Homers by Keller, Thomas, Griffiths and Scheumann Key Cardinals' Win

Saturday, March 7

Muncie, Ind.

1:30 PM

Ball State University

6-7, 1-1

Central Michigan

6-6, 1-1

Central Michigan

Ball State

Photo by: Caden Vincent

Homers by Keller, Thomas, Griffiths and Scheumann Key Cardinals' Win

March 07, 2026 | Baseball

Box Score

MUNCIE, Ind. -- A first-pitch, pinch-hit home run by Thomas Kenskey lifted Ball State from a 6-2 deficit on Saturday at Shebek Stadium, then subsequent homers by Brett Griffiths and D.J. Scheumann hammered home an 11-6 comeback win over Central Michigan.

Kenskey entered the contest with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning, with Griffiths on third base, Jack Backus on second and Charlie Keller at first after absorbing a hit-by-pitch. The first pitch he saw from CMU pitcher Luke Neiswonger was Neiswonger's last. The Cardinals scored the game's final five runs in a bounce-back win following Friday's 8-7 defeat in which Ball State led for eight innings.

The Chippewas got a leadoff home run from Cole Prout to open the contest, and after a solo shot by Keller in the fourth for a 2-1 Ball State advantage, CMU added two in the fifth and plated three in the sixth to command their four-run advantage. But Thomas' pinch-hit drive to right-center, it was all Cardinals from that point on.

Keller homered to lead off the Ball State seventh, Backus walked and Keller's double staked the Cardinals to a three-run lead. In the eighth, the Cardinals added an insurance pair of runs with D.J. Scheumann's first homer of the season. Keller batted 3-of-4 overall, with three runs, two RBI and a pair of extra-base hits.

Keegan Johnson started the contest for Ball State and faced 19 batters over 4.2 innings. He allowed just three hits, but walked four and left with Ball State trailing 3-2. In relief, Owen Quinn allowed the Chips' three-run inning in the sixth, but Zach Kwasny (1-0) rode the Cardinals' power bats over the game's final 3.2 innings. Kwasny struck out five and allowed only three hits without a run.

Ball State (6-7, 1-1 MAC) hosts Central Michigan (6-6, 1-1 MAC) in Sunday's rubber game. First pitch at Shebek Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m.