Editor's Note: Indiana pitching coach Dustin Glant did not play at Ball State. He was the pitching coach while in Muncie.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Ball State baseball head coach Rich Maloney is in his 30th season as a Division I head coach. As the Cardinals faced Indiana at Bart Kaufman Field today, he stood across the field from two former assistant coaches.
That included Indiana head coach Jeff Mercer — former Michigan volunteer coach — and assistant coach Dustin Glant — a former Ball State pitching coach.
“I love those guys. I root for them when they're not playing Ball State,” Maloney said. “They're good coaches and I was glad that they were a part of my staff [in the past]. They’re friends for life, but in a game, they want to beat us and we want to beat them.”
In the end, the two got the upper hand on Maloney as the Hoosiers ended the Cardinals’ four-game win streak with a 7-5 victory.
The Cardinals (23-11, 10-2 Mid-American Conference) the contest with momentum on offense as junior outfielder Gavin Balius kicked off the game with a leadoff infield single. Then, senior infielder Alex Richter singled to give the Cardinals two baserunners.
A few minutes later, both counted for runs as Balius scored on an RBI single from senior utility player Nick Husovsky and Richter crossed the plate on a fielder’s choice play.
Following that, the Cardinals did not allow the Hoosiers (17-14, 7-6 Big Ten) to get into a groove at the plate. Ball State senior starting pitcher Drue Young only gave up two hits through the first two innings. However, that all changed in the bottom of the third as Indiana tied the contest with a two-run home run.
Later in the bottom of the fifth, the Hoosiers once again found a rhythm on offense and kicked off a five-RBI inning to give them their first lead of the contest. While it became a defensive showcase in the closing innings, Ball State scored three runs in the top of the ninth. But with a runner at first and the tying run at the plate, the Cardinals fell short with a strikeout.
“We scored two in the first [inning] and we scored three in the ninth,” Maloney said. “There were seven innings in there that we did nothing and we had a couple of opportunities, but we just didn't do it.”
Indiana finished the win with seven hits and seven walks including three hit batters. In the loss, junior utility player Ty Davis, Husovsky — who also had three RBI — and Richter led Ball State with two hits while three other Cardinals each recorded a hit.
“Our pitching staff knows they just gotta keep us close because we can strike at any time,” Davis said. “I think going forward, if we can limit the big runs or the big inning, we can strike late as an offense.”
Though Ball State finished on the losing end, Maloney said there are things the Cardinals can learn from the contest to better themselves for the future.
“They have a fight in the dog and they keep fighting till the end, and that's positive,” Maloney said. “At the end of the day, what I did like is that I thought we played very good defense again.”
Ball State will take the field against Indiana once again April 23. This time, the game will be played in Indianapolis at Victory Field. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. The Cardinals will return to Muncie Friday, April 11, to kick off a home series against Northern Illinois. The game will start at 3 p.m.
Contact Zach Carter via email at zachary.carter@bsu.edu or via X @ZachCarter85.
Read More
Muncie OUTreach’s pride event, Muncie Pride, strives to support LGBTQ youth
By Linnea Sundquist / 7 hours agoVendors speak on the importance of Muncie Pride, and how it has helped Muncie’s youth feel accepted.
Ball State football is ready for Spring The Showcase
By Jalen Mckissic / YesterdayThe Ball State Football team has been hitting the gridiron all spring in preparation for this weekend's spring showcase.
Ball State football prepares for 2025 spring showcase
By Zach Carter / YesterdayBall State football will host its spring showcase Saturday, April 12 at 1 p.m. at Scheumann Stadium
