Ball State University Athletics
Saturday, May 2
Toledo, Ohio
1 PM
Ball State University
21-24, 14-11
4
at
5
Toledo
22-24, 16-9
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ball St. | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 0 |
| Toledo | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 5 | 9 | 0 |
Photo by: Kolbi Media
Baseball Can't Complete Ninth Inning Comeback in 5-4 Loss to Toledo
May 02, 2026 | Baseball
TOLEDO, Ohio – The Ball State baseball team had a runner on and one out trailing by one but couldn't push across the tying run as Toledo won 5-4 on Saturday afternoon at Scott Park.
Kenskey Thomas led off the ninth with a homer to right to cut the deficit for the Cardinals (21-25, 14-12 Mid-American Conference) to one, and Max Kalk got hit by a pitch, but the Rockets (23-24, 17-9 MAC) hung on for the win in the middle contest of the three-game set.
After the hosts put a run on the board in the first, Ball State scored twice in the second frame on a solo home run from Jacob Gillis and an RBI grounder by Taber Stokes to plate Thomas and give the Cardinals a 2-1 edge. Toledo regained a 3-2 advantage in the bottom half of the frame on a two-run homer off the bat of JP Wagner.
Ball State tied the game at 3-3 in the third inning thanks to Brayden Huebner crossing home plate as Gillis grounded into a double play, but the hosts went for a pair of runs in the fifth, and the offense would prove to be enough for the Rockets.
Max Kalk and Gillis both had a hit and a walk for the Cardinals on the afternoon. Brendan Garza (4-4) struck out three but allowed five runs in 5.0 innings of work to suffer the loss. Owen Quinn tossed 3.0 shutout innings with two punchouts in relief for Ball State.
Hayden Frey (5-2) struck out four in 6.0 innings of three-run ball to earn the win, while catcher Jacob Payne led the Rockets with three hits.
The Cardinals will look to salvage the series finale which is set for 1 p.m. on Sunday.
Kenskey Thomas led off the ninth with a homer to right to cut the deficit for the Cardinals (21-25, 14-12 Mid-American Conference) to one, and Max Kalk got hit by a pitch, but the Rockets (23-24, 17-9 MAC) hung on for the win in the middle contest of the three-game set.
After the hosts put a run on the board in the first, Ball State scored twice in the second frame on a solo home run from Jacob Gillis and an RBI grounder by Taber Stokes to plate Thomas and give the Cardinals a 2-1 edge. Toledo regained a 3-2 advantage in the bottom half of the frame on a two-run homer off the bat of JP Wagner.
Ball State tied the game at 3-3 in the third inning thanks to Brayden Huebner crossing home plate as Gillis grounded into a double play, but the hosts went for a pair of runs in the fifth, and the offense would prove to be enough for the Rockets.
Max Kalk and Gillis both had a hit and a walk for the Cardinals on the afternoon. Brendan Garza (4-4) struck out three but allowed five runs in 5.0 innings of work to suffer the loss. Owen Quinn tossed 3.0 shutout innings with two punchouts in relief for Ball State.
Hayden Frey (5-2) struck out four in 6.0 innings of three-run ball to earn the win, while catcher Jacob Payne led the Rockets with three hits.
The Cardinals will look to salvage the series finale which is set for 1 p.m. on Sunday.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hayden Frey (5-2)
L: Garza, Brendan (4-4)
S: Deron Swanson (2)
Batting:
HR: Gillis, Jacob 1 ; Thomas, Kenskey 1
RBI: Gillis, Jacob 1 ; Thomas, Kenskey 1 ; Stokes, Taber 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Huebner, Brayden 1 ; Gillis, Jacob 1 ; Thomas, Kenskey 2
CS: Balius, Gavin 1 ; Stokes, Taber 1
HBP: Kalk, Max 1
Batting:
2B: Troy Sudbrook 1 ; Jacob Payne 1
HR: Troy Sudbrook 1 ; Jp Wagner 1
RBI: Troy Sudbrook 1 ; Charlie Scholvin 1 ; Jacob Payne 1 ; Jp Wagner 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Liam Arsich 1 ; Troy Sudbrook 1 ; Charlie Scholvin 1 ; Jacob Payne 1 ; Jp Wagner 1
HBP: Charlie Scholvin 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
2
H
1
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
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INF
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SS
/ BaseballOF
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