Ball State 3, #23 Indiana 9
The Cardinals (25-15, 9-4 MAC) got off to a good start with a 3-0 lead after three innings, but IU showed why it was nationally ranked with nine unanswered runs and 12 hits in the contest. Ross Messina led the way offensively as he went 2-4 with two runs scored. Ball State hosts Bowling Green in a weekend series starting Friday.
Bowling Green 5, Wright State 8
Speaking of the Falcons (13-23, 6-9 MAC), they used a four-run fourth inning to break a scoreless tie with the Raiders but WSU’s bats cam alive late with five runs in the fifth inning and three runs in the seventh inning. BG got a run back in the ninth inning with a sacrifice fly RBI from Lambert, but it was too late as a strikeout ended the rally. Tyler Haas had a full day with two RBIs, a double, a run scored, a walk, and was hit by a pitch. BG is in desperate need of some MAC wins so we’ll see how they match up with one of the top teams in the league.
Central Michigan 19, Davenport 26
We had 45 hits between the Chippewas (28-12, 10-5 MAC) and the Panthers yesterday, so that’s why we have a final score that looks like a football game. Allowing 28 hits and committing four errors gave Davenport opportunities offensively, while Zach Warren put up video game numbers with eight RBIs, five hits (including a grand slam), and three runs scored. CMU hosts Western Michigan this weekend in what should be an entertaining series.
Miami 4, Xavier 13
Xavier used a seven-run sixth inning to get past the RedHawks (30-10, 11-4 MAC), who did manage to make a late rally in the eighth inning. In that inning, Landon Stephens got things going with a RBI-single while Jordan Stephens scored two off of a triple and found home plate himself on a wild pitch. Consecutive outs in the eighth and a one-two-three inning ended the rally for the ‘Hawks. Miami hosts Northern Illinois this weekend.
Northern Illinois 2, Illinois State 10
The Huskies (12-28, 8-7 MAC) had a tough go of it yesterday as ISU registered six runs in the sixth inning en route to a 15 hit performance. Brendan Joyce was the lone bright spot as he went 2-3 with two runs scored and a double. NIU and Miami should make for a pretty good series this weekend despite Tuesday’s loss.
Ohio 3, Youngstown State 2
Meanwhile, the Bobcats (14-24, 8-7 MAC) leaned on their excellent pitching while they manufactured some runs late to get past the Penguins. After YSU got a run in the first inning, the next run didn’t happen until the sixth inning as Rudy Rott recorded a RBI-double in the inning. The ‘Cats took their first lead of the game in the eight inning with a sacrifice fly RBI by Michael Richardson and a wild pitch that scored Ryan Strittmather. The Pens answered with another run in the bottom of the inning, but groundout ended the inning. Braxton Kelly sealed the deal in the ninth inning with a one-two-three inning that included two strikeouts. Ohio hosts Kent State this weekend in what should be an interesting matchup.
Toledo 10, Dayton 9
The Rockets won in walkoff fashion as Trace Trace Hatfield hit a two-run home run to extend UT’s winning streak to four games. Things looked bleak after the fourth inning as the Flyers enjoyed an 8-1 lead, but UT cut into the lead with RBIs from John Servello, Jamie Meyers, and Hatfield put the score at 8-5 after six innings. Dayton added a homer in the following inning, but a three-run eighth inning put the Rockets in position for some late game heroics. UT now hits the road to take on Michigan State Wednesday.