The old Yogi Berra saying "It ain't over 'till it's over" might pertain to this year's Ball State University baseball team.
Ball State came from behind in the ninth inning on Tuesday to score an 8-5 win over Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne. The come-from-behind win was the 20th of the season for the Cardinals (34-14), and the fourth time they've done it in the ninth inning.
"It's something that you don't particularly like it," coach Greg Beals said. "You don't want to be banking on come-from-behind wins. I wish we were able to have the ability to have the focus earlier in the game, but they find a way to win ball games."
Entering the bottom of the sixth inning, the Cardinals led 3-0. Eric Earnhart's RBI single scored C.J. Webb in the second, and Jon Byerly and Earnhart each added a run in the same inning.
IPFW got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth with four runs, and added a fifth the following inning to take a 5-3 lead that would remain until the top of the ninth.
In the ninth, Kyle Dygert's RBI single started the rally that would result in five Ball State runs. Later, with the bases loaded, Marc Franz struck a three-RBI double into left centerfield, and later scored on Earnhart's fourth hit of the game.
Erik Morrison picked up his NCAA-leading 14th save, and Kyle Heyne (1-0) took the win.
Seven Ball State hitters combined for 13 hits: Mike Sullivan, Brad Miller and Franz each had two hits, and Jason Bucholtz, Dygert and Webb each added one, but they were led by Earnhart's four-for-five performance.
This leading performance came after Earnhart sat out several games mid-way through the season with a serious ankle injury.
"It took him a while to get back in the swing of things," Beals said. "It looks to me like he's getting back into the swing of it."
The win also made the Cardinals so-called state champions, having gone undefeated (6-0) against in-state schools this season. Previous wins against Indiana schools came against Purdue (9-8) and Indiana (17-4) at home and on the road against Valparaiso (9-5), Notre Dame (14-5), Butler (10-3) and IPFW. Ball State's game against Indiana State was canceled due to weather.
"We felt like that was something we took a lot of pride in, to go out and beat all the other in-state schools," Beals said.
The Cardinals earlier clinched the Mid-American Conference West Division title, and they have a chance to play host to the MAC tournament next week. If Miami (Ohio) loses once this weekend in a three-game series at Kent State, Ball State will have home-field advantage for the tournament, but a sweep against the Golden Flashes will give Miami the home-field advantage.
"We feel good about it," Beals said. "If Miami goes up [to Kent State] and sweeps, then we feel they've earned it."
Ball State has been without Michael Hale, the third starting pitcher in the rotation in recent weeks. Hale has had arm soreness and is day-to-day, Beals said.
Left-handed reliever Kory Bucklew also continues to recover from a broken finger suffered a month ago on a line drive back to the mound against Central Michigan. Beals said rehab has been on pace, but he had hoped it would come along quicker.
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
