Impending rain forced the Ball State University baseball team to move Sunday's game against Central Michigan University to Saturday, creating a doubleheader. The Cardinals had already lost two games this week to poor weather and didn't want to miss another. All six series in the Mid-American Conference this weekend moved Sunday's finale to Saturday because of the expected rain. The rain arrived in Muncie later in the day Sunday, but not taking any chances was probably the right idea for all of the MAC teams, who have dealt with poor weather all spring.
Coming around
Sophomore shortstop T.J. Baumet had a difficult start to his first college season as shortstop. Baumet entered the weekend with a team-high 18 errors, leading one of the worst defensive teams in Ball State history. The team was on pace to tie the single season record for errors with 120. But against Central Michigan, the Cardinals committed just three errors, all in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader. Ball State has not had two errorless games in a weekend since March 13-16 against Chicago State University.
Baumet flashed his glove throughout the weekend, making only one error. In the fifth inning of Saturday's first game, Baumet made a diving stop on a ground ball to his right. Central Michigan's third base coach seemed to think the ball had gotten through the infield and waved third baseman Reid Rooney home from second base. Baumet got up and appeared stunned to see a runner trying to score. He threw Rooney out by 20 feet at the plate to end the inning.
"T.J. had a great weekend," coach Greg Beals said. "He was kind of the catalyst there playing shortstop."
You're outta here
Beals was ejected from Friday's game in the ninth inning. It was the second straight game Beals was ejected, after he was thrown out of the second game of Sunday's doubleheader at Bowling Green State University. Beals was ejected from Friday's game for arguing balls and strikes in the ninth inning. Junior catcher Zach Dygert struck out looking on a 3-2 count with a questionable inside pitch. After freshman first baseman Ian Nielsen hit a two-run double to cut the Central Michigan lead to 9-6, Beals continued to argue. During a pitching change, he was ejected by home plate umpire Matt Hughes.
Running wild
Entering the weekend, Central Michigan had thrown out eight of the 40 opponents who had attempted a stolen base. That percentage did not improve at Ball Diamond. The Cardinals were 10-for-11 on stolen bases in the three-game series led by junior center fielder Jeremy Hazelbaker and senior second baseman Nate Fields with four each. The first two hitters in Ball State's lineup also each swiped home on the front end of a delayed double steal. In the sixth inning of the second game Saturday, Fields took off for second with Hazelbaker on second. When Central Michigan catcher Dale Cornstubble threw to second, Hazelbaker took off for home. The throw was cut off and shortstop Robbie Harman tried to cut Hazelbaker down at the plate, but he was too fast.
"It's one of our offensive weapons," Beals said. "We got guys that can steal bases, so we're going to utilize that."
Ball State repeated the feat one batter later with sophomore designated hitter Kolbrin Vitek on first and Fields on third. It was virtually the same play and Fields scored. Beals said he wasn't surprised that the Chippewas threw down again.
"I figured they'd try to out execute us," Beals said. "Speed won out."
Smile for the camera
After Saturday's doubleheader, Hazelbaker was rudely interrupted during a TV interview. Junior closer Morgan Coombs made a makeshift whipped cream pie and ambushed Hazelbaker during the interview. Despite his teammates cries for him to finish the interview covered in whipped cream, Hazelbaker found a towel before finishing. Coombs made sure everyone knew that if he were interviewed on camera he expected someone to return the favor and that he would finish the questioning.
Around the MAC
Fresh off a sweep of Ball State, Bowling Green won the opening game of its series at Kent State University. It was the first time the Golden Flashes had lost the opening game of a MAC series at home since Ohio University beat them April 25, 2008. Kent State rebounded to win Saturday's doubleheader. But the loss, combined with Ohio's sweep of the University of Akron moved the Bobcats into first place, a half game over Kent State. The University of Toledo extended its lead in the MAC West to two games with a series win against Northern Illinois University. Miami University swept the University at Buffalo and Eastern Michigan University took two out of three at Western Michigan University.
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