A change of environment was all sophomore Brad Miller needed, setting a school record four home runs in the Ball State baseball team's home opening 15-3 victory over Valparaiso Wednesday.
Miller began slumping during the team's nine game road trip March 12-24 in which he collected only nine hits in 40 at-bats, bringing his season average to .229 heading into Wednesday's game.
In the first game at Ball Diamond, though, Miller put up four home runs, three of which were two-run shots and another a solo shot. He now leads all Ball State hitters with eight home runs on the season and improved his batting average to .270 .
"I came out today and tried to get some good cuts in and the ball started flying out for me," Miller said. "I've been trying to stay positive the whole time and today I swung the bat the same way."
On the day, Miller went 4-for-4, scoring five runs and driving in seven RBI. Miller's fifth run came when he reached base on a hit by pitch in the third inning, scoring from second on an error by Valparaiso. The fifth run put Miller in place as one of eight players tied for the school record of runs in a game.
"It was a great day for us. Our guys were excited about coming out and playing at home in front of our students and home crowd. They showed up and took care of business," head coach Greg Beals said. "It's nice playing at home, but as far as home field advantage it's nothing other than that we're comfortable here and it's our home ground. "
Not only Miller, but the Cardinals as a whole were explosive offensively as they set a season record for runs scored in a game, with sophomore Jon Byerly and junior Marc Franz contributing home runs as well.
The solo shot by Byerly in the sixth inning marked his first home run in a Ball State uniform while Franz's three run shot was his third on the season.
BSU's offense was matched only by the stellar pitching of freshman starter Ryan DeGeeter, who allowed only three hits and one walk through four innings of scoreless pitching.
"(Ryan) is going to have a good year. He'll be that fourth guy that starts mid-week games for us and gives us four or five innings so he can still pitch in relief on the conference weekends," head coach Greg Beals said. "He's definitely sharpening things up and pitching well."
DeGeeter moves to 2-0 on the season with a 2.21 ERA through three starts.
The Cardinals return to the road with a three-game series against Mid-American Conference foe Bowling Green beginning at 3 p.m. Friday in Ohio.
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