Coming off a particularly successful campaign at the Governor's Cup in Evansville, the Ball State baseball team hopes to continue its early season spark in South Carolina this weekend.
The Cardinals (2-1) won their first two games of the season against Valparaiso and Indiana State in Evansville, advancing to the championship game. In the final game, the team lost due to a late-inning burst of offense from victorious Evansville.
Starting pitcher Andy Anderson (0-0) put the team in position to win the third one, allowing one unearned run and four hits through six innings.
With a 7-1 lead in the seventh inning, the Cards' bullpen allowed seven earned runs through 2 1/3 innings and lost the game. Closer John Pettibone (0-1) took the loss, while Anderson was named to the All-Tournament team.
Having scored 25 runs in the first three games, including four batters with hits in all three games, the team looks to keep its offensive streak heading into South Carolina.
"We were a tad more offensive that I anticipated going into the season, but like I said all along, we would be able to score runs," coach Greg Beals said. "We just did it earlier than what I thought."
The team begins play Friday in its first doubleheader -- a noon match against Furman and a 4 p.m. game against Coastal Carolina. Saturday's action includes a 5 p.m. game against Seton Hall.
"It'll help in the doubleheader because we have depth. We'll be able to run multiple guys out there during the day," Beals said. "The depth will keep our guys rested and strong throughout the course of the season."
Furman has a 2-6 record, including a 1-2 series against Miami from the Mid-American Conference. But according to Beals, Coastal Carolina will be one of the tougher matches of the weekend.
"(Coastal Carolina) has been in the NCAA tourney several times in the past few years and has sort of built a baseball powerhouse," he said. "But the whole weekend will be good competition."
Coastal Carolina comes into the tourney with a 7-3 record, including wins over Kent State (4-3) and Ohio State (8-4).
A four-game series creates a change in the normally three-man starting rotation, with junior Chris Hansen taking the fourth slot for Sunday's noon game against William & Mary (8-1).
Hansen appeared in five games for the Cards last season, amassing a 5.87 ERA through 7 2/3 innings of relief work, and has yet to pitch this season.
The rest of the rotation will remain the same with senior Mike Johnston (1-0), sophomore Joe Ness (1-0) and Anderson making starts against Furman, Coastal Carolina and Seton Hall, respectively.
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