Tuesday, February 25
Muncie, Ind.
2 PM
Ball State University
4-4
1
vs
11
Illinois State
1-5
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Illinois State
1
3
1
3
0
1
0
2
0
11
13
0
Ball State
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
X
1
5
0
Photo by: Sam Findley/Ball State Athletics
On Historic Day For Baseball Home Opener ... Hits Don't Fall Cardinals' Way
February 25, 2025 | Baseball
MUNCIE, Ind. -- On a sunny day with a light breeze and clear skies, the Ball State baseball team played the earliest home game in program history on Tuesday, hosting Illinois State at The Ball Diamond in front of over 400 sun-starved fans.
Unfortunately, that was just about all the excitement the home fans got on a day in which "they beat us in all facets," lamented veteran coach Rich Maloney. In what was the first Cardinals' home game ever played in the month of February, the other red birds beat Ball State 11-1. The Redbirds rapped 13 hits including three home runs, and put runs on the board in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th innings. It was 9-0 in the seventh before Ball State scratched across its lone run, with designated hitter Houston King scoring on a fielder's choice by Alex Richter.
The midweek affair, crammed between four games in Sacramento last weekend and five scheduled in Florida next weekend, was designated as a bullpen game. Lucas Letsinger fired the opening frame and allowed one run, but the bullpen took over and lost control in the second inning, issuing four walks that led to three more runs. Illinois State made it made it 8-0 after four innings, and 9-0 through six. The Redbirds tacked on two more in the eighth before coaches agreed to halt the game after eight innings.
Ball State opens a three-game set at North Florida, in Jacksonville, on Friday, Feb. 28, with single games each day. Following an off day March 3, the Cardinals venture to Florida A&M, in Tallahassee, with games slated for March 4 and 5. The Cardinals return to The Ball Diamond on March 7 (2 p.m.) to open play in the Mid-American Conference against Western Michigan. The Cardinals open MAC play with a three-game series slated for March 7, 8 and 9.
Unfortunately, that was just about all the excitement the home fans got on a day in which "they beat us in all facets," lamented veteran coach Rich Maloney. In what was the first Cardinals' home game ever played in the month of February, the other red birds beat Ball State 11-1. The Redbirds rapped 13 hits including three home runs, and put runs on the board in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th innings. It was 9-0 in the seventh before Ball State scratched across its lone run, with designated hitter Houston King scoring on a fielder's choice by Alex Richter.
The midweek affair, crammed between four games in Sacramento last weekend and five scheduled in Florida next weekend, was designated as a bullpen game. Lucas Letsinger fired the opening frame and allowed one run, but the bullpen took over and lost control in the second inning, issuing four walks that led to three more runs. Illinois State made it made it 8-0 after four innings, and 9-0 through six. The Redbirds tacked on two more in the eighth before coaches agreed to halt the game after eight innings.
Ball State opens a three-game set at North Florida, in Jacksonville, on Friday, Feb. 28, with single games each day. Following an off day March 3, the Cardinals venture to Florida A&M, in Tallahassee, with games slated for March 4 and 5. The Cardinals return to The Ball Diamond on March 7 (2 p.m.) to open play in the Mid-American Conference against Western Michigan. The Cardinals open MAC play with a three-game series slated for March 7, 8 and 9.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Harper, Thomas (1-0)
L: Letsinger, Lucas (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Pacella, Daniel 3 ; Morris, Judah 1
HR: Morris, Judah 1 ; Bakes, Brayden 1 ; Mastros, Graham 1
RBI: Gibson, Kyle 2 ; Robinson, Shai 1 ; Pacella, Daniel 1 ; Morris, Judah 2 ; Bakes, Brayden 2 ; Mastros, Graham 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Gibson, Kyle 1 ; Pacella, Daniel 2 ; Morris, Judah 2 ; Bakes, Brayden 1 ; Mastros, Graham 3 ; Contreras, Daniel 1 ; Stulga, Luke 1
SB: Gibson, Kyle 2 ; Mastros, Graham 1
HBP: Smith, Noah 1 ; Mastros, Graham 1
Batting:
RBI: Richter, Alex 1
Base Running:
RUNS: King, Houston 1
HBP: Richter, Alex 1 ; Jacobs, Clay 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
1
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
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