Cardinals open MAC play with shutout

<p><strong>Freshman pitcher Zach Plesac </strong>throws a pitch against Bowling Green on March 21 at Ball Diamond. Plesac has received two MAC Pitcher of the Week awards this season. <strong>DN FILE PHOTO BREANNA DAUGHERTY</strong></p>

Freshman pitcher Zach Plesac throws a pitch against Bowling Green on March 21 at Ball Diamond. Plesac has received two MAC Pitcher of the Week awards this season. DN FILE PHOTO BREANNA DAUGHERTY



Sophomore Zach Plesac earned the victory for the Cardinals, throwing a three-hit shutout with eight strikeouts. 

"[Plesac] did it all last year," Ball State head coach Rich Maloney said. "He hadn’t done it yet this year, but it was good to see him get it going."

Ball State's offense registered four runs on four hits in the fourth inning, with right fielder Alex Call starting the rally with a single before stealing second. An RBI single from shortstop Elbert Devarie gave the Cardinals a 1-0 lead, and RBIs from left fielder Brandon Estep and first baseman Colin Brockhouse  pushed the score to 4-0.

Plesac allowed one hit in the last seven innings and faced only 30 Bowling Green hitters the entire game in Ball State's second shut out of the season. 

The Cardinals finished with seven runs on 18 hits, while leaving 12 runners on base.

"Our guys are going to have a lot of confidence going forward," Maloney said. "A lot of guys had hits. Elbert Devarie is on fire.”

Devarie had four hits in five at bat, with two RBIs and a run scored. Third baseman Sean Kennedy went three for five. 

Brockhouse filled in for the injured Caleb Stayton and earned a team-high 14 put outs.

With the win, the Cardinals improved to 13-7 on the season and 1-0 in the MAC. 

Ball State and Bowling Green play Saturday at noon. 

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