After splitting two mid-week non-conference games, Ball State (8-23, 5-4 MAC) resumes Mid-American Conference play with a three-game series against Mid-American Conference East division foe Buffalo (7-23, 0-9 MAC).
The series schedule has been altered due to forecasted inclement weather. The Cardinals and Bulls will open the series with a doubleheader Friday afternoon.
Coach Alex Marconi said this series is another opportunity for his team to improve.
"It's another series for us to go [and] hopefully come home with a series win," he said. "That's the goal every time we play a Mid-American Conference series."
Junior right-hander Cal Bowling will get the start in game one for Ball State. Bowling (3-2, 2.42 ERA) has thrown three straight complete games heading into this weekend, the most in the MAC this season.
Bowling leads the Cardinals in innings pitched with 52 and has 32 strikeouts to 17 walks this season.
Senior left-handed pitcher Derek Grabner will get the start in game two today. Grabner (0-3, 5.01 ERA) will be making his ninth start of the season.
Last weekend, Grabner allowed four unearned runs in 4 2/3 innings against Bowling Green.
Buffalo will counter with junior Kevin Crumb in game one and senior Josh Edwards in game two.
Crumb (2-5, 6.69 ERA) will be making his eighth start of the season for the Bulls and has recorded 26 strikeouts. Last weekend, he allowed seven runs on 11 hits in six innings of work against Toledo.
Edwards (1-5, 6.75 ERA) has tossed a team-high 38 2/3 innings this season. Edwards tossed a complete game last weekend against Toledo.
Though he went the distance, Edwards allowed seven runs on 12 hits.
Freshman Kenny Mahala has been on fire of late for the Cardinals, batting .533 (8-for-15) and has driven in 13 runs in his last four games.
Ball State will be looking to strengthen its conference record while Buffalo looks to notch its first conference win of the season.
First pitch for game one is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Amherst Audubon Field.
Read More
Ball State baseball ties with Indiana Hoosiers in extra-inning thriller
By Nick Shelton / 17 hours agoThe game, which was forced into extra innings following a late-game collapse by the Cardinals, ended in Ball State tying the Hoosiers 7-7. The game was called due to darkness to give the Cardinals their first tie game of the season.
Wes-Del baseball defeats Wapahani in conference rivalry game
By David Moore / Yesterday“Right now our focus is being back and ready to play tomorrow,” Wes-Del head coach Daniel Hanson said. “We try not to look at the big picture, not look at the rankings, to the end of the year, none of that. Just getting in and getting better at focusing on what we can control.”
'We didn’t bring it today:' Ball State softball falls to Purdue in final non-MAC contest of 2024
By Zach Carter / YesterdayIn the loss to the Boilermakers, the Cardinals only recorded one hit, which was a solo home run from senior Kaitlyn Mathews. Ball State finished its 2024 non-conference season with a 13-14 record.
