Ball State University Athletics
Thursday, May 18
Muncie, Ind.
3 p.m.
Ball State University
vs
Kent State
Photo by: Chad Smith
Cardinals Host Golden Flashes for Deciding MAC Weekend
May 17, 2023 | Baseball
MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ball State baseball team is back in action at the Ball Diamond at First Merchants Ballpark for the final weekend of the 2023 regular season as Kent State makes the Trip to Muncie. The Cardinals and Golden Flashes are scheduled for a 3 p.m. start time on Thursday and Friday, and a 1 p.m. start on Saturday.
Ball State is coming off a 12-1 victory on the road against Southern Indiana on Tuesday. The Cardinals enter the weekend with an overall record of 33-18 and a Mid-American Conference mark of 19-8, while the Golden Flashes are 37-14 overall and 21-6 in league play. If Ball State sweeps the series, the Cardinals will win the MAC regular season title. One victory by Kent State gives the MAC crown to the Golden Flashes.
Gold Glove Peltier
At the conclusion of last season, Ryan Peltier was honored as the best defensive third baseman in the NCAA and received an ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove. After being named the MAC Defensive Player of the Year and earning a spot on the All-MAC Second Team for back-to-back seasons, Peltier was awarded the first Gold Glove in BSU history. He was a 2023 Preseason All-American honoree from Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.
Peltier is second on the team with a .358 batting average, which is tied for 172nd in the NCAA and fifth in the MAC. He has pelted a team-best 14 homers and has a team-high 51 RBIs. His 14 home runs are tied for 129th in the NCAA and are tied for fifth in the conference. He has a slugging percentage of .676, which is tied for 103rd in the country and third in the MAC. Peltier has scored 61 runs, which is tied for 36th in the NCAA and is second in the MAC. He leads the team in doubles with 17 and he has added three triples. His 17 doubles are tied for 96th in the NCAA and are fifth in the conference. His three triples are tied for 133rd in the country and are tied for third in the MAC.
What Can Brown Do for You?
Ryan Brown was named the No. 49 prospect in college baseball by D1 Baseball. Brown was the only Mid-American Conference player selected to the top-100 list. He was also tabbed as one of the top mid-major prospects for the 2023 season. Brown also landed on the 2023 MLB Draft: Rising Righthanded Pitchers watch list. Last season, Brown earned recognition as a Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Freshman All-American along with the MAC Freshman Pitcher of the Year. He also earned a spot on the All-MAC Second Team.
Brown currently has 54 strikeouts, which is second on the team. He his 4-1 on the year and has thrown 27 2/3 innings. Opponents are hitting just .170 against him for the season. He has a 4.88 ERA.
Don't Mess with Tex
Trennor O'Donnell leads the team with a 2.93 ERA. His ERA is tied for the 49th best in the country and is second in the MAC. His 82 strikeouts are tied for 73rd in the NCAA and tied for sixth in the MAC. He has a 4-2 record and has thrown 73 2/3 innings. Opponents are hitting just .219 against him.
Decking It All Over the Park
Decker Scheffler leads the Cardinals with .382 batting average, which is tied for 66th in the NCAA and is third in the MAC. He has 41 RBIs, 38 runs scored, 12 doubles, six homers, and three triples. His three triples are tied for 133rd in the country and are tied for third in the MAC. Scheffler is tied for 123rd as the toughest player to strikeout in the NCAA and is fourth in the MAC.
Scouting the Cardinals
Adam Tellier is third on the team with a .332 average. He has 50 runs scored, 36 RBIs, 24 walks, 11 doubles, seven home runs, and three triples. His three triples are tied for 133rd in the country and are tied for third in the MAC. Justin Conant rounds out the .300 hitters with a .310 average. He has 25 runs scored, 21 walks, 17 RBIs, five doubles, two triples, and two home runs. Nick Gregory might only be hitting .252, but he leads the team with 42 walks. His 42 walks are tied for 60th in the NCAA and are tied for third in the MAC. He has scored 41 runs and driven in 19 runs. Blake Bevis is second on the team with 10 home runs and is hitting .262 for the year.
Ty Weatherly has 63 strikeouts on the season and is second on the staff. He has a 6.50 ERA in 54 innings of work and a 2-3 record. Ty Johnson is third on the team with 57 strikeouts in 45 2/3 innings of work. He has a 4-2 record with a 3.35 ERA and has three saves. Logan Schulfer is fourth on the team with 56 strikeouts. He as a 3-2 record with a 7.16 ERA. Tanner Knapp has 44 strikeouts in 50 innings. He is 2-2 on the season with a 6.12 ERA. Sam Klein has 35 strikeouts. He is 6-2 on the season with a 5.34 ERA. Jacob Hartlaub is the remaining pitcher with more that 20 strikeouts, with 25. He has a 3-2 record with a 6.75 ERA and has one save.
Ball State vs. Kent State: The Series
Ball State and Kent State will meet for the 132nd time on Thursday. The Golden Flashes hold the series advantage 71-60. The Cardinals won three of the four meetings last season, but the Golden Flashes won the final meeting, 5-4. Ball State is 24-29 at home against Kent State. The Cardinals are 27-25 against the Golden Flashes under Head Coach Rich Maloney.
Scouting the Golden Flashes
Aidan Longwell leads Kent State with a .398 batting average, which is tied for 36 in the NCAA and second in the MAC. He is tied for the team lead with 10 home runs. He paces the Golden Flashes with 19 doubles, which are tied for 40th in the country and second in the conference. He has a team-best 65 RBIs, which is tied for 21st in the NCAA and tops in the MAC. He has scored 47 runs and has two triples. Collin Mathews is second on the team hitting .330. he has scored 51 runs, 45 RBIs, 14 doubles, eight home runs, and one triple. Josh Johnson has a team-high four triples, which is tied for 52 in the country and second in the conference. He his batting .320 with 51 runs scored, 28 RBIs, 14 doubles, and three home runs. Justin Miknis closes out the .300 hitters with a .312 average. He has 42 runs scored, 35 RBIs, 14 doubles, six home runs, and two triples. Michael McNamara is second on the team with 18 doubles, which is tied for 60th in the NCAA and tied for third in the MAC.
Joe Whitman leads the pitching staff with a 2.61 ERA and 88 strikeouts. He is 8-1 on the season and has a WHIP of 1.16 in 69 innings of work. Ben Cruikshank is second on the squad with 87 strikeouts and an ERA of 2.99. he is 7-1 with 72 1/3 innings of work. Scott Mitchell is third on the team with 56 strikeouts in 26 relief appearances. He is 1-1 with a 1.15 ERA.
MAC Standings
1. Kent State – 37-14, 21-6
2. Ball State – 33-18, 19-8
3. Central Michigan – 32-19, 18-9
4. Western Michigan – 19-28, 16-10
5. Ohio – 18-28, 14-13
6. Toledo – 25-27, 13-14
7. Miami – 19-34, 13-17
8. Bowling Green – 18-29, 11-16
9. Akron – 19-33, 10-17
10. Eastern Michigan – 24-26, 9-18
11. Northern Illinois – 10-40, 5-21
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Ball State is coming off a 12-1 victory on the road against Southern Indiana on Tuesday. The Cardinals enter the weekend with an overall record of 33-18 and a Mid-American Conference mark of 19-8, while the Golden Flashes are 37-14 overall and 21-6 in league play. If Ball State sweeps the series, the Cardinals will win the MAC regular season title. One victory by Kent State gives the MAC crown to the Golden Flashes.
Gold Glove Peltier
At the conclusion of last season, Ryan Peltier was honored as the best defensive third baseman in the NCAA and received an ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove. After being named the MAC Defensive Player of the Year and earning a spot on the All-MAC Second Team for back-to-back seasons, Peltier was awarded the first Gold Glove in BSU history. He was a 2023 Preseason All-American honoree from Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.
Peltier is second on the team with a .358 batting average, which is tied for 172nd in the NCAA and fifth in the MAC. He has pelted a team-best 14 homers and has a team-high 51 RBIs. His 14 home runs are tied for 129th in the NCAA and are tied for fifth in the conference. He has a slugging percentage of .676, which is tied for 103rd in the country and third in the MAC. Peltier has scored 61 runs, which is tied for 36th in the NCAA and is second in the MAC. He leads the team in doubles with 17 and he has added three triples. His 17 doubles are tied for 96th in the NCAA and are fifth in the conference. His three triples are tied for 133rd in the country and are tied for third in the MAC.
What Can Brown Do for You?
Ryan Brown was named the No. 49 prospect in college baseball by D1 Baseball. Brown was the only Mid-American Conference player selected to the top-100 list. He was also tabbed as one of the top mid-major prospects for the 2023 season. Brown also landed on the 2023 MLB Draft: Rising Righthanded Pitchers watch list. Last season, Brown earned recognition as a Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Freshman All-American along with the MAC Freshman Pitcher of the Year. He also earned a spot on the All-MAC Second Team.
Brown currently has 54 strikeouts, which is second on the team. He his 4-1 on the year and has thrown 27 2/3 innings. Opponents are hitting just .170 against him for the season. He has a 4.88 ERA.
Don't Mess with Tex
Trennor O'Donnell leads the team with a 2.93 ERA. His ERA is tied for the 49th best in the country and is second in the MAC. His 82 strikeouts are tied for 73rd in the NCAA and tied for sixth in the MAC. He has a 4-2 record and has thrown 73 2/3 innings. Opponents are hitting just .219 against him.
Decking It All Over the Park
Decker Scheffler leads the Cardinals with .382 batting average, which is tied for 66th in the NCAA and is third in the MAC. He has 41 RBIs, 38 runs scored, 12 doubles, six homers, and three triples. His three triples are tied for 133rd in the country and are tied for third in the MAC. Scheffler is tied for 123rd as the toughest player to strikeout in the NCAA and is fourth in the MAC.
Scouting the Cardinals
Adam Tellier is third on the team with a .332 average. He has 50 runs scored, 36 RBIs, 24 walks, 11 doubles, seven home runs, and three triples. His three triples are tied for 133rd in the country and are tied for third in the MAC. Justin Conant rounds out the .300 hitters with a .310 average. He has 25 runs scored, 21 walks, 17 RBIs, five doubles, two triples, and two home runs. Nick Gregory might only be hitting .252, but he leads the team with 42 walks. His 42 walks are tied for 60th in the NCAA and are tied for third in the MAC. He has scored 41 runs and driven in 19 runs. Blake Bevis is second on the team with 10 home runs and is hitting .262 for the year.
Ty Weatherly has 63 strikeouts on the season and is second on the staff. He has a 6.50 ERA in 54 innings of work and a 2-3 record. Ty Johnson is third on the team with 57 strikeouts in 45 2/3 innings of work. He has a 4-2 record with a 3.35 ERA and has three saves. Logan Schulfer is fourth on the team with 56 strikeouts. He as a 3-2 record with a 7.16 ERA. Tanner Knapp has 44 strikeouts in 50 innings. He is 2-2 on the season with a 6.12 ERA. Sam Klein has 35 strikeouts. He is 6-2 on the season with a 5.34 ERA. Jacob Hartlaub is the remaining pitcher with more that 20 strikeouts, with 25. He has a 3-2 record with a 6.75 ERA and has one save.
Ball State vs. Kent State: The Series
Ball State and Kent State will meet for the 132nd time on Thursday. The Golden Flashes hold the series advantage 71-60. The Cardinals won three of the four meetings last season, but the Golden Flashes won the final meeting, 5-4. Ball State is 24-29 at home against Kent State. The Cardinals are 27-25 against the Golden Flashes under Head Coach Rich Maloney.
Scouting the Golden Flashes
Aidan Longwell leads Kent State with a .398 batting average, which is tied for 36 in the NCAA and second in the MAC. He is tied for the team lead with 10 home runs. He paces the Golden Flashes with 19 doubles, which are tied for 40th in the country and second in the conference. He has a team-best 65 RBIs, which is tied for 21st in the NCAA and tops in the MAC. He has scored 47 runs and has two triples. Collin Mathews is second on the team hitting .330. he has scored 51 runs, 45 RBIs, 14 doubles, eight home runs, and one triple. Josh Johnson has a team-high four triples, which is tied for 52 in the country and second in the conference. He his batting .320 with 51 runs scored, 28 RBIs, 14 doubles, and three home runs. Justin Miknis closes out the .300 hitters with a .312 average. He has 42 runs scored, 35 RBIs, 14 doubles, six home runs, and two triples. Michael McNamara is second on the team with 18 doubles, which is tied for 60th in the NCAA and tied for third in the MAC.
Joe Whitman leads the pitching staff with a 2.61 ERA and 88 strikeouts. He is 8-1 on the season and has a WHIP of 1.16 in 69 innings of work. Ben Cruikshank is second on the squad with 87 strikeouts and an ERA of 2.99. he is 7-1 with 72 1/3 innings of work. Scott Mitchell is third on the team with 56 strikeouts in 26 relief appearances. He is 1-1 with a 1.15 ERA.
MAC Standings
1. Kent State – 37-14, 21-6
2. Ball State – 33-18, 19-8
3. Central Michigan – 32-19, 18-9
4. Western Michigan – 19-28, 16-10
5. Ohio – 18-28, 14-13
6. Toledo – 25-27, 13-14
7. Miami – 19-34, 13-17
8. Bowling Green – 18-29, 11-16
9. Akron – 19-33, 10-17
10. Eastern Michigan – 24-26, 9-18
11. Northern Illinois – 10-40, 5-21
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