CHILLICOTHE, OHIO - After losing another early lead, Ball State's baseball team was able to hold on to a two-run lead in the top of the ninth inning and secure a 7-5 win against Central Michigan.
With runners on first and second, Central Michigan left fielder hit into a double play, sending Ball State into a Friday matchup with either Kent State or Northern Illinois.The key to Thursday's win was timely hitting throughout the game, and three strong innings of relief turned in by Kyle Heyne.
Heyne came into the game at the start of CMU's turn at the plate in the seventh inning and gave up no runs over his three innings played. Even though the Chippewa's had two runners on in the top of the ninth, and the go-ahead run at the plate, coach Greg Beals said he had no doubt Heyne would protect the Cardinal's two-run lead.
"Once you put your best guy in the game, you can't do a lot more from a coaching standpoint, Beals said. "I absolutely had confidence in Kyle. It was just a matter of us making a couple plays to end the ball game."
Along with Heyne's pitching, the Cardinal's were able to get timely hitting from a number of players.
The Cardinals broke out for 3 runs in the first inning, on a home run to left-center field by left fielder Kory Benbow. Catcher Zach Dygert and third baseman Matt Stoeklen each collected two hits, including one two-run homerun apiece.
Heyne said Dygert's 7th-inning homer was one of the many clutch hits the Cardinals were able to get throughout the game.
"There were guys that came through with big hits," Heyne said. "Dygert had a real big home run right there."
Thursday's game began similarly to Ball State's game Wednesday against Northern Illinois. The Cardinals' built an early lead that didn't last long.
Central Michigan would get three runs in the third inning, after a few costly errors by the Cardinals' infielders. Cardinal second baseman T.J. Baumet was unable to field a bouncing grounder on one play that scored a run, and another scored on the next play as Cardinal pitcher Kolbrin Vitek was unable to throw out a runner after a bunt by CMU shortstop Jeff Helps. Chippewa centerfielder Matt Faiman hit a line drive single into center field, which gave his team their third run of the inning.
Central Michigan did get two more runs along the way, but nothing after the beginning of the seventh inning when Ball State brought Heyne in to pitch.
Coach Beals said he was proud of the way his team fought back after giving up the early lead.
"It's something that has happened to us quite often," Beals said. "And my thought was I've got to keep the guys rolling, grinding. We've been in this situation before, and I didn't want them to give me the 'Oh-no, here we go again. I'm very proud of the guys. This team has been resilient all year long, and we did it again today."
Heyne said that even though his team lost the early lead, there was no doubt in his mind about the result of Thursday's game.
"It's early in the game," Heyne said. "If it's early in the game like that, you've got to be ready to go. That's how everybody on the bench has to be. We have to be focused. There's a lot more game to be played."
The Cardinals play Friday against the winner of the matchup between No. 1 Kent State and No. 4 Northern Illinois. The Cardinals lost to Northern Illinois 13-7 Wednesday.
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