After a two-game break from Mid-American Conference play, the Ball State University baseball team will return to MAC play with a three-game away series this weekend against Miami University.
The Cardinals (11-13, 2-1 MAC) are in fourth place in the MAC West.
Meanwhile, Miami (13-9, 3-0 MAC) leads the MAC East. The Redhawks have won six straight games and nine of the last 10. In their last four games they have scored 36 runs and amassed 59 hits.
Ball State won eight of its last 12 games, including a 5-3 record in the home games.
The Cardinals have the fourth best ERA in the MAC at 4.79 as of March 26. However, the Cardinals have given up 17 more runs than any other school in the MAC because 46 of the 145 total runs the Cardinals have allowed have gone unearned and don't count towards the team's ERA.
Miami has the third lowest team ERA at 4.10 and has given up the second lowest number of runs at 94.
The Cardinals are last in the MAC with a .944 fielding percentage, while Miami is second with a .973 fielding percentage.
Last year, Ball State's MAC Tournament champion team began MAC play 7-10 before winning two-of-three against Akron to begin the MAC season. The two wins in the Akron series started an eight-game win streak that brought the 2006 Cardinals above .500 for the first time that season.
If this year's Cardinals can sweep Miami, they will climb above .500 for the first time this season. It would take the last game of the series for the Cardinals to climb over .500 with a 14-13 record.
The Cardinals will continue with their regular starting rotation for weekend series, according to ballstatesports.com. Brenden Stines will pitch the first game Friday. He has a 2-4 record with a 5.19 ERA and has struck out 30 batters while walking 16 in 34 2/3 innings.
Tyler Pritchard will take the mound Saturday. He has a 1-4 record with a 5.58 ERA striking out 22 while walking nine in 30 2/3 innings.
Ryan DeGeeter will finish the series Sunday. DeGeeter is 4-2 and brings a 4.19 ERA into the weekend. He has 22 strikeouts and walked 11 in 34 1/3 innings.
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