Ball State's baseball team capped off its 2002 spring road trip with a 1-0 victory over Wagner Saturday.
The Cardinals (5-7) won four-of-eight games during the trip -- highlighted by Wednesday's 12-4 victory over reigning national champs University of Miami in Coral Gables, Fla.
"This game against Miami was something we've been dreaming about all year," head coach Rich Maloney said Wednesday. "This is a great win for our program."
Junior Bryan Bullington struck out 13, walked two and gave up eight hits en route to his first win of the season.
Maloney said he thought the addition of a slider to Bullington's array of pitches helped the pitcher dominate a "solid hitting" Miami team.
Left fielder Ben Schroeder went three-for-six at the plate, scoring two runs and adding two RBIs while designated hitter Adam Metzler hit a two-run homer to pace a Cardinals offense that forced Miami to use seven different pitchers.
The offensive outburst at Miami was part of a trend of Ball State's four wins during the trip, only the 1-0 victory against Wagner came by fewer than eight runs.
The Cardinals beat Kentucky 22-5 March 9, Monmouth 8-0 Tuesday and Miami 12-4 Wednesday.
The win against Monmouth was nearly historical as Cardinals' starter Patrick Lowery came within three outs of throwing Ball State's first perfect game, but settled for a one-hit shutout as he gave up a single to the Hawks' Tim Davis to lead off the ninth.
Lowery threw two one-hitters during the trip, posting wins over Wagner Saturday and Monmouth Tuesday.
The junior gave up a total of two hits over 14 innings while striking out 12 and facing the minimum 27 batters in Tuesday's complete-game, 8-0 shutout.
Head coach Rich Maloney said Lowery's performance "set the tone" for Ball State's victory against Miami.
Ball State, although dominant in its victories, struggled to win close games.
The Cardinals lost three one-run games -- two at Kentucky, 3-2 and 6-5, and one Thursday at Florida International, 4-3.
Ball State has lost five one-run contests this season.
"We've lost so many close games," Maloney said. "We're making a few mistakes here and there that have been very costly."
The team's only defeat by more than one run came against Illinois-Chicago Friday in Homestead, Fla., as the Flames scored nine runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to secure a 14-4 victory.
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