Ball State plays a pair of midweek games after taking one of three games at Bowling Green to open the Mid-American Conference. The Cardinals play host to Indiana Tech today and travel to Purdue on Wednesday.
Ball State improved to 10-10 with a 7-1 victory over the Falcons of Bowling Green on Sunday. The Cards rapped a season-high 17 hits, 16 of them singles in the win. The game was right on par with this season's trend -- BSU has outscored opponents 100-28 in its wins, but seven of its losses have been by one run. On Saturday, the Falcons had swept BSU by scores of 5-4 and 2-1.
Overall, coach Greg Beals doesn't feel a need to make drastic changes in the lineup that is hitting .281, compared to a MAC-best .327 last season.
"I feel pretty good about the lineup," Beals said. "We still have some guys who need to get going."
He is confident that problem will be rectified through practice, "by continually going back to the basics and working on our swings. Last year our offense was so well that practice was more for maintenance."
Indiana Tech stands at 8-11, and is paced by senior catcher Tyler Ryan, who averages .435 with six homers and 17 RBI. Brady Glass, a transfer from Kent State, is hitting .412.
Freshman Billy Salazar (4.50 ERA in a pair of one-inning appearances) will make his first career start against the Warriors. Beals said the job of being a spot starter is Salazar's to lose.
"We'd considered redshirting him, and in order to justify using him this year we wanted to get him some starts," Beals said. "It allows our bullpen guys to stay in their bullpen roles. (Salazar) throws a lot of strikes and has a good curveball. He's had good workouts, and he's very capable."
Purdue evened its record at 9-9 by throttling Western Michigan 12-1 on Sunday. The Boilermakers' top hitter is freshman infielder Mitch Hilligoss (.438). Last year the Cards outlasted Purdue in a 17-14 slugfest at Ball Diamond.
Another freshman, Ryan DeGeeter (2-0, 2.21 ERA), will open on the hill against the Boilermakers.
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