Coach Greg Beals found Sunday to be unkind, as his Ball State team fell 5-4 at Akron and he drew a seventh-inning ejection, his first of the year.
Fortunately, the rest of the weekend went well for the Cardinals, as they pounded the Zips 13-4 on Friday and managed a 6-3 victory on Saturday. With the series win, BSU improved to 6-3 in the Mid-American Conference and 16-13 overall.
"I think we're right where we want to be," said Beals, whose team had won six straight MAC games prior to Sunday. "To go on the road and win two of three, it's a good weekend. To be 6-3, that averages out to 2-1 each week."
Akron (14-10, 3-2) broke a 1-1 tie on Sunday with a four-run fifth inning off BSU starter Andrew Anderson, highlighted by Brady Steineck's two-run triple to the right-field corner.
After Beals was ejected for arguing a foul ball he thought had hit Marc Franz, Franz slammed a three-run homer deep to left field, bringing the Cards within one. However, they managed just one baserunner -- Kenny Bargfeldt's walk -- over the last two innings.
Franz batted 6 of 11 in the series, with six runs scored and five more batted in. Brad Miller went 4 for 11 and also tallied five RBI.
"Some things are happening that are good signs," Beals said. "Marc Franz is really swinging well, and Miller continues to have good swings. We have some guys starting to turn the corner. I'm looking for some guys to jump their numbers up, specifically Matt Singleton and Jason Bucholtz; they're showing signs of turning it around."
Franz hit a perfect 4 for 4 in Friday's win, as BSU jumped out with four runs in the first inning and never looked back. Miller and Jon Dollinger each had two-run homers to left center to cap the strong offensive showing.
Mike Johnston (2-3) scattered five hits and and three walks over five innings for the win, with Richie Fralik recording his first save after four innings relief work.
"That was a big one; that set the tempo," Beals said Friday of the early outburst. "Our first four batters are on base, and our bats continued to play throughout the game. It was very encouraging to see, at times, a struggling offense come back and put it together today.
"To be quite honest, we didn't pitch great, but we did get big outs in big situations. Richie Fralke did a great job of finishing it off. He ate up innings and that allowed to keep rest of bullpen fresh."
Another four-run inning, this time in the third, keyed Saturday's win. Lucas Fry's bases-loaded single scored Mike Sullivan and Franz. Akron pitcher Pat Watt then uncorked a throwing error and wild pitch, allowing Miller and Fry to score.
In the sixth, Miller plated Sullivan with a sacrifice fly and Franz came home on a fielding error. Ball State gathered just four hits on game two, but Watt walked six and the Cards made him pay enough.
"We did get timely hitting on Saturday," Beals said. "Their pitcher was what I would call a nibbler. He pitched away from the bat, and wasn't risking giving up big hits. If you add the hits and walks together, though, it's about normal (for the total)."
Joe Ness started and allowed just a run and five hits over six innings. The sophomore (5-1) struck out six in earning the win. Jeff Michael handled the final three innings and recorded his first save.
All of Ball State's starting pitchers now have ERAs under 4.00, led by freshman Ryan DeGeeter (1.45, 3-0 record), who will start Wednesday's home game against Butler. Following him are Ness (3.52), Johnston (3.73) and Anderson (3.92, 3-2).
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