An improved and deeper bullpen is expected to help the Ball State baseball team close out games this season.
Coach Greg Beals expects a more seasoned bullpen to have a significant impact this year. He also expects his starting rotation of Joe Ness, Ben Snyder and Ryan DeGeeter--although slightly less experienced--to produce quality innings for the Cardinals.
Ness is slated to be the staff's starting, and Beals called him the Cards' "go-to guy" in big games. A two-year starter, he finished last season with a 7-4 record and 3.84 ERA and ranked sixth in the Mid-American Conference with 79 strikeouts.
Following Ness in the rotation will be redshirt freshman Snyder and sophomore DeGeeter. Snyder was picked in the 24th round of the 2003 Major League Baseball Draft, but will make his Cardinal debut Saturday as the number two starter. DeGeeter moves into the starting rotation after making 18 appearances last season, including seven starts. He finished with a 4-1 record and added three saves.
Beals said both Snyder and DeGeeter are capable of stepping into the rotation and pitching quality games this season. The trio will pitch five to six innings, or 80 to 90 pitches, to start the season, but their workload will increase as the season progresses.
The bullpen's depth has improved tremendously from last season, Beals said.
Lefthander Michael Hale is the top reliever this season. After finishing last season with a 2-2 record, recording one save, and a1.93 ERA with 35 strikeouts, Hale returns after being picked in the 35th round.
Helping him out in the bullpen will be seniors Erik Morrison, Kory Bucklew and junior Luke Behning.
"When the game is on the line and we're in the bullpen, one of those guys will be in the game," Beals said. "We have five guys in our bullpen that I trust in a big-time game."
Depth in the bullpen is a necessity to compete for a Mid-American Conference championship this season, Beals said.
"They're not in the starting rotation, but they're just as important to our success in the pitching staff as any (other pitcher)," Beals said. "We're going to be awfully good as a group."
This weekend, the Cardinals travel to Mursfreeburo, Tenn. to face Middle Tennessee State, a team that finished last season 40-22 overall and made the NCAA Tournament.
"We're looking at this weekend as an opportunity to see how good we are at this point, see where we're at, and see what we need to work on," Beals said. MTSU "is going to come out with that champion attitude like we will."
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
