Ball State University
31-20-1, 0
Kent State
26-24, 0
Cardinals Start Hot and Hold on Late in Opener at Kent State
May 16, 2024 | Baseball
The Cardinals (31-20-1, 17-11 Mid-American Conference) clinched a top five seed in next week's conference tournament with the triumph over the Golden Flashes (26-24, 16-12 MAC). The winner of the final regular season series will guarantee itself at least a No. 4 seed in the MAC Tourney beginning on Wednesday in Avon, Ohio.
Blake Bevis had a big day at the plate for the visitors, giving the Cardinals a 2-1 edge with a two-run home run in the second inning before pounding a two-run double in the third that paired with Hunter Dobbins' RBI two-bagger to put Ball State ahead 5-1 going into the fourth. For the day, Bevis went 4-for-5 with five RBI and two runs scored.
Dylan Grego started a six-run fourth inning with a solo blast, while Bevis knocked an RBI single and Houston King launched a two-run safety in the big inning.
Merritt Beeker (8-3) worked 6.1 innings of two-run ball and struck out 11 to increase his season strikeout total to 116. Kent State starter Ciaran Caughey (1-2) suffered the loss after giving up 7 runs in 3.0 innings pitched.
The host Golden Flashes came alive late, scoring a combined eight runs in the final three innings, but Sam Klein struck out three in 1.1 innings to close out his sixth save of the year.
"Our boys came out swinging and then held on," head coach Rich Maloney said. "Merritt Beeker was outstanding and Blake Bevis carried the offense. Good team victory."
Ball State and Kent State are scheduled to play the middle game of the set at 3 p.m. on Saturday.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Beeker, Merritt (8-3)
L: Caughey,Ciaran (1-2)
S: Klein, Sam (6)
Batting:
2B: Gregory, Nick 1 ; Dobbins, Hunter 1 ; Bevis, Blake 1
HR: Bevis, Blake 1 ; Grego, Dylan 1
RBI: Scheffler, Decker 1 ; Dobbins, Hunter 1 ; Bevis, Blake 5 ; King, Houston 2 ; Grego, Dylan 1
SH: Gregory, Nick 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Scheffler, Decker 2 ; Dobbins, Hunter 2 ; Hallquist, Michael 2 ; Bevis, Blake 2 ; King, Houston 1 ; Grego, Dylan 1 ; Jacobs, Clay 1
SB: Scheffler, Decker 1 ; Jacobs, Clay 2
Batting:
2B: Kibler,Dom 1 ; Macdonald,Lance 1
HR: Orr,Tim 1
RBI: Johnson,Josh 4 ; Orr,Tim 1 ; Kibler,Dom 1 ; Macdonald,Lance 2 ; Reese,Ripken 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Orr,Tim 1 ; Hinds,Aiden 1 ; Shinkle,Bo 2 ; Kibler,Dom 1 ; Ashby,Connor 1 ; Klotz,Hunter 2 ; Macdonald,Lance 1
HBP: Reese,Ripken 1
