After 16 games on the road to open the season, Ball State plays its home opener today at Ball Diamond. The Cardinals (8-8) take on Valparaiso (2-10) at 3 p.m.
Ball State is coming off two straight wins over Liberty to close its nine-game Spring Break, which evened the team's record at 8-8. The Cards defeated Valpo 12-2 in their season opener, as Mike Sullivan batted 3-for-5 with four RBI, and Mike Johnston allowed one earned run in 5 2/3 innings.
Freshman Ryan DeGeeter (1-0, 2.76 ERA in four games) will get the start on the mound this time for the Cards, his third start this season.
"Ryan's pitched well," coach Greg Beals said. "He's proven that he's deserving of being the fourth starter."
After winning two straight games to close out what he called the "first segment of the season," Beals said he likes where his team stands going into today's home opener and the first conference series at Bowling Green this weekend.
"Our guys have shifted gears," he said. "They've been in a lot of close games. I feel good about the team's mindset."
The Cardinals rank second in the Mid-American Conference in team ERA (4.29) and fielding percentage (.969), but are eighth in the hitting (.274 average).
"We've seen some decent pitching," Beals said. "The only question is getting the bats going."
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