Another big inning propelled Ball State University to an 11-7 victory against Miami University and its second consecutive series win.
The Cardinals (10-15) scored six in the fourth inning and coasted to their third-straight victory. Starting pitcher Cal Bowling (1-3) took advantage of the big inning for his first win of the season. RedHawks starter Brooks Fiala (2-2) took the loss.
Third baseman Stephen Claypool started the fourth with a double. Fiala retired center fielder Cody Elliott, but the next seven Cardinals reached base.
Second baseman Kolbrin Vitek and catcher Zach Dygert provided the big blows of the inning. Vitek drove in two runs with a Texas leaguer to right field and Dygert followed with a three-run home run off reliever Matt Rosinski. In all, Miami needed three pitchers to get through the inning.
After the teams combined for 11 runs and three home runs in the first four innings, the game calmed down in the middle innings. Bowling shut down the RedHawks, allowing three runs on four hits. The sophomore threw a career-high seven innings, striking out four.
With the Cardinals cruising to victory in the eighth, a sudden downpour forced a short rain delay. Ball State tarped the field and the delay lasted only 21 minutes.
When the teams came back from the delay, the offense returned as well. Vitek hit a two-run home run immediately after the delay to give Ball State an 11-3 lead.
The RedHawks batted around in the ninth against junior Heath Riley, scoring four runs. Designated hitter Jordan Jankowski hit his second two-run home run of the day, and catcher Adam Weisenburger drove in a pair of runs with a single.
The game's start was delayed 2 ½ hours because of rain.
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