAC schedule, which obviously will be a challenge as well.
"The opportunity to play against some great competition like we always do and help our team grow to become the best that we can be is exciting."
Ball State begins the season at the Swig & Swine College Classic in Charleston, S.C., where the Cardinals are scheduled to face off with Lehigh, Iowa, Merrimack and Michigan State from Feb. 16-18. The team will be up the South Carolina coast the following weekend when it plays in Conway at Coastal Carolina's field, taking on Cincinnati, Illinois and the host Chanticleers on Feb. 23 and 24.
The Cardinals' spring break trip takes them to the Sunshine State for a three-game series at Jacksonville (March 1-3) and two-game set hosted by Florida A&M (March 5-6). The three-game series at NC State is slated for Apr. 26-28.
Opening Day at Ball Diamond will also serve as the MAC opener for the Cardinals, as they host Eastern Michigan at 3 p.m. on March 8. Ball State plays home series against Akron, Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan and Ohio, while its road series include Kent State, Miami (OH), Northern Illinois, Toledo and Western Michigan.
Ball State plays at Indiana and at Purdue on back-to-back Tuesdays in mid-April before playing Indiana on Apr. 23 at Victory Field in Indianapolis. Other notable nonconference matchups, in addition to the Indiana State game late in the campaign, include home-and-home sets with Butler and Southern Indiana.
The Cardinals are coming off a 2023 slate when they went 36-23 (19-11 MAC) and won the MAC Tournament to earn the program's fourth NCAA Tournament berth. Ball State returns several contributors from that group.
"A key returner for us will be Hunter Dobbins at the catcher position. Hunter has an opportunity to be a next-level player without question," Maloney mentioned. "Decker Scheffler in right field won the MAC batting title last year and was First Team All-MAC. Blake Bevis hit 11 home runs as a freshman for us as our first baseman. We have Nick Gregory back in the outfield who had an over .400 OBP for us.
"From a pitching standpoint, Sam Klein has been a stalwart out of the bullpen. Jacob Hartlaub closed out the tournament championship game for us. We have several freshmen and transfers we think are going to contribute on the mound, which we're excited about. Merritt Beeker (East Carolina transfer) has a huge upside. We think we have the nucleus to have a really strong team, and I've been really pleased with how the guys have gelled together in a short period of time, so we're excited about this season's ballclub."
Schedule Breakdown (by games)
Home – 19
Away – 30
Neutral – 7
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February – 8
March – 21
April – 16
May – 11
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Tuesday – 11
Wednesday – 2
Thursday – 2
Friday – 15
Saturday – 15
Sunday – 11
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Indiana – 25
Ohio – 9
South Carolina – 7
Florida – 5
Illinois – 3
Michigan – 3
North Carolina – 3
Kentucky – 1
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The Ball State baseball team and head coach Rich Maloney have released their 2024 regular season schedule, which features 10 games against teams that made the NCAA Tournament last season.
All told, the Cardinals are scheduled to play six NCAA Tournament qualifiers in 2024, including road series at Florida A&M in early March and NC State in late April. Other who fit that bill will be Iowa (Feb. 17), Coastal Carolina (Feb. 24), Indiana (Apr. 9 and 23) and Indiana State (May 14).
The Mid-American Conference schedule consists of 30 game and features three-game series against the other 10 teams in the MAC (Buffalo doesn't have a baseball team).
"We are excited about the 2024 baseball schedule. We're going to play some great opponents," Maloney said. "Iowa will be picked near the top of the Big Ten. Coastal Carolina is a perennial mid-major power. We also play a three-game series against ACC powerhouse NC State. All of that in addition to our MAC schedule, which obviously will be a challenge as well.
"The opportunity to play against some great competition like we always do and help our team grow to become the best that we can be is exciting."
Ball State begins the season at the Swig & Swine College Classic in Charleston, S.C., where the Cardinals are scheduled to face off with Lehigh, Iowa, Merrimack and Michigan State from Feb. 16-18. The team will be up the South Carolina coast the following weekend when it plays in Conway at Coastal Carolina's field, taking on Cincinnati, Illinois and the host Chanticleers on Feb. 23 and 24.
The Cardinals' spring break trip takes them to the Sunshine State for a three-game series at Jacksonville (March 1-3) and two-game set hosted by Florida A&M (March 5-6). The three-game series at NC State is slated for Apr. 26-28.
Opening Day at Ball Diamond will also serve as the MAC opener for the Cardinals, as they host Eastern Michigan at 3 p.m. on March 8. Ball State plays home series against Akron, Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan and Ohio, while its road series include Kent State, Miami (OH), Northern Illinois, Toledo and Western Michigan.
Ball State plays at Indiana and at Purdue on back-to-back Tuesdays in mid-April before playing Indiana on Apr. 23 at Victory Field in Indianapolis. Other notable nonconference matchups, in addition to the Indiana State game late in the campaign, include home-and-home sets with Butler and Southern Indiana.
The Cardinals are coming off a 2023 slate when they went 36-23 (19-11 MAC) and won the MAC Tournament to earn the program's fourth NCAA Tournament berth. Ball State returns several contributors from that group.
"A key returner for us will be Hunter Dobbins at the catcher position. Hunter has an opportunity to be a next-level player without question," Maloney mentioned. "Decker Scheffler in right field won the MAC batting title last year and was First Team All-MAC. Blake Bevis hit 11 home runs as a freshman for us as our first baseman. We have Nick Gregory back in the outfield who had an over .400 OBP for us.
"From a pitching standpoint, Sam Klein has been a stalwart out of the bullpen. Jacob Hartlaub closed out the tournament championship game for us. We have several freshmen and transfers we think are going to contribute on the mound, which we're excited about. Merritt Beeker (East Carolina transfer) has a huge upside. We think we have the nucleus to have a really strong team, and I've been really pleased with how the guys have gelled together in a short period of time, so we're excited about this season's ballclub."
Schedule Breakdown (by games)
Home – 19
Away – 30
Neutral – 7
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February – 8
March – 21
April – 16
May – 11
Â
Tuesday – 11
Wednesday – 2
Thursday – 2
Friday – 15
Saturday – 15
Sunday – 11
Â
Indiana – 25
Ohio – 9
South Carolina – 7
Florida – 5
Illinois – 3
Michigan – 3
North Carolina – 3
Kentucky – 1
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Players Mentioned
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