A matchup with IPFW closes out the Ball State University baseball team's five-game homestand. The Mastodons enter the game with a 9-30 record and were swept at Centenary College last weekend. IPFW is hitting .254 as a team and is led by Chris Gottschall with a .363 average. The senior also has a team-high 39 RBIs. Junior shortstop Jordan Kohler hit for the cycle in Friday's game and leads the team with seven stolen bases.
Starting on the mound for IPFW will be junior Josh Shatto, who has a 3-2 record in 12 appearances. The right-hander has made eight starts this season and has an ERA of 8.44. The Mastodons' pitching staff has an overall ERA of 7.68.
Ball State is 9-1 all-time against IPFW, with the lone loss coming in 2000. The Cardinals have a six-game winning streak against their in-state rival.
All in the family
Tuesday's game should have featured a matchup of the Nielsen brothers. Ian, Ball State's first baseman, and Eric, Purdue University's catcher, had met once in college before, but an injury to Eric's right shoulder kept him out of Tuesday's game. Their parents came to the game with divided allegiances, each sporting both schools' apparel. Ian went 1-for-2 with a run and two walks.
Extra work
Junior starting pitcher Brad Piatt made his first appearance out of the bullpen this season Tuesday. Piatt, the Cardinals' normal Friday starter, pitched one inning, allowing one run on one hit. After going 2 2/3 innings Friday because of a 57-minute lightening delay, Piatt picked up some extra innings to keep him fresh. He is now 4-1 with a 4.21 ERA.
Player of the Year showdown
Ball State designated hitter Kolbrin Vitek and Purdue catcher Dan Black were each named to the Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Award watch list this season. In the pair's second matchup of the season, Black came out on the winning end. The junior went 1-for-5 at the plate with a run and an RBI. Vitek went 1-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to 13 games, matching his career best. The sophomore also drove in a run and scored.
Cardinals in NCAA Stats: Vitek ranks second in the nation with 22 doubles, trailing Zach Johnson of Campbell University, who has 27. The two are also one-two in doubles per game. The sophomore is also 22nd in slugging percentage, 29th in RBIs per game, 40th in total bases and, as a pitcher, 46th in walks allowed per nine innings. Senior second baseman Nate Fields is ninth in stolen bases per game and 14th in stolen bases. Junior center fielder Jeremy Hazelbaker is 18th in runs, sixth in on-base percentage, 13th in stolen bases per game, 17th in stolen bases and 30th in walks per game. All stats are through April 26.
Around the MAC: On a rain-soaked day in the Midwest, three scheduled Mid-American Conference games were postponed or canceled due to the weather. Of the teams that did play, Miami University came away with the biggest win, a 9-6 victory at Indiana University. The RedHawks were able to overcome home runs from All-American catcher Josh Phegley and left fielder Alex Dickerson with a four-run fifth inning. Central Michigan University beat Division III Concordia College 12-2 at home. Northern Illinois University was swept in a doubleheader by Wisconsin-Milwaukee 5-2 and 6-4.
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