MUNCIE, Ind- Ball State baseball made history Monday afternoon as they played in their earliest home opener game in program history.
The Cardinals came into the game fresh off their series with the Sacramento State Hornets, where the Cards were able to go to the Golden State with a tied series.
This home game has some importance as this is the Cards' first and only home game before they start conference play next week back in Muncie. Even though the final score was not on the Cardinals' side, with them losing to the Redbirds 11-1, there was still some good to come.
“It’s all about growth right now, we got about five more games to figure it out,” head coach Rich Maloney said.
There were a couple of bright spots for the Cards as outfielder Houston King was able to go one-for-one at the plate. King was able to help bring in the Cardinals' single point of the game in the 7th inning.
“They are just learning opportunities… If you have a growth mindset and use the losses as a learning opportunity, they serve as a great way to get us right to get ready for when it really matters later in the season,” Junior Blake Blevi said.
Maloney does have high hopes for this year's team and the rest of the season.
“In a lot of ways, I think I saw a lot of good. I think we have a chance to be a good team, but we have to do the things that they’re taught,” said Moloney. “So the reality is, I like our chances, I really do. I think we got a group that is capable. We just got to find the right timing of events with the right lineup.”
The Cardinals have a five-game road trip in Jacksonville, Florida, to take on the North Florida Ospreys, with the first game of that series being on Feb. 28. The first pitch is at 6:30 p.m..
Contact Michael Baugh with comments at michael.baugh@bsu.edu.
