Ball State University Athletics
Saturday, April 11
Muncie, Ind.
1 PM
Ball State University
18-16, 12-5
3
vs
2
Akron
14-20, 5-12
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Ball State | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
Photo by: Brayden Goins / Ball State Athletics
Walk-off from Griffiths Caps Comeback Win for Cardinals
April 11, 2026 | Baseball
MUNCIE, Ind. – Trailing by one entering the bottom of the ninth, the Ball State baseball team rallied for two runs including a walk-off single by Brett Griffiths to beat Akron 3-2 on Saturday afternoon at Shebek Stadium.
The Cardinals (18-16, 12-5 Mid-American Conference) were limited to one hit on the day entering the final frame by starting pitcher Brady Bowen of the Zips (14-20, 5-12 MAC) but got a one-out single from Ryan Muizelaar. The third baseman for Ball State advanced to second on a groundout before reaching home on a fielding error by the Akron first baseman. Griffiths roped a 2-2 pitch deep down the left field line to plate Kendric Sorgius and clinch the series win for the hosts.
Jacob Gillis hit an RBI grounder that scored Brayden Huebner in the first inning to get the scoring started. Akron tied the game on an RBI double from Bowen in the second frame and got a go-ahead solo home run from Kyle McConachie in the sixth to take a 2-1 edge.
John Chambers started for Ball State and tallied 7.2 innings pitched with eight strikeouts, four hits, no walks and two runs. The senior right-handed pitcher got the most outs (23) as a Cardinal with the performance.
Zander Bretza (1-1) followed in relief and got the final four outs for the hosts including two punchouts to be credited with the win.
Charlie Keller joined Griffiths and Muizelaar as Cardinals with hits on the afternoon. The three runs were the second-fewest Ball State has scored in a win this season (1-0 at Hawaii on Feb. 28).
"Our boys never quit and found a way to win," Ball State head coach Rich Maloney said. "Great pitching effort from John Chambers and Zander Bretza, great defense from Kenskey Thomas, big hit by Brett Griffiths! Great team effort! Go Cardinals!"
Bowen tossed 8.2 innings of three-run ball (none earned) with seven strikeouts but suffered the loss for the visitors.
Ball State and Akron are set to wrap up the series with a 1 p.m. first pitch on Sunday.
The Cardinals (18-16, 12-5 Mid-American Conference) were limited to one hit on the day entering the final frame by starting pitcher Brady Bowen of the Zips (14-20, 5-12 MAC) but got a one-out single from Ryan Muizelaar. The third baseman for Ball State advanced to second on a groundout before reaching home on a fielding error by the Akron first baseman. Griffiths roped a 2-2 pitch deep down the left field line to plate Kendric Sorgius and clinch the series win for the hosts.
Jacob Gillis hit an RBI grounder that scored Brayden Huebner in the first inning to get the scoring started. Akron tied the game on an RBI double from Bowen in the second frame and got a go-ahead solo home run from Kyle McConachie in the sixth to take a 2-1 edge.
John Chambers started for Ball State and tallied 7.2 innings pitched with eight strikeouts, four hits, no walks and two runs. The senior right-handed pitcher got the most outs (23) as a Cardinal with the performance.
Zander Bretza (1-1) followed in relief and got the final four outs for the hosts including two punchouts to be credited with the win.
Charlie Keller joined Griffiths and Muizelaar as Cardinals with hits on the afternoon. The three runs were the second-fewest Ball State has scored in a win this season (1-0 at Hawaii on Feb. 28).
"Our boys never quit and found a way to win," Ball State head coach Rich Maloney said. "Great pitching effort from John Chambers and Zander Bretza, great defense from Kenskey Thomas, big hit by Brett Griffiths! Great team effort! Go Cardinals!"
Bowen tossed 8.2 innings of three-run ball (none earned) with seven strikeouts but suffered the loss for the visitors.
Ball State and Akron are set to wrap up the series with a 1 p.m. first pitch on Sunday.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Bretza, Zander (1-1)
L: Bowen, Brady (2-2)
Batting:
2B: Bowen, Blake 1 ; Bowen, Brady 1
HR: McConachie, Kyle 1
RBI: McConachie, Kyle 1 ; Bowen, Brady 1
SH: Biehl, Tucker 1
Base Running:
RUNS: McConachie, Kyle 1 ; Bowen, Blake 1
HBP: Bowen, Blake 1
Batting:
RBI: Griffiths, Brett 1 ; Gillis, Jacob 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Muizelaar, Ryan 1 ; Huebner, Brayden 1 ; Sorgius, Kendric 1
SB: Balius, Gavin 1 ; Sorgius, Kendric 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
cf/rf
AB
2
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ Baseball
P
/ Baseball
1B
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballOF
/ BaseballUTIL
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
OF
/ BaseballBaseball // Walk-off double to win the series vs. CMU
Monday, March 09
test
Thursday, March 05
This Week in Ball State Sports // Guests: World Series Champion Alex Call and AD Jeff Mitchell
Thursday, January 22
Sports Link: Michael Shebek's Power of Beneficence
Friday, November 07