FORT WAYNE -- For six innings, Ball State looked like it was still sleepwalking following Tuesday night's 15-inning loss at Notre Dame. The Cardinals trailed 2-1, left seven runners on base and struck out seven times.
But Marc Franz's bases-loased double in the seventh inning put Ball State in front for good, and the Cards cruised from there to an 8-2 victory over IPFW at Memorial Stadium.
Despite its lumbering start, BSU managed to tally 14 hits while improving to 21-17 on the season. The Mastadons fell to 18-25.
"Our better hitters have to get big hits," BSU coach Greg Beals said. "Franz is obviously one of our better hitters, and he got a big hit.
"One, let's give their guy credit; he threw a good game," Beals said of IPFW starter Jason Horvath. "Also, some of it was us showing up slowly."
IPFW pushed across a run in the bottom of the first off BSU starter Billy Salazar, but Mike Sullivan tied things when he dropped a two-out single into center field, plating Matt Singleton.
The Mastadons moved back in front in the fifth when Brandon Armstrong's fly ball to center scored Ryan Keena.
Ball State filled the bases with one out in the seventh against Horvath. Franz worked the count full before blasting a double to left-center, clearing the bases for a 4-2 lead.
The Cards tacked on four more runs the next inning. With runners at second and third and one out, Lucas Fry blooped a single to right field, scoring Singleton. A wild pitch by reliever David Zachary brought home Kiel Holman. After Sullivan drew a walk, Keegan Laycock struck out Brian Meyer before Franz rapped another RBI double, this one to right. Miller scored Franz with a single through the left side on the next pitch.
Salazar, making his second career start, went five innings and gave up both runs before yielding to lefthander Michael Hale (1-1) who pitched two scoreless frames and earned the win. Erik Morrison and Richie Fralick finished up for the Cards.
"It was a little bit of jitters (for Salazar), pitching under the lights in a minor-league stadium," Beals said. "He hasn't been on the mound a lot (five innings in three games prior to the start), but once he got going he was fine.
"The bullpen was solid again -- as expected. They came in and pitched well, and that's what I expect from them."
Ball State looks to carry the momentum into this weekend's series with Eastern Michigan, who is tied with BSU atop the Mid-American Conference West Division.
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