After displaying their 2nd-ranked MAC (Mid-American Conference) offense early inside Bulldog Field, the Cardinals left with a 7-6 victory over Butler.
Three games later, Ball State delivered three consecutive poor pitching performances that led to three successive Bowling Green victories. The Cardinals were unable to capitalize against the Falcons, but Ball State’s pitchers can't be blamed solely for the losses, with the Cardinals’ fielders accumulating a total of 10 fielding errors throughout the three-game set.
Across the two game series, Ball State had 26 hits
Junior Jacob Hartlaub pitched for 4.2 innings, allowing just four hits. This quieting of at-bats allowed for Ball State's offense to steadily gain and keep momentum throughout the game.
The Cardinals used a seven-run 7th inning to earn a victory against Southern Indiana (2-6). Ball State (5-3) returns Friday, Mar. 1, when the Cardinals travel to Jacksonville, Florida, for a three-game series against the Dolphins (3-3).
In their second weekend series of the season, the Cardinals walked away with one win and two losses, bringing their record on the season to 4-3.
Most recently defeating the B1GTEN's Michigan State 4-1, Ball State finishes its trip to Charleston, South Carolina, winning three out of a four-game slate. The Cardinals continue their spring campaign in Conway, South Carolina, Feb. 23 when they take on Cincinnati in game one of a three-game series.
Daily News associate sports editor Zach Carter reacts to the news that the Cincinnati Reds are declining Joey Votto’s option, ending the 17-year relationship.
All but one of the 30 of the Major League Baseball teams are hosting Pride Nights this season, most during Pride Month, which celebrates and supports LGBTQ+ culture and rights. The Texas Rangers are the only team without a Pride Night. They say they are committed to making everyone feel welcome at all games.
The Wes-Del Warriors hoped that they would return to the 1A State Championship for the first time since the 1990 season. But they would fall two games short as they were defeated 6-2 in their first semi-state game. “I'm extremely proud of them,” Wes-Del head coach Daniel Hanson said. “This moment sucks and they're hurting. I told them [in the post-game huddle] how proud I am of them and that we came here today to fight and they did that.”
Last year, the Wes-Del Warriors ended their season with a 5-3 loss to Cowan in the sectional championship. “This group was pretty determined [to not repeat that],” Warriors third-year head coach Daniel Hanson said. “...[The team] wanted to make sure that when we got back to those kinds of moments, we were prepared, and that it was a different outcome.” So with that in mind, how did they respond this season?
After a historic season and postseason, winning a Mid-American Conference Championship and making it to the NCAA Tournament, the Ball State Baseball season comes to an end. Head coach Rich Maloney said he would never forget the team being selected and hearing Ball State be picked to play in an NCAA regional. Ball State (36-23) lost their elimination game against West Virginia (40-20).
In the first inning of today’s NCAA regional game in Lexington, KY, Ball State junior Decker Scheffler hit a single. That was followed by a double by senior Adam Tellier. With two base runners on second and third with only one out, Cardinal fans might have thought that their team was going to hit the scoreboard early. But then, the hometown Kentucky Wildcats retired the next two Ball State batters with a lineout and a strikeout. The Cardinals did not know it then, but that would end up being their best chance to score in their 4-0 opening loss of the NCAA Tournament.
If you wanted perfect baseball weather for yesterday’s sectional championships, you got it as the day brought sunshine and enjoyable temperatures. But if you were looking forward to the final two Delaware County teams continuing their postseasons, disappointment was your answer. The Sectional #24 championship game at Yorktown High School came down to two teams who ended the regular season under .500, with both teams losing their first five games of the season. In the semi-finals, the Delta Eagles knocked off the hometown Yorktown Tigers (20-7, 11-3 Hoosier Heritage) 5-3, while the New Castle Trojans defeated the Jay County Patriots (13-14, 1-5 Allen County) 4-3.
No. 1 seed Ball State (36-21) defeated No. 3 seed Kent State (42-16) 12-9 to win the 2023 Mid-American Conference (MAC) Championship Tournament and advance to the program's first NCAA Regional appearance since 2006.
Just about a week ago, Ball State got beat 29-11 at home against Kent State in the last regular season series. Yesterday, Ball State (35-21) beat that same Kent State (41-15) team 6-1 to advance to the Mid-American Conference Championship. Senior Trennor O’Donnell, who started in the 29-11 loss, went a complete nine innings today to beat the Golden Flashes. It was the first complete game of his career.
Grit. Following today’s 7-6 win against No. 2 Central Michigan (33-21, 19-11 MAC), he used it once more. “[The Cardinals] are a gritty bunch who believe in themselves,” Maloney said. “And they've been amazing because we've been short-handed for a long period of time.” With the team going through some adversity this season, yesterday’s win made the Cardinals’ (34-21, 19-11 MAC) first Mid-American Tournament (MAC) victory more than just that. It was a big moment for multiple players and lifted the team's spirits.
Ball State baseball needed a sweep of three games to take the Mid-American Conference regular season title, but after day one, those hopes were gone. The series result would be the complete opposite of what the Cardinals wanted as they were the ones who were swept.
