Ball State might be playing for history this weekend when it looks to stretch a 10-game winning streak to 13. The Cardinals welcome Akron to Ball Diamond.
The record of 12 wins was set in 1968, and the Cardinals didn't win 10 or more games in a row until 1999, when it they came away victorious 11 straight times.
Offensive prowess has been a key ingredient to the Cardinals' win streak, as several Cardinals have been dangerous at the plate during the stretch. In the last five games, five hitters have at least a .347 batting average, with C.J. Webb tearing opposing pitchers apart with a .619 average. After a 4-for-5 performance against Notre Dame on Wednesday, Brad Miller is batting .521. The team is batting .354 in the last five games.
The Cardinals (18-9 overall, 6-0 Mid-American Conference) rank as the second-best hitting team in the MAC with a .307 average, just behind Bowling Green's .308. The Cardinals have four hitters ranked in the top 20.
"We're starting to get bats going, but we don't have them going at the same time," coach Greg Beals said. "There are still things I think we can improve on."
The Cardinals blew away Notre Dame 14-5 on Wednesday. At one point, Ball State led 14-0. Tyler Pritchard started his second game of the season, striking out five in five innings and only allowing four hits.
"Tyler pitched like we think he's going to," Beals said. "He was a very highly recruited young man, and we have high expectations for him. [Wednesday], he really showed that potential."
A 6-0 lead in the first inning gave the Cardinals plenty of breathing room, and two innings later, the lead had grown to 12-0. Starting pitcher John Axford made his first start for the Fighting Irish after returning from Tommy John surgery. He lasted less than an inning, allowing six runs on two hits and five walks. The Irish also committed five errors in the game.
Akron (10-15 overall, 1-0 MAC) comes into the game having lost its last two games, including a 9-8 setback to Youngstown State on Wednesday. Designated hitter Billy McKinney leads the Zips with a .349 batting average and 22 RBI.
Last season, the Cards took two of three at Akron. Overall, Ball State leads 15-12 in a series that dates back to 1993.
Ball State's Erik Morrison is tied with the Zips' Darek Stanfield for most saves (7) in the MAC. Joe Ness and Ben Snyder are second and third in the league in strikeouts, with 47 and 39, respectively.
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