Ball State will look to continue its four-game winning streak today as the team heads to Cincinnati to face its first Conference USA opponent of the season.
The Cardinals (8-7) dropped three games to its last C-USA opponent, East Carolina, during its spring trip last year. They enter today's game, however, with some momentum after a weekend sweep of Valparaiso University.
Head coach Rich Maloney said he thinks his team still isn't "hitting on all cylinders" yet.
"We're doing enough things to get by and win," Maloney said. "We'll have one game where we hit well and others where we pitch well.
"I think it's premature to say we're on a roll."
The Bearcats (10-12-1), currently mired in a five-game losing streak, will have to hit much better than the team has of late to win. Cincinnati has been shut out two of its last three games, scoring just three runs in 27 innings during its weekend series against Southern Mississippi March 22-24.
On the season, Cincinnati has been outproduced by its opponents in almost every offensive category except bases on balls (94-77) and stolen bases (15-14).
"Cincinnati has had some losses as of late to tough competition," Maloney said. "Conference USA is one of the tougher conferences in the country."
Several Cardinals enter today's game riding hot streaks.
Outfielder Ben Schroeder has hit successfully in each of the past six games, while Brad Snyder and designated hitter Adam Metzler both had big weekends against Valparaiso. Metzler went 6-9 with six RBI and three home runs in three games. Snyder added three RBI as well as his third homer and double of the season.
Maloney said he plans to put Brian Lynch, Michael Penn, John Pettibone and possibly Paul Henry on the mound at Cincinnati in order to save Bryan Bullington, Luke Hagerty and Patrick Lowrey for this weekend's Mid-American Conference opening series at Northern Illinois.
Bullington, Hagerty and Lowrey have pitched in every Ball State win this season.
Today's game is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.
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