CHILLICOTHE, Ohio- In a day full of upsets at the Mid-American Conference Baseball Tournament, second-seeded Ball State University fell to Eastern Michigan University 19-16.
The Eagles, the seventh seed, defeated the Cardinals for the third time in four meetings and dropped Ball State into the losers' bracket. The MAC West Division champions came back twice during their opening round game, but were unable to rebound from the Eagles' six-run eighth inning.
Reliever Sean Hoffman (4-4) allowed five runs in three innings, but earned the win. Ball State junior Aaron Hammons (0-2) allowed three runs to score without recording an out.
The loss snapped Ball State's five-game MAC winning streak, which dated back to a 14-13 defeat by the Eagles. This is the second straight season that the Cardinals lost their opening game of the tournament.
Eastern Michigan jumped out to an 8-0 in the second with a pair of four-run innings. The Cardinals battled back with six runs in the third, highlighted by a three-run home run by junior left fielder Kory Benbow. Ball State tacked on four more runs in the fourth inning to take the lead.
Senior starting pitcher Brenden Stines did not work past the second inning and the bullpen was unable to hold the lead for the Cardinals. Six relievers combined to allow 11 runs, all in the fifth and eighth innings.
Ball State will face third-seeded Ohio University 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first round game between Central Michigan and Bowling Green. Vitek will take the hill for the Cardinals as they look to stave off elimination and an end to their season.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
