The Ball State University baseball team's first chance at redemption for last season's Mid-American Conference performance begins at 3 p.m. against Kent State University.
The Cardinals (9-9) are on the road to play a three-game weekend series against the Golden Flashes (8-10). The series will be each team's first games in the MAC this season.
Cardinal closer Kyle Heyne said it will be important for his team to do well in its opening MAC series.
"It's important so we can build confidence, especially with the young guys we've got," he said. "... We've got to show we're here and we mean business."
Something Ball State has shown consistently so far this season is its offense will be able to score. The Cardinals scored seven or more runs in 13 of 18 games this season and lead the MAC with 8.94 runs per game.
"It allows our pitchers to be more aggressive," Heyne said. "... We can afford to give up four runs or so [and still win]."
While nothing has been proven this year on the field in the MAC, the two teams found themselves on opposite ends of the conference preseason poll. Kent State, the defending MAC Tournament champions, was tabbed as the favorite to win the East Division title and was selected to repeat as the tournament champs, receiving 10 of the 12 votes.
The Cardinals, who are coming off an 8-19 2007 MAC season, were selected to repeat as well. For them that meant they were voted to finish last in the West Division for the second year in a row.
Beals has said throughout this season that the Cardinals are out to prove last year was more of a fluke than an indicator of what type of program Ball State is.
Beals won three letters as a Golden Flash and was drafted in the 22nd round of the 1991 MLB Draft following his three seasons. After his professional career ended, Beals returned to his alma mater, where he was an assistant coach for nine seasons, before accepting the Ball State head coaching job.
Beals said he wants to represent himself and Ball State well against Kent State but playing against them feels like playing against a member of the family.
"An analogy I use is it's like competing against your brother," he said. "You want to win, but you want your brother to do well."
How the team does against Kent State will be a good indicator as to what the team is capable of this season, Heyne said.
"It will show what kind of character we have on this team and what we can do this year in the MAC," he said.
Preseason pollEast Division:1. Kent State2. Miami3. Ohio4. Akron5. Buffalo6. Bowling GreenWest Division:1. Central Michigan2. Northern Illinois3. Western Michigan4. Toledo5. Eastern Michigan6. Ball StateTournament Champion: Kent State (10 votes), Miami (1), WMU (1)
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