Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
7-7, 2-1
Central Michigan
6-7, 1-2
Baseball Rallies back from Five-Run Deficit in Ninth for 11-10 Win over Central Michigan
March 08, 2026 | Baseball
After an out to start the ninth, Gavin Balius and Jacob Gillis singled and Ryan Muizelaar walked to load the bases. Tommy Landsnes cleared them with a three-run triple to left center to cut Central's lead to 10-8. Kendric Sorgius followed with an RBI single to plate Landsnes and get the Cardinals within a run.
Ball State was down to its last out twice, but Charlie Keller reached on a fielding error by the first baseman to put runners on first and second. Brett Griffiths hit a deep fly ball to left center field on a 1-2 count that scored Maalik Perkins and Keller to secure the comeback win for the hosts.
The Cardinals (7-7, 2-1 Mid-American Conference) clinched the series win over the Chippewas (6-7, 1-2 MAC) with the decision on the opening weekend of conference play.
Central got the scoring started with seven runs in the top of the fourth inning, but Ball State responded with four in the bottom half of the frame on RBI singles from Max Kalk and Keller and a two-run triple by Griffiths. The visitors scored two more in the fifth inning and once in the eighth, and Ball State got a single tally in the eighth on a solo home run courtesy of Kendric Sorgius to set the state for the ninth inning rally.
Gillis went 3-for-5 on the day, while Griffiths, Kalk, Muizelaar and Sorgius collected two hits each for the hosts, who had four extra base knocks among 14 hits for the game.
Joe Lafkas (1-0) tossed a scoreless ninth inning with a strikeout to earn the win. Alex Burden started for the Cardinals and worked 3.0 innings of four-run ball with four punchouts.
Gavin Moczydlowsky (1-1) surrendered the final two runs to suffer the loss for the Chippewas.
"Great comeback victory for our boys," Ball State head coach Rich Maloney said. "The team, the team, the team! So many different guys contributing!"
The next game for Ball State is scheduled for Tuesday night at Kentucky.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Lafkas, Joe (1-0)
L: Moczydlowsky, Gavin (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Knowlton, Zach 1
HR: Bowman, Harrison 1 ; Keilen, Logan 1 ; Milto, Joey 1
RBI: Knowlton, Zach 1 ; Loikits, Drew 1 ; Bowman, Harrison 1 ; Correa Jr., Miguel 2 ; Keilen, Logan 2 ; Milto, Joey 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Knowlton, Zach 1 ; Webb, Bryson 3 ; Krzciok, Brady 1 ; Loikits, Drew 1 ; Bowman, Harrison 1 ; Correa Jr., Miguel 1 ; Keilen, Logan 1 ; Milto, Joey 1
SB: Bowman, Harrison 1 ; Correa Jr., Miguel 1
CS: Correa Jr., Miguel 1
PO: Milto, Joey 1
Batting:
2B: Griffiths, Brett 1
3B: Griffiths, Brett 1 ; Landsnes, Tommy 1
HR: Sorgius, Kendric 1
RBI: Griffiths, Brett 4 ; Keller, Charlie 1 ; Kalk, Max 1 ; Sorgius, Kendric 2 ; Landsnes, Tommy 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Perkins, Maalik 1 ; Balius, Gavin 1 ; Keller, Charlie 2 ; Kalk, Max 1 ; Muizelaar, Ryan 2 ; Gillis, Jacob 1 ; Sorgius, Kendric 1 ; Bakus, Jack 1 ; Landsnes, Tommy 1
HBP: Keller, Charlie 1 ; Huebner, Brayden 1
