Renewing an in-state rivalry will take the Ball State University baseball team outside state lines this weekend.
The Cardinals will participate in the Govs Baseball Invitational and open the round-robin format against Indiana University Friday. Ball State is 2-2 after splitting its season-opening series against Furman University. Also participating in the tournament are Cleveland State University and Austin Peay State University.
Ball State holds a 24-22 advantage against the Hoosiers all-time and is on a four-game winning streak. Coach Greg Beals said the game will have an added element to it.
"It's bragging rights. It's who thinks they're best in the state," Beals said. "It's a baseball game, but there's more to it than that. We take pride in the fact we believe we're the best baseball program in the state of Indiana. If you think that way then you have to go out and prove it."
For freshman first baseman Ian Nielsen, the Hoosiers are no different than any other opponent.
"I just try to keep it simple," Nielsen said. "It's just another team we need to focus on as a team. Just keep it simple and play our ball and hopefully it all works out in the end."
Indiana has a 2-1 record after competing in the Big Ten/Big East challenge opening weekend.
The Hoosiers are led by junior catcher Josh Phelgy. Phelgy has a .545 average to start the year and threw out three of four runners who attempted steals.
"Josh is very much like our catcher," Beals said. "He's a leader and he's very dangerous offensively. He's a guy we're going to have to account for."
Phelgy was named to the Brooks Wallace Award Watch List in January and will be the second player the Cardinals face on the list. Cardinals sophomore Kolbrin Vitek is also on the list.
The Cardinals will have a different pitching rotation in the second weekend of competition as Beals tries to take advantage of matchups. Junior Brad Piatt and senior Brenden Stines will trade spots, putting Piatt at the beginning of the weekend. Vitek will pitch the final game Sunday.
"Indiana is very aggressive offensively," Beals said. "I like Piatt's ability to throw his curveball and changeup a little bit more."
Beals also said that because Stines faced the Hoosiers in last year's meeting, he wanted to give them a different look.
Stines will face Cleveland State on Saturday. The Vikings have a 1-3 record after opening the season against Georgia State University. Senior designated hitter Josh Hungerman was named Horizon League Batter of the Week after going 7-for-19 with four runs and a .898 slugging percentage.
Austin Peay was swept by Lamar University to begin the season but picked up its first victory Tuesday against the University of Tennessee.
Beals said he likes what his team can get out of tournaments like this.
"We like playing in these little round-robin tournaments," Beals said. "They create opportunities for us to go south and play in better weather, to play multiple opponents and to not always be playing the home team when you play on the road."
Because there are only three games this weekend, Beals said he won't have to extend his pitchers much, but they will be on a longer pitch count. Originally four games were scheduled, but the second game Saturday has since been dropped.
Ball State vs. IndianaGame No. 5First pitch: 12 p.m. FridayRaymond C. Hand Park, Clarksville, Tenn.Pitching matchup: RHP Brad Piatt (1-0, 1.80 ERA) vs. LHP Matt Brashore (0-1, 18.00)Weather: 49 degrees, cloudy, from NNW 11 mph
Ball State vs. Cleveland StateGame No. 6First pitch: 12 p.m. SaturdayRaymond C. Hand Park, Clarksville, Tenn.Pitching matchup: RHP Brenden Stines (0-0, 2.25) vs. RHP Brian Long (0-0, 8.44)Weather: 36 degrees, light rain, from north 15 mph
Ball State vs. Austin PeayGame No. 7First pitch: 3:30 p.m. SundayRaymond C. Hand Park, Clarksville, Tenn.Pitching matchup: RHP Kolbrin Vitek (0-1, 19.29) vs. LHP Jake Snodgrass (0-0, 9.82)Weather: 41 degrees, partly cloudy, from NNW 15 mph
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