BASEBALL: Ball State in first place after Vitek's walk-off bomb
April 30, 2010Kolbrin Vitek capped a four-run Ball State comeback in the ninth inning with a walk-off home run. Ball State defeated Eastern Michigan 13-12 Friday.
Kolbrin Vitek capped a four-run Ball State comeback in the ninth inning with a walk-off home run. Ball State defeated Eastern Michigan 13-12 Friday.
The Cardinals (20-21, 11-4 MAC) have won their first five conference series this year and are off to their best start in conference play since 2005. The Eagles (21-21, 10-5 MAC) aren't trailing far behind, only a game out of first place.
Ball State scored six runs in each of the first two innings, staking Brad Piatt (2-3) to a big lead. The senior did his job, holding NAIA member Huntington off the board for five innings to earn the victory.
A big week at the plate netted shortstop T.J. Baumet his first career MAC West Division Player of the Week award Monday.
Ball State will host Military Appreciation Day for Wednesday's game against Huntington.
Ball State put together a great day of baseball Saturday, sweeping the doubleheader and winning its fifth straight MAC series to open the year. The victories pulled the Cardinals (19-21, 11-4) back into a first place in the MAC West.
Sweeping a doubleheader Saturday at Central Michigan University, Ball State University climbed into first place in the Mid-American Conference West Division.
Central Michigan defeated Ball State University 4-3 in Mount Pleasant, Mich., Friday. Jesse Hernandez (6-1) threw a complete game for the victory. Perci Garner (5-1) allowed four runs on six hits in 5 2/3 innings for his first loss this year.
Ball State (17-20, 9-3) will face perhaps its sternest test of conference play when it kicks off action against the West Division at Central Michigan University (21-13, 10-2) on Friday. The Cardinals are a game behind the first-place Chippewas in the West.
Ball State lost 10-5 at Butler University on Wednesday afternoon. The Bulldogs (12-21) had just nine wins against Division I competition entering the game.
Quietly, Blake Beemer established himself as Ball State University's everyday center fielder. Now, halfway through the season, he is establishing himself as a force at the top of the lineup.
Ball State (17-19) scored six runs in the first two innings, and Brad Piatt (1-3) gave the team his best start of the season for the win. Ball State will take its latest success on the road to Butler University today, but more importantly, to Central Michigan University this weekend. The Chippewas lead the Cardinals by a game in the Mid-American Conference.
Still looking for its first win of the year against an in-state, Division I rival, Ball State University will have two more chances this week starting with Indiana State University on Tuesday.
Ball State (16-19, 9-3) won the first two games of its series against the University at Buffalo (16-17, 4-8) before falling 11-7 in 11 innings Sunday. The Cardinals have won their first four MAC series for the first time since 2005.
Down quickly to the University at Buffalo, Ball State University scored the last six runs of the game for a 6-5 victory.
A sweep would be very beneficial to Ball State's MAC West title hopes after it fell out of first place last weekend, despite winning twice at Bowling Green State University. The University of Toledo and Central Michigan University are tied for first, a game ahead of Ball State.
Kolbrin Vitek has shot to the top of draft boards across the majors with three great seasons in a Cardinals uniform. This year he leads Ball State in every major offensive category from batting average (.417) to home runs (9).
First baseman Ian Nielsen led the Cardinals (14-18) with his second big game in five days, going 4-for-5 with three prodigious home runs and seven RBIs. The sophomore's slugfest came on the heels of his two-home run, eight-RBI performance Saturday at Bowling Green State University.
Ball State lost 10-5 at Purdue University on Tuesday despite allowing just two earned runs. The Cardinals (13-18) committed three errors, two coming in the Boilermakers' seven-run fourth inning.
Still looking for its first victory against a Big Ten team this year, Ball State University will travel to West Lafayette on Tuesday to take on Purdue University.
