The first game against a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics opponent this season for the Ball State University baseball team couldn't come at a better time.
Ball State will return to action today for the first time since being swept during the weekend at Bowling Green State University. It enters the game against Huntington University on a three-game losing streak, its longest of the season. Ball State also will play Indiana University at home Wednesday.
Junior catcher Zach Dygert said the quick turnaround can be a benefit of baseball.
"Baseball's a tough game," Dygert said. "It's important to learn from the weekend. We have to get right back at it. Hopefully we'll put it behind us."
Ball State lost all three games against Bowling Green despite scoring first in each game and twice tying the game in the ninth inning. The midweek match up with Huntington will provide the Cardinals a chance to get back on track at home. Ball State is 6-3 at home this season, but has not played in Muncie since March 28 when it defeated Kent State University.
The Foresters come into the game with a 20-12 record, having won eight of their last nine games. Huntington also won its last meeting with Ball State 9-5 in 1994 but trails the overall series 24-9-1.
Junior first baseman Andrew Drummond leads the team with a .450 batting average. Senior catcher Edwin Rodriguez packs the power in the offense, with 10 home runs and a .774 slugging percentage.
The Cardinals will need a better defensive effort than they had this weekend. Ball State committed nine errors, including four in Sunday's 9-7 loss. Sophomore third baseman Kolbrin Vitek made five errors, doubling his season total. Vitek might have been hampered by a sore arm, which kept him from pitching Sunday. Coach Greg Beals said he hopes his ace is ready to pitch this weekend and will not throw him in either of the midweek games.
The game also will be the first meeting between Ball State senior reliever Eric van Matre and Brandon, his little brother. Brandon, a freshman infielder for Huntington, has played in only four games this season, going 0-for-3.
Eric, today's starting pitcher for Ball State, has appeared in eight games this season and has a 1-1 record and a 7.84 ERA. The lone win came against Purdue University last week in a meeting between freshman first baseman Ian Nielsen and his brother Eric.
The game starts a five-game homestand for Ball State, who will play 10 of its next 11 games in Muncie. Dygert said returning home will help the team bounce back from the sweep.
"We have to try and rebound from this very tough weekend," Dygert said. "We need to come together as a team and rip off a few at home."
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