NCAA Division I baseball strikeout leaders
1. Noah Song (Navy) - 118
2. Drey Jameson (Ball State) - 104
3. Ethan Small (Mississippi State) - 103
4. Reid Detmers (Louisville) - 101
5. Zak Kent (Virginia Military Institute) - 100
Sophomore Drey Jameson’s 12 strikeouts helps Ball State Baseball (26-15, MAC 10-4) hand Bowling Green (13-24, MAC 6-10) its eighth loss in its last nine games.
Jameson came into the contest with 92 strikeouts over 58 innings pitched. The sophomore improved his season line to 104 strikeouts over 65 innings pitched. Racking up 12 strikeouts on the day, Jameson now has five games this season with at least 10 strikeouts.
“I thought that Drey was excellent again,” head coach Rich Maloney said. “He is amazing. As a coach, I have a big smile on my face when he is out there.”
Jameson wasted no time getting to work as he struck out one and forced a groundout and a pop out in the top of the first over 14 pitches. He went on to strike out four straight batters over the second and third inning.
The only run of the game for Bowling Green during Jameson’s time on the bump came on an RBI single in the third. He only allowed four hits and two walks in his seven-inning effort.
“My stuff was a little iffy and I had to battle through a lot of stuff,” Jameson said. “The guys behind me made big plays and helped me get out of jams.”
In the top of the fourth, Jameson struck out the side yet again to record his 100th strikeout of the season. Only four other pitchers in NCAA Division I baseball has accomplished this feat thus far. Jameson is also the only MAC pitcher to hit the 100 strikeout milestone this season.
“He competes so well and he has great stuff,” Maloney said. “He wants to win for Ball State and he is a great team player. He continues to amaze a lot of people.”
Before Friday’s performance, Jameson sat in fifth place for the most strikeouts in Division I baseball this season. He now sits only 14 strikeouts from the nationwide lead.
“I just trust my stuff and throw my best pitch every time I’m out there,” Jameson said. “Staying on my plan and being within myself is key.”
Although at least a dozen Major League scouts from the Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox and more littered the stands, he kept his cool and delivered when the team needed him to.
“I don’t notice [the scouts] very often,” Jameson said. “I try to zone that stuff out because it will be a bad performance if I am not focused on the batter.”
On the offensive side, junior Ross Messina’s fifth home run of the year broke a 1-1 tie in the third. Messina is second on the team in batting average, hits and home runs this season. The Cardinals topped the Falcons 4-2 to win the first game in a three-game home stand.
Contact Drew Pierce with any comments at dlpierce2@bsu.edu or on Twitter @dpierce3cc
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