INDIANAPOLIS -- The Ball State baseball team had already overcome the awe of playing in Victory Field, home of the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians. But even in a tense moment late in the 6-5 win over Butler, head coach Greg Beals still had the stadium on his mind.
Up 6-3 after a three-run ninth inning, the Cardinals turned to junior closer John Pettibone to finish off the Bulldogs. He struck out Justin McKinley but walked Jeff Brown. Jonathan Day then snuck a home run over the left field wall and inside the foul poll.
That prompted a trip to the mound for Beals. But was it to replace Pettibone?
"Absolutely not," the first-year coach said. "I told him I just wanted to come out on the mound of this beautiful park and enjoy the scenery.
"It was to break the moment, more than anything. I told John to be a competitor and finish it."
Pettibone did just that, getting the next two Butler batters to stare at strike threes.
Ball State improved to 23-10 with a come-from-behind win, while the Bulldogs fell to 20-17.
Butler tagged BSU pitcher Joe Ness for three two-out runs in the first two innings. But the freshman and reliever Michael Hale shut the door after that, getting defensive help with three double plays.
The Cards' offense awoke in the fourth as Brad Snyder slammed a two-run home run to right field. Jason Bucholtz tied things when his fifth-inning sacrifice fly plated Lucas Fry.
"Our guys were a little bit in awe (of playing in the stadium)," Beals said. "We didn't really get comfortable until about halfway through.
"Brad's our cornerstone guy. It was a big hit and really got us going."
Snyder himself admitted his early nervousness.
"I know I was in that first at-bat (a strikeout)," said the junior right fielder, who also doubled and stole third base. "Being out in Victory Field, I had a lot of adrenaline going.
"I felt really good (with the home run). I was just looking to hit it hard, I had a 1-2 count and I dropped my hands on it."
Butler had a golden chance to break the tie in the eighth, putting runners at first and third with no outs. Hale responded by inducing a short fly out, a line out to shortstop and a grounder to second, keeping the game deadlocked.
Ball State then loaded the bases with no outs in the ninth. The Bulldogs' Randy Miles struck out Kyle Dygert and Jason Bucholtz, but Ben Schroeder's clutch single past the first baseman made it 5-3.
Fry then scored what proved to be the winning run on an errant pick-off throw to third, the game's lone error.
Hale recorded the win and is now 2-0, and Pettibone held on for his seventh save.
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