Tuesday, February 25
Muncie, Ind.
2 PM
Ball State University
vs
Illinois State
Photo by: Kolbi Media
Baseball Hosting Illinois State Tuesday Afternoon at Ball Diamond
February 24, 2025 | Baseball
Home Opener is Earliest in Ball State Baseball History
The Ball State baseball team is set to play the earliest home opener in program history when the Cardinals host Illinois State at 2 p.m. on Tuesday at Ball Diamond.
The previous home opener that came earliest on the calendar occurred last year on March 8. Tuesday's game was added after the Cardinals' final game of the Swig & Swine Classic in Charleston, S.C., was rained out on Feb. 16.
Ball State (4-3) split a four-game series at Sacramento State over the weekend, taking Thursday's opener 4-3 and Saturday's finale 13-10. Connor Hutchinson's 5.0 scoreless innings and six strikeouts for his first career win highlighted Thursday, while Blake Bevis and Ty Davis hit 3-run home runs to lead a comeback from a 7-0 deficit on Saturday.
Head coach Rich Maloney upped his career wins total to 992 with the pair of triumphs and can reach the 1,000 wins milestone as soon as March 8 vs Western Michigan.
Illinois State (0-5) was swept in three games at Jacksonville last weekend. The Redbirds went 30-27 (16-11 Missouri Valley) last year to finish in a tie for fourth in MVC and advanced to the conference tournament championship game. Illinois State is in its seventh season under the direction of head coach Steve Holm.
Junior outfielder Daniel Pacella is leading the Redbirds in batting average (.450) in 20 at bats and has a triple, home run, four RBI and four runs scored to his credit in five games so far this season.
Next up for Ball State is a five-game Florida trip starting at 6:30 p.m. on Friday at North Florida in Jacksonville.
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The previous home opener that came earliest on the calendar occurred last year on March 8. Tuesday's game was added after the Cardinals' final game of the Swig & Swine Classic in Charleston, S.C., was rained out on Feb. 16.
Ball State (4-3) split a four-game series at Sacramento State over the weekend, taking Thursday's opener 4-3 and Saturday's finale 13-10. Connor Hutchinson's 5.0 scoreless innings and six strikeouts for his first career win highlighted Thursday, while Blake Bevis and Ty Davis hit 3-run home runs to lead a comeback from a 7-0 deficit on Saturday.
Head coach Rich Maloney upped his career wins total to 992 with the pair of triumphs and can reach the 1,000 wins milestone as soon as March 8 vs Western Michigan.
Illinois State (0-5) was swept in three games at Jacksonville last weekend. The Redbirds went 30-27 (16-11 Missouri Valley) last year to finish in a tie for fourth in MVC and advanced to the conference tournament championship game. Illinois State is in its seventh season under the direction of head coach Steve Holm.
Junior outfielder Daniel Pacella is leading the Redbirds in batting average (.450) in 20 at bats and has a triple, home run, four RBI and four runs scored to his credit in five games so far this season.
Next up for Ball State is a five-game Florida trip starting at 6:30 p.m. on Friday at North Florida in Jacksonville.
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