Behind from the first batter of the game, the Ball State University baseball team fell 10-8 to the University of Akron on Saturday afternoon.
The loss evened the opening series of the Mid-American Conference season at 1-1.
Junior shortstop Kevin Haas got things going for the Zips with a lead-off home run off Cardinals' starting pitcher Brenden Stines. Akron finished with 16 hits.
Stines took the loss, falling to 0-3, after giving up six runs in 3 2/3 innings. Akron starting pitcher Frank Turocy pitched 6 2/3 innings for the win, allowing six runs on seven hits.
The visitors took the lead for good with a five-run fourth inning when they sent 10 batters to the plate. Junior first baseman Ryan Kordal went 3-for-5 with three RBIs, including a two-out, two-RBI single in the fourth. Senior center fielder Matt Roberts also had three hits, finishing the day 3-for-6 with an RBI.
Ball State came back in the bottom of the fourth with four runs of its own. Freshman Nathan Koontz had a two-run single and junior center fielder followed with a two-run home run. The home run was Hazelbaker's second of the year.
Akron added four runs in the final three innings against Ball State's bullpen to improve to 4-16 on the season.
Ball State (10-9) attempted a comeback in the ninth as Hazelbaker and sophomore third baseman Kolbrin Vitek scored on junior catcher Zack Dygert's two-out double down the right-field line. That brought junior left fielder Kory Benbow to the plate as the tying run, but he struck out on a 3-2 fastball to end the game.
Vitek finished the game 3-for-5. Dygert went 2-for-4 with three RBIs, a home run and a walk.
The loss prevents Cardinals coach Greg Beals from winning his 200th career game this weekend. Beals remains at 198 wins and will go for No. 199 when the two teams conclude the three-game series at 1 p.m. Sunday.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
