Ball State University Athletics
Photo by: Josh Brunette
Baseball Adds 19 Transfers in Advance of 2027 Season
August 26, 2026 | Baseball
The Ball State baseball team and head coach Rich Maloney have announced the addition of 19 incoming transfers to the program in advance of the 2027 season.
"We are excited to announce a very talented recruiting class," Maloney said. "Hats off to recruiting coordinator Alex Maloney, pitching coach Bob Keller and assistant coach Luke Jaksich for their hard work in landing this outstanding group of young men.
"We targeted adding value to our pitching staff, solidifying our middle infield and players that are proven hitters. There will be lots of competition throughout our team. We are excited to work with these young men."
The list of new Cardinals with previous school and summer ball highlights can be found below.
Avery Anderson
Register, Ga. | South Florida State College
A right-handed hitting catcher out of southeast Georgia, Anderson slashed .323/.425/.492 in 124 at bats last season as a sophomore at South Florida State College while tallying 10 doubles, one triple, three homers, 24 RBI and 31 runs scored. Anderson led the team in doubles and led his conference with 14 runners caught stealing on the year.
Blake Bowen
Wooster, Ohio | Akron
An infielder out of northeast Ohio, Bowen played his last two seasons at Akron after redshirting as a true freshman at Kentucky in 2024. Bowen was an At-Large Second Team All-MAC selection and All-MAC Defensive Team pick at first base last season after slashing .291/.488./.486 in 175 at bats while collecting 13 doubles, seven homers, 26 RBI, 42 runs scored and nine stolen bases. Additionally, Bowen's 60 walks in 2026 tied for the second-most in NCAA Division I. He has a career .287 batting average across 85 games with 18 doubles, 12 homers, 49 RBI, 62 runs and 13 steals. Bowen hit .319 this summer with 10 doubles, two homers and 23 RBI for the Lafayette Aviators of the Prospect League.
Brady Bowen
Wooster, Ohio | Akron
A two-way player and the younger brother of Blake, Brady Bowen was named to the College Baseball Foundation and National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association All-America Teams along with spots on the Baseball America and NCBWA Freshman All-America Teams after a 2026 season where he slashed .391/.477/.565 in 92 at bats at the plate with seven doubles, three home runs and 21 RBI while working 53.1 innings on the mound with 41 strikeouts and a 4.73 ERA. Brady hit .297 with eight doubles, two triples and 24 RBI in 128 at bats this summer with the Hamilton Joes on his way to a Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League All Star game selection and Second Team All-GLSCL pick.
Easton Boyte
Brookhaven, Miss. | Southwest Mississippi CC
A right-handed pitcher from the eastern portion of Mississippi, Boyte worked a 4-0 record with a 4.20 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 36 innings pitched last season at Southwest Mississippi CC. Boyte was at Copiah-Lincoln CC in 2023-24 before playing at Southwest Mississippi the last two years.
Parker Burt
Mansfield, Texas | Regis University
A catcher from a southwest Dallas suburb, Burt slashed .364/.431/.511 in 88 at bats with seven doubles, two homers, 24 RBI and 18 runs across 33 games (23 starts) in 2026 at Regis. A West Coast League All Star selection this summer for the Yakima Valley Pippins, Burt led the team with 11 doubles, five homers and 33 RBI while batting .299 in 174 at bats.
Charlie Dieruf
Hebron, Ky. | Cincinnati
A right-handed pitcher from northern Kentucky, Dieruf struck out three in 3.1 innings over five outings last season for the Bearcats after transferring in from Miami (Ohio). Dieruf pitched in 24 games as a freshman at Miami in 2025 and posted a 5.92 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 17 punchouts in 24.1 innings pitched.
Eli Driskell
Mobile, Ala. | Shelton State CC
A right-handed pitcher from the southwestern Alabama town off the Gulf of America, Driskell went 10-2 last season at Shelton State with a 3.48 ERA and 69 strikeouts over 72.1 innings pitched on his way to an ACCC Pitcher of the Year honor. During his two years there, Driskell has tallied a 17-6 record, 3.50 ERA and 125 punchouts in 131 innings pitched.
Alex Dues
Fort Recovery Ohio | Marietta College
A right-handed pitcher from near the Indiana-Ohio border, Dues tallied a 5.87 ERA with 11 strikeouts in 23.0 innings across 13 appearances as a sophomore at Marietta. A standout performer for the Grand Lake Mariners in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League, Dues was named the Lou Laslo Pitcher of the Year after leading the league in wins (six), saves (five) and appearances (23) while tallying a 2.11 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 29 strikeouts in 38.1 innings of work. Dues earned MVP honors for the GLSCL Championship series thanks to 6.0 innings pitched and securing the win in the series-clinching game.
Ryan Fluharty
Burton, W. Va. | Shepherd University
A right-handed infielder out of northern West Virginia, Fluharty was named Second Team All-Atlantic Region in 2026 by the ABCA, D2CCA and NCBWA after a season where he slashed .385/.456/.621 in 182 at bats with 16 doubles, nine home runs, 51 RBI, 49 runs scored and 12 steals. Also named First Team All-Conference and the Shepherd Male Newcomer of the Year, Fluharty was recently a Coastal Plain League All Star selection and finished the summer ball campaign with a team-leading 13 doubles along with 28 RBI and an .812 OPS.
Simon Gaines
Orleans, Ind. | Oakland City University
A right-handed infielder from southern Indiana, Gaines slashed .323/.424/.507 in 201 at bats for the Mighty Oaks including seven doubles, three triples, eight home runs, 39 RBI and 56 runs scored while starting in 53 of 54 games played. Gaines hit .338 with nine doubles and 17 RBI for the Dubois County Bombers in the Prospect League this summer.
Elijah Griffith
New Albany, Ohio | Akron
A right-handed pitcher from a northeast suburb of Columbus, Ohio, Griffith stays in the Mid-American Conference after spending the last three seasons with the Zips. Griffith worked a career high 74.2 innings in 2026 and collected 50 strikeouts with a 5.42 ERA on the year. He had seven appearances of at least six innings pitched including a season-best 7.0 frames of one-run ball (no earned) in the conference-opening weekend game against Western Michigan (3/7).
Hudson Groh
Madera, Calif. | College of the Sequoias
A right-handed pitcher out of a suburb of Fresno, Groh worked a 4-5 record, 4.63 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 81.2 innings across 16 outings (13 starts) last season on his way to a First Team All-Conference honor. As a freshman in 2025, Groh tallied a 5.88 ERA with 55 punchouts in 52 frames over 16 appearances (10 starts).
Owen Hendry
Millry, Ala. | West Alabama
A right-handed pitcher from near the Alabama-Mississippi state line, Hendry tallied a 5.19 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 11 strikeouts in 8.2 frames last season at West Alabama after producing a 5.51 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 16.1 innings pitched in 2025. Hendry was named a Coastal Plain League All Star for Florence on his way to a final summer stat line of 33 strikeouts in 20.1 innings.
Nathaniel Hurley
Marysville, Calif. | Yuba College
A switch-hitting infielder out of northern California, Hurley slashed .381/.506/.698 in 139 at bats with 19 doubles, two triples, seven homers and 33 RBI last season at Yuba on his way to a First Team All-Conference honor. Hurley played over the summer for the California Tigers of the Bay Area Collegiate League.
Noah Kubasky
Uniontown, Ohio | University of Nevada, Las Vegas
A left-handed pitcher / first baseman / outfielder from northeast Ohio, Kubasky spent his first season in college in Las Vegas and was named Academic All-Mountain West last spring. Kubasky hit .244 with four doubles and 12 RBI over the summer for the Hamilton Joes of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League while striking out six in 5.1 frames on the mound across three appearances with a 1.69 ERA.
Zachary Maslona
Carol Stream, Ill. | Lewis University
A left-handed pitcher out of the Chicagoland area, Maslona struck out 12 in 18.2 innings pitched over 19 appearances as a freshman in 2024 for the Flyers. Maslona worked 21 innings and notched 21 strikeouts with a 6.43 ERA this summer for the Oswego Cats in the Chicago Suburban Baseball League.
Trieg Matthews
Liberty Township, Ohio | Akron
A left-handed pitcher out of a northern suburb of Cincinnati, Matthews fashioned a 3-1 record with a 6.07 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 43 innings pitched across 19 games (two starts) as a true freshman with the Zips. Matthews was coached at Lakota East High School by former Ball State baseball catcher Jarett Rindfleisch.
Cannon Paul
Rockford, Mich. | Grand Rapids CC
An infielder who was named First Team All-Conference as a sophomore in 2026, Paul slashed .350/.441/.524 in 137 at bats with eight doubles, three triples, four homers, 33 RBI, 37 runs scored and 12 stolen bases. Paul was also an All Star for the Northern Michigan Patriots of the Shoreline League this summer.
Nick Steurer
Fenton, Mo. | Truman State
A right-handed infielder and pitcher, Steurer was the Great Lakes Valley Conference Freshman of the Year in 2026 after slashing .427/.455/.671 in 164 at bats with 20 doubles, four triples, four homers, 32 RBI and 27 stolen bases. Also voted Second Team All-GLVC and First Team All-Region, Steurer's doubles total set a new Truman State season record, while the 27 steals set a freshman record. He slashed .331/.417/.468 with nine doubles, three triples, two homers and 14 RBI over the summer for the O'Fallon Hoots of the Prospect League.
"We are excited to announce a very talented recruiting class," Maloney said. "Hats off to recruiting coordinator Alex Maloney, pitching coach Bob Keller and assistant coach Luke Jaksich for their hard work in landing this outstanding group of young men.
"We targeted adding value to our pitching staff, solidifying our middle infield and players that are proven hitters. There will be lots of competition throughout our team. We are excited to work with these young men."
The list of new Cardinals with previous school and summer ball highlights can be found below.
Avery Anderson
Register, Ga. | South Florida State College
A right-handed hitting catcher out of southeast Georgia, Anderson slashed .323/.425/.492 in 124 at bats last season as a sophomore at South Florida State College while tallying 10 doubles, one triple, three homers, 24 RBI and 31 runs scored. Anderson led the team in doubles and led his conference with 14 runners caught stealing on the year.
Blake Bowen
Wooster, Ohio | Akron
An infielder out of northeast Ohio, Bowen played his last two seasons at Akron after redshirting as a true freshman at Kentucky in 2024. Bowen was an At-Large Second Team All-MAC selection and All-MAC Defensive Team pick at first base last season after slashing .291/.488./.486 in 175 at bats while collecting 13 doubles, seven homers, 26 RBI, 42 runs scored and nine stolen bases. Additionally, Bowen's 60 walks in 2026 tied for the second-most in NCAA Division I. He has a career .287 batting average across 85 games with 18 doubles, 12 homers, 49 RBI, 62 runs and 13 steals. Bowen hit .319 this summer with 10 doubles, two homers and 23 RBI for the Lafayette Aviators of the Prospect League.
Brady Bowen
Wooster, Ohio | Akron
A two-way player and the younger brother of Blake, Brady Bowen was named to the College Baseball Foundation and National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association All-America Teams along with spots on the Baseball America and NCBWA Freshman All-America Teams after a 2026 season where he slashed .391/.477/.565 in 92 at bats at the plate with seven doubles, three home runs and 21 RBI while working 53.1 innings on the mound with 41 strikeouts and a 4.73 ERA. Brady hit .297 with eight doubles, two triples and 24 RBI in 128 at bats this summer with the Hamilton Joes on his way to a Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League All Star game selection and Second Team All-GLSCL pick.
Easton Boyte
Brookhaven, Miss. | Southwest Mississippi CC
A right-handed pitcher from the eastern portion of Mississippi, Boyte worked a 4-0 record with a 4.20 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 36 innings pitched last season at Southwest Mississippi CC. Boyte was at Copiah-Lincoln CC in 2023-24 before playing at Southwest Mississippi the last two years.
Parker Burt
Mansfield, Texas | Regis University
A catcher from a southwest Dallas suburb, Burt slashed .364/.431/.511 in 88 at bats with seven doubles, two homers, 24 RBI and 18 runs across 33 games (23 starts) in 2026 at Regis. A West Coast League All Star selection this summer for the Yakima Valley Pippins, Burt led the team with 11 doubles, five homers and 33 RBI while batting .299 in 174 at bats.
Charlie Dieruf
Hebron, Ky. | Cincinnati
A right-handed pitcher from northern Kentucky, Dieruf struck out three in 3.1 innings over five outings last season for the Bearcats after transferring in from Miami (Ohio). Dieruf pitched in 24 games as a freshman at Miami in 2025 and posted a 5.92 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 17 punchouts in 24.1 innings pitched.
Eli Driskell
Mobile, Ala. | Shelton State CC
A right-handed pitcher from the southwestern Alabama town off the Gulf of America, Driskell went 10-2 last season at Shelton State with a 3.48 ERA and 69 strikeouts over 72.1 innings pitched on his way to an ACCC Pitcher of the Year honor. During his two years there, Driskell has tallied a 17-6 record, 3.50 ERA and 125 punchouts in 131 innings pitched.
Alex Dues
Fort Recovery Ohio | Marietta College
A right-handed pitcher from near the Indiana-Ohio border, Dues tallied a 5.87 ERA with 11 strikeouts in 23.0 innings across 13 appearances as a sophomore at Marietta. A standout performer for the Grand Lake Mariners in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League, Dues was named the Lou Laslo Pitcher of the Year after leading the league in wins (six), saves (five) and appearances (23) while tallying a 2.11 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 29 strikeouts in 38.1 innings of work. Dues earned MVP honors for the GLSCL Championship series thanks to 6.0 innings pitched and securing the win in the series-clinching game.
Ryan Fluharty
Burton, W. Va. | Shepherd University
A right-handed infielder out of northern West Virginia, Fluharty was named Second Team All-Atlantic Region in 2026 by the ABCA, D2CCA and NCBWA after a season where he slashed .385/.456/.621 in 182 at bats with 16 doubles, nine home runs, 51 RBI, 49 runs scored and 12 steals. Also named First Team All-Conference and the Shepherd Male Newcomer of the Year, Fluharty was recently a Coastal Plain League All Star selection and finished the summer ball campaign with a team-leading 13 doubles along with 28 RBI and an .812 OPS.
Simon Gaines
Orleans, Ind. | Oakland City University
A right-handed infielder from southern Indiana, Gaines slashed .323/.424/.507 in 201 at bats for the Mighty Oaks including seven doubles, three triples, eight home runs, 39 RBI and 56 runs scored while starting in 53 of 54 games played. Gaines hit .338 with nine doubles and 17 RBI for the Dubois County Bombers in the Prospect League this summer.
Elijah Griffith
New Albany, Ohio | Akron
A right-handed pitcher from a northeast suburb of Columbus, Ohio, Griffith stays in the Mid-American Conference after spending the last three seasons with the Zips. Griffith worked a career high 74.2 innings in 2026 and collected 50 strikeouts with a 5.42 ERA on the year. He had seven appearances of at least six innings pitched including a season-best 7.0 frames of one-run ball (no earned) in the conference-opening weekend game against Western Michigan (3/7).
Hudson Groh
Madera, Calif. | College of the Sequoias
A right-handed pitcher out of a suburb of Fresno, Groh worked a 4-5 record, 4.63 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 81.2 innings across 16 outings (13 starts) last season on his way to a First Team All-Conference honor. As a freshman in 2025, Groh tallied a 5.88 ERA with 55 punchouts in 52 frames over 16 appearances (10 starts).
Owen Hendry
Millry, Ala. | West Alabama
A right-handed pitcher from near the Alabama-Mississippi state line, Hendry tallied a 5.19 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 11 strikeouts in 8.2 frames last season at West Alabama after producing a 5.51 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 16.1 innings pitched in 2025. Hendry was named a Coastal Plain League All Star for Florence on his way to a final summer stat line of 33 strikeouts in 20.1 innings.
Nathaniel Hurley
Marysville, Calif. | Yuba College
A switch-hitting infielder out of northern California, Hurley slashed .381/.506/.698 in 139 at bats with 19 doubles, two triples, seven homers and 33 RBI last season at Yuba on his way to a First Team All-Conference honor. Hurley played over the summer for the California Tigers of the Bay Area Collegiate League.
Noah Kubasky
Uniontown, Ohio | University of Nevada, Las Vegas
A left-handed pitcher / first baseman / outfielder from northeast Ohio, Kubasky spent his first season in college in Las Vegas and was named Academic All-Mountain West last spring. Kubasky hit .244 with four doubles and 12 RBI over the summer for the Hamilton Joes of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League while striking out six in 5.1 frames on the mound across three appearances with a 1.69 ERA.
Zachary Maslona
Carol Stream, Ill. | Lewis University
A left-handed pitcher out of the Chicagoland area, Maslona struck out 12 in 18.2 innings pitched over 19 appearances as a freshman in 2024 for the Flyers. Maslona worked 21 innings and notched 21 strikeouts with a 6.43 ERA this summer for the Oswego Cats in the Chicago Suburban Baseball League.
Trieg Matthews
Liberty Township, Ohio | Akron
A left-handed pitcher out of a northern suburb of Cincinnati, Matthews fashioned a 3-1 record with a 6.07 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 43 innings pitched across 19 games (two starts) as a true freshman with the Zips. Matthews was coached at Lakota East High School by former Ball State baseball catcher Jarett Rindfleisch.
Cannon Paul
Rockford, Mich. | Grand Rapids CC
An infielder who was named First Team All-Conference as a sophomore in 2026, Paul slashed .350/.441/.524 in 137 at bats with eight doubles, three triples, four homers, 33 RBI, 37 runs scored and 12 stolen bases. Paul was also an All Star for the Northern Michigan Patriots of the Shoreline League this summer.
Nick Steurer
Fenton, Mo. | Truman State
A right-handed infielder and pitcher, Steurer was the Great Lakes Valley Conference Freshman of the Year in 2026 after slashing .427/.455/.671 in 164 at bats with 20 doubles, four triples, four homers, 32 RBI and 27 stolen bases. Also voted Second Team All-GLVC and First Team All-Region, Steurer's doubles total set a new Truman State season record, while the 27 steals set a freshman record. He slashed .331/.417/.468 with nine doubles, three triples, two homers and 14 RBI over the summer for the O'Fallon Hoots of the Prospect League.
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