After a rough nine-game stretch over Spring Break, during which it finished 2-7, the Ball State baseball team looks to rebound this weekend in a four-game home-opening series against Oakland (Mich).
Coach Greg Beals said playing the next eight of nine games at home should be a huge advantage for the Cardinals.
"We've got to take advantage of that and get the ball rolling in our favor," Beals said. "Playing teams who are in the same part of their season as we are will be a big advantage to us."
Last week, the Cardinals (6-8) opened against 13th-ranked Vanderbilt with three straight losses, 6-2, 7-1, and 4-0. After a travel day, Ball State fell to Wake Forest in a hitter-friendly game, 15-11, that featured a combined 32 base hits.
The Cardinals rebounded against North Carolina A&T with two wins -- 11-8 and a 13-inning thriller, 7-4 -- then finished the stretch with three straight losses to High Point (6-0, 6-4, 8-6).
The team put too much pressure on itself starting the season, according to Beals, so the team was at an even bigger disadvantage heading south, where teams had been able to practice outdoors and compete in intra-squad games.
"I think our guys might have felt like they would jump off the bus and tear out of there like gangbusters," Beals said.
One of the few high points over that stretch was the offensive production of left fielder Marc Franz. Franz, who leads the team in hitting with a .345 average and 19 hits, is on an eight-game hitting streak. Over that span, he's twice collected three hits in a game, against Wake Forest and Vanderbilt.
Aside from Franz, the offense as a whole was inconsistent, Beals said.
"There were a few days where we swung it very well," he said. "We had days where we didn't swing it well at all. It's been real inconsistent, and that's an approach thing."
Starting pitching has also struggled in the opening three weeks, resulting in high scoring games. Ace starter Joe Ness has a 6.55 ERA, while Ben Snyder has a 7.66 ERA and 0-3 record. Snyder has tallied more runs allowed (21) than strikeouts (15).
The relievers have faired better, with Erik Morrison leading the way with a 2.31 ERA and four saves.
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