Ball State University Athletics
Throwback Thursday: 2006 MAC Champion Baseball Team
May 25, 2023 | Baseball
This week's #ThrowbackThursday features the 2006 Mid-American Conference tournament champion baseball team. The 2006 club was the last Ball State club to win the league tournament, winning the title on the same field which the Cardinals are participating in this year's MAC Tournament.
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The 2006 club finished 38-22 overall and 16-7 in the MAC, eventually falling in the NCAA Tournament to No. 8-ranked Kentucky. The Cardinals entered the MAC Tournament as the No. 4 seed, but swept through the tourney, beating host and top-seed Kent State twice, to earn their first NCAA Tournament berth since 1969. The Cardinals beat Kentucky in their first NCAA Tournament game but lost to College of Charleston and were eliminated by UK in a losers-bracket rematch.
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To reach the NCAA Tournament, the Cardinals beat the Golden Flashes 7-4 in the MAC championship game. Kyle Dygert put the Cardinals on top with a two-run home run in the fourth inning. The homer was Dygert's second of the tournament, giving Ball State a 3-1 lead. The Cardinals scored two more in the fifth on a C.J. Webb single to take a 5-3 advantage.
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Ball State reliever Jeff Michael entered the game in the bottom of the fifth, taking over for Richie Fralick, who started his first game of the season. Michael allowed just one hit over the next 3.2 innings and closer Kyle Heyne sent the Flashes down in order in the ninth to earn his 11th save of the season. The Cardinals tacked on two more runs in the ninth inning for some insurance before Heyne closed the game out.
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Dygert went on to be named the MAC Tournament MVP, while Heyne, Eric Earnhart, Chris Pestle and Justin Rogers earned spots on the all-tournament team.
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The 2006 club finished 38-22 overall and 16-7 in the MAC, eventually falling in the NCAA Tournament to No. 8-ranked Kentucky. The Cardinals entered the MAC Tournament as the No. 4 seed, but swept through the tourney, beating host and top-seed Kent State twice, to earn their first NCAA Tournament berth since 1969. The Cardinals beat Kentucky in their first NCAA Tournament game but lost to College of Charleston and were eliminated by UK in a losers-bracket rematch.
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To reach the NCAA Tournament, the Cardinals beat the Golden Flashes 7-4 in the MAC championship game. Kyle Dygert put the Cardinals on top with a two-run home run in the fourth inning. The homer was Dygert's second of the tournament, giving Ball State a 3-1 lead. The Cardinals scored two more in the fifth on a C.J. Webb single to take a 5-3 advantage.
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Ball State reliever Jeff Michael entered the game in the bottom of the fifth, taking over for Richie Fralick, who started his first game of the season. Michael allowed just one hit over the next 3.2 innings and closer Kyle Heyne sent the Flashes down in order in the ninth to earn his 11th save of the season. The Cardinals tacked on two more runs in the ninth inning for some insurance before Heyne closed the game out.
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Dygert went on to be named the MAC Tournament MVP, while Heyne, Eric Earnhart, Chris Pestle and Justin Rogers earned spots on the all-tournament team.
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