Friday, February 28
Jacksonville, Fla.
6:30 PM
Ball State University
5-4
5
at
1
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North Florida
6-4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Ball State
0
0
0
1
1
0
2
1
0
5
7
0
North Florida
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
3
1
Johnson and Quinn Combine on Three-Hitter as Cardinals Beat North Florida
February 28, 2025 | Baseball
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- In a game featuring just four extra-base hits, Ball State had three of them, and Gavin Bailus' two-run triple in the seventh inning was the biggest, as Ball State used strong pitching to win its opening game of a three-game series at North Florida, 5-1.
Bailus' triple down the right field line plated Brett Griffiths and pinch-runner John Colligan to extend the Cardinals' lead from 2-1. Ball State scored single runs in the fourth and fifth innings, to erase a 1-0 deficit after James Oman's homer for the Ospreys in the bottom of the second.
The big story for Ball State (5-4), though, was the three-hit pitching of Keegan Johnson (2-0) and Owen Quinn (second save).
Oman's homer was the only damage absorbed by Johnson, the Cardinals' starter who worked around six walks. Johnson allowed only three hits and struck out six to register his second win in three outings. Quinn pitched in relief and fired four strong hitless innings, finishing with five strikeouts among just 11 batters faced. The pitcher's duel resulted in 21 strikeouts for both pitching staffs, in a game that lasted just over two-and-a-half hours.
"What a great team effort!," exclaimed Ball State field boss Rich Maloney who managed his 993rd career victory. "A lot of guys contributed, and Johnson and Quinn were awfully good."
The Cardinals got the tying run when Dylan Grego singled, stole second and scored on another single by Nick Husovsky. An inning later, Houston King doubled before using a fly out and ground out to reach home plate for Ball State's go-ahead run. The Cardinals got insurance in the eighth when Grego knocked his first homer of the season for a 5-1 cushion.
The Cardinals and Ospreys battle again Saturday at 3 p.m., and Sunday at 1. Ball State continues its spring break trip to Florida on Tuesday and Wednesday when the Cardinals visit Florida A&M, in Tallahassee.
Bailus' triple down the right field line plated Brett Griffiths and pinch-runner John Colligan to extend the Cardinals' lead from 2-1. Ball State scored single runs in the fourth and fifth innings, to erase a 1-0 deficit after James Oman's homer for the Ospreys in the bottom of the second.
The big story for Ball State (5-4), though, was the three-hit pitching of Keegan Johnson (2-0) and Owen Quinn (second save).
Oman's homer was the only damage absorbed by Johnson, the Cardinals' starter who worked around six walks. Johnson allowed only three hits and struck out six to register his second win in three outings. Quinn pitched in relief and fired four strong hitless innings, finishing with five strikeouts among just 11 batters faced. The pitcher's duel resulted in 21 strikeouts for both pitching staffs, in a game that lasted just over two-and-a-half hours.
"What a great team effort!," exclaimed Ball State field boss Rich Maloney who managed his 993rd career victory. "A lot of guys contributed, and Johnson and Quinn were awfully good."
The Cardinals got the tying run when Dylan Grego singled, stole second and scored on another single by Nick Husovsky. An inning later, Houston King doubled before using a fly out and ground out to reach home plate for Ball State's go-ahead run. The Cardinals got insurance in the eighth when Grego knocked his first homer of the season for a 5-1 cushion.
The Cardinals and Ospreys battle again Saturday at 3 p.m., and Sunday at 1. Ball State continues its spring break trip to Florida on Tuesday and Wednesday when the Cardinals visit Florida A&M, in Tallahassee.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Johnson, Keegan (2-0)
L: ROSS, Will (1-1)
S: Quinn, Owen (2)
Batting:
2B: King, Houston 1
3B: Balius, Gavin 1
HR: Grego, Dylan 1
RBI: Grego, Dylan 1 ; Husovsky, Nick 1 ; Griffiths, Brett 1 ; Balius, Gavin 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Grego, Dylan 2 ; King, Houston 1 ; Colligan, John 1 ; Griffiths, Brett 1
SB: Grego, Dylan 1
CS: Richter, Alex 1 ; Miller, Grant 1
PO: Richter, Alex 1 ; Bevis, Blake 1
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Batting:
HR: OMAN, James 1
RBI: OMAN, James 1
Base Running:
RUNS: OMAN, James 1
SB: BROWNING, Brady 1
CS: BATES, Jabin 1
PO: MONILE, Nick 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
rf/1b
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
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