YPSILANTI — Ball State stayed in contentionfor the Mid-American Conference West Division title, but only aftergaining a doubleheader split with co-leader Eastern Michigan onSunday at Oestrike Stadium.
The Eagles (24-18, 10-5 MAC) won the opener onFriday and are tied with Central Michigan (24-20, 10-5) for firstplace. Ball State (22-19, 11-7) stands just behind NorthernIllinois (23-21, 9-6).
Thanks Saturday's non-stop rain, the teamsplayed twice on Sunday, with Eastern winning 5-3 in the first andBSU squeaking past with a 6-5 victory in the second.
Marc Franz singled in Mike Sullivan in the firstinning of the first game for Ball State, but Derrick Petersonhomered off BSU starter Joe Ness (6-3) to the opposite field to tiethings in the Eastern second. The next inning Todd Kimling camehome on Brian Bixler's fielder's choice, and Petersonfollowed with a run-scoring single to left.
The Eagles tacked on two more in the fifth whenKimling doubled in Trumaine Riley, stole second, and came home onRyan Ford's sacrifice fly.
Ryan DeGeeter relieved Ness and threw fourshutout innings, and Ball State drew within 5-3 on two-out RBIsingles by Lucas Fry in the sixth and Jason Bucholtz in the eighth.
But the Cards couldn't convert any morechances and left eight runners on base in the last four innings,including Franz's liner to the first baseman with the basesloaded in the eighth.
Eagles starter Will Stewardson (6-2) threw hissecond complete game in as many starts, as he scattered 11hits andstruck out six.
Ball State got on the board in the first again ingame two, when Brad Miller's double to right-center scoredMatt Singleton, who had also dumped a double into the outfield.
The Eagles responded with two in the bottom ofthe first, then went up 5-3 in the second with three runs, the lasttwo on Peterson's double over the rightfielder. Ball Statetied it back up with Kiel Holman's sacrifice fly in the thirdand Franz's double in the fourth, which scored Miller andSullivan, respectively.
Both teams' pitching kicked in after that,and the score stayed 5-5 until the ninth, when Fry homered theopposite way off reliever Ryan Vandenbussch with oneout.
In the bottom half Michael Hale struck out MattMoffett after Brian Meyer recorded the first out with a divingcatch in left. John Pettibone then induced pinch hitter DerekLehrman into a sharp grounder to Miller at first.
Hale (2-1) pitched 2 2/3 innings in relief ofJeff Michael, who had followed starter Andrew Anderson with another2 2/3 scoreless innings. Pettibone picked up his fifthsave.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
