In the midst of a 3-8 skid, the Ball State University baseball team travels to The Ohio State University for a doubleheader today.
Originally, Ball State (14-20, 4-8 Mid-American Conference) was only scheduled to play one game against Ohio State. It was changed to a doubleheader when yesterday's game against Huntington University was postponed due to Huntington having to make up a rained-out conference game.
The doubleheader today is the third for Ball State in less than two weeks. The Cardinals played a near tripleheader two weekends ago at Ohio University and played a doubleheader Sunday against Kent State University.
Junior first baseman Matt Stoeklin said the doubleheaders aren't affecting the team positively or negatively.
Ohio State has the third best overall record among Big Ten teams at 18-9.
The Cardinals have played one other game against a Big Ten opponent, a March 28th loss to Purdue University at Ball Diamond.
Stoeklin said it doesn't matter who Ball State plays, the Cardinals have to play good baseball to be successful. In order to be successful, the team needs leaders and coach Greg Beals said that Stoeklin is a player that is leading the team.
"He is our best batter and hits in the middle of our lineup," Beals said.
Stoeklin said he's not a vocal leader, however.
"I try to lead by example," Stoeklin said, "just try to be supportive."
Closer Kyle Heyne is the team's biggest vocal leader, Beals said.
"He does a lot of yelling from the dugout," Beals said. "If we are winning then he gets to go in and pitch."
While the Cardinals have twice had losing streaks of four games or more, their longest win streak is three games, which occurred in mid-March.
Beals said a win streak would help give the team more confidence, which the Cardinals have struggled with all season.
"I think you have to have the confidence to have a winning streak," Beals said. "They come hand and hand."
Beals said he is glad the team has shown the ability to get a victory in a series after losing the first game or two. However, he said the team doesn't keep the momentum after the victory.
"We need to bounce back and maintain that focus and concentration we had in those games," Beals said.
Another chronic problem Ball State has had throughout the season are errors. Ball State has led the MAC in errors practically all season and currently has 76 errors.
Stoeklin said it has to do with the mentality the team has on the diamond.
In actionBall State at Ohio State
TIME3 p.m. today
VENUEBill Davis Stadium
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