Since the season began Feb. 19, the Cardinals (8-15) have played all 23 games on the road, visiting teams in seven states. So the team is understandably excited about its home opener Friday at 3 p.m. against Miami University (11-12).
Kolbrin Vitek shutout the Bobcats for seven innings, allowing just two hits for his first victory of the season. That game, combined with him going 6-for-12 with three runs and two RBIs in the series, netted Vitek national player of the week honors from Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.
Ball State (8-15) took two out of three games at Ohio University for their first series victory of the season. The Cardinals are tied for first in the MAC West with the three other teams who won twice this weekend.
The win secured Ball State's first series victory of the year to open the Mid-American Conference season. The Cardinals (8-15) split the first two games of the weekend, winning 10-1 Friday, before dropping the first game Saturday 4-2 and winning the second game 4-0.
The Cardinals (7-14) have played one of the hardest schedules in the country this year and the Bobcats (2-16) were a welcome relief from the top-15 teams that have populated Ball State's schedule.
Kolbrin Vitek's phenomenal performance gave Ball State University a 4-0 victory at Ohio University in game two of a doubleheader.
Gauntlett Eldemire hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning to give the hosts a 4-2 win in Game One against Ball State. Reliever Scott Brothers (1-1) served up the long ball and took the loss.
Ball State travels to Ohio for a three-game series, ready to start playing MAC competition.
A sloppy start spiraled out of control for Ball State University Tuesday afternoon as it lost 11-5 at the University of Notre Dame.
Ball State University will travel to the University of Notre Dame and take on another Big East opponent Tuesday afternoon. The Cardinals are looking for their first win against the Fighting Irish since 2005.
According to boydsworld.com, Ball State has played the 27th hardest schedule in the country. Ball State is 2-6 against the top-15 teams of University of Arkansas, Coastal Carolina University and Louisville.
Ball State defeated No. 10 Louisville 5-1 in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader. Reliever Perci Garner (1-0) threw four innings, allowing one run for the victory.
Ball State defeated No. 10 Louisville 5-1 in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader. Reliever Perci Garner (1-0) threw four innings, allowing one run for the victory.
Vitek, Nielsen each collected two hits, two RBIs in the losing effort for Ball State (5-12).
After a slow start in Friday's series opener, Louisville (17-1) started quickly against starter Cal Bowling (0-3) and defeated Ball State 8-3. The hosts scored five unearned runs in the second inning, and never looked back.
Ball State will face another highly-ranked opponent this weekend when it travels to No. 10 University of Louisville (15-1).
Coach Greg Beals said Benbow's experience has allowed him to take advantage of the good hitting situations he finds himself in. Benbow is a four-year starter for the Cardinals, something he says has helped him succeed this year.
With the most arduous part of Ball State University's schedule behind it, coach Greg Beals wants to turn the focus to doing the little things better.
Ball State scored 22 runs in their first two games of the weekend against the University of Michigan and Lipscomb University, including a nine-run sixth inning that propelled Ball State to victory against Lipscomb. But Ball State (5-11) sputtered Sunday, scoring just three runs in a loss to the University of Illinois.
Sports Editor Teddy Cahill provides news and notes from the MAC Tournament taking place in Cleveland this weekend.
