Offense was the name of the game for Ball State University this weekend. In a four-game series with New Mexico State University the Cardinals compiled a total of 64 runs, an average of 16 per game.
Like last weekend, Ball State dropped the first two games of the series 8-7, 24-19. However, the Cardinals responded the same way they did the previous weekend by winning the final two games, 12-6 and 26-25.
"You got to put the numbers both offensively and defensively into perspective," Ball State coach Greg Beals said. "What I mean by that is with the humidity, the higher elevation and the way the wind was blowing it made it an extremely offensive environment."
In order to get the final win the Cardinals had to mount a comeback. When the Cardinals recorded the last out in the fifth inning they found themselves down by double digits, 25-15.
The Cardinals then scored four in the sixth inning, started by a Justin Rogers single that scored Zach Dygert. The team then scored one in the seventh and one in the eighth to make a four-run game going into the final inning. Wayne Bond Jr. then started the ninth inning off with a double setting the tone for what was to come.
"I knew my job was just to get on base," he said. "... I think mostly what I did was mess up the pitcher."
Following the double, Rogers was walked and Dean Anna was hit by a pitch, loading the bases for the Cardinals and bringing the tying run to the plate. Through a series of walks, hit by pitches and hits, Ball State scored five in the inning, taking a one-run lead that ended up being the deciding margin.
Beals said it shows how his team never gives up and keeps battling.
"One thing I talk about with our guys on an almost daily basis is competing," he said. "... Like I talked about before we got that bloody lip mentality and we just keep fighting back and this weekend was a great indication of that."
While the Cardinal offense scored 64 runs in the four games, the Cardinal defense and pitching allowed 63 Aggies to cross the plate. Despite the Cardinals' struggles that have allowed their opponents to average 11.5 runs through the first eight games, Beals said, it's not a big deal.
"I'm not overly concerned about the numbers on the pitching side," he said. "... We got to reduce the walks. That's all I'm really concerned about right now. They got to reduce the walks and our defense has to do a better job to help those guys out."
With the elements creating a breeding ground for runs in New Mexico, Beals said, there wasn't much the pitchers could have done. However, two relief pitchers did stick out this weekend.
While the Cardinals allowed 25 runs in the first five innings of game four, they shut the Aggies out in the last four. Aaron Hammons and Kyle Heyne combined to pitch the final four-plus innings.
Hammons shut down the Aggies for two innings giving up one hit, while Heyne pitched the final 2.1 innings, allowing no hits.
"The bottom line is Hammons and Heyne are the guys that really won the ball game," Beals said.
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