Nine innings just didn't seem like enough baseball on opening weekend for the Ball State University baseball team.
In their first two games of the season, the Cardinals played extra innings with Furman University, splitting the two games. The Paladins won the opener 4-3 in 10 innings, and Ball State picked up its first victory 9-7 in 11 innings Saturday.
Closer Morgan Coombs finished both games for Ball State to earn the first two decisions of the season. Coombs pitched 4.2 innings combined between the two outings.
"He's a great competitor," coach Greg Beals said. "He kept putting up zeros and kept wanting the ball. It would have been very difficult to take him out of that game."
Beals said that the extra innings didn't have too much of an effect on the team.
"It put more pressure on the staff, but the same was true for our opponent," Beals said.
For catcher Zach Dygert, the extra innings meant fighting through a bit more pain than usual.
"You just battle through it mentally," Dygert said. "I tried to deal with it at the present time and keep playing."
Ball State played three extra inning games all of last season, winning two. During the past four years the Cardinals have a record of 16-3 in extra innings.
Homer happy: The Cardinals combined to hit eight home runs this weekend, compared with Furman's two. Third baseman Kolbrin Vitek, first baseman Ian Nielsen and catcher Aaron Etchison all hit two homers each. Right fielder Ryan Chenoweth and left fielder Kory Benbow each had one. Beals said Furman's Latham Stadium is conducive to power hitters.
"We took advantage of that," Beals said. We hit a few more than you can expect for the rest of the season."
Cardinal debuts: Ten players made their Ball State debuts during the weekend, including Coombs and Nielsen. Freshman third baseman Tim Issler got two starts in South Carolina and performed well, Beals said.
"I was pleased with Tim Issler," Beals said. "It didn't show up in the box score but he had a very good first go around for a freshman."
Beals also said he was happy with reliever Perci Garner. He pitched 1.2 innings over two appearances and allowed one run while striking out three. The redshirt freshman has been backup quarterback for two seasons.
Freshman outfielder Cody Elliot also saw playing time, appearing in three games, starting twice.
POY showdown: This weekend's series featured a matchup between Brooks Wallace Player of the Year candidates. Vitek and Furman's Reese Wade both were named to the preseason watch list in January.
Wade went 8-16 with three runs and four RBI to start his sophomore year. Wade also drove in the winning run in the 10th inning Friday.
Vitek was 5-of-17 with two home runs, four RBI and three runs. Vitek also drew two walks and stole a base. On the mound he did not fare as well, lasting only 2.1 innings and allowing five runs on six hits.
MAC Roundup: The Mid-American Conference helped kick off the college baseball season early Friday morning. Central Michigan University lost to Florida Gulf Coast University 4-3 in the first game of the season, which began at 12:01 a.m. The Chippewas finished the weekend 2-2 with a 16-9 defeat of No. 35 Wichita State University.
Conference favorite Kent State University swept UNC-Greensboro and is the only undefeated MAC team. The University at Buffalo is the only other MAC team above .500 after taking three of four from Iona College and the College of William and Mary.
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