Kent State University
10-7, 0
Ball State
11-10, 0
Baker Freezes KSU Bats in MAC Opener
3/23/2018 5:49:00 PM | Baseball
Ball State takes league lidlifter
KENT, Ohio – Ball State righty John Baker stymied Kent State hitters over eight innings Friday en route to a 5-1 Cardinals win in the Mid-American Conference opener for both teams.
It was Baker and sophomore shortstop Noah Powell who did the most damage. Powell smacked his first home run of the season over the wall in right in the second inning and added another RBI later with Ball State (11-10) leading 2-1. The Golden Flashes' lone run came in the second when Pavin Parks tripled and scored on Brad Hamilton's infield grounder.
Connor Wollersheim took the tough luck loss for the Flashes (10-7). He worked six innings and allowed three runs. At one point he retired 11 BSU hitters in a row.
Trailing 2-1 in the home half of the sixth, KSU put two runners on with one out. Nick Kanavas hit a looping fly ball on the right side of the infield that fell behind the second baseman. However, it was ruled an infield fly, and Kanavas was declared out. Mason Mamarella was thrown out trying to advance to second in the confusion.
KSU gives the ball to MAC Pitcher of the Week Joey Murray on Saturday in an attempt to even the series.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: BAKER, John (3-2)
L: Wollersheim, Connor (1-1)
Batting:
2B: SEBBY, Chase 1
HR: BROCKHOUSE, Colin 1 ; POWELL, Noah 1
RBI: BROCKHOUSE, Colin 2 ; POWELL, Noah 3
SH: SEBBY, Chase 1 ; RICOTTA, John 1
Base Running:
RUNS: RIEDEL, Jeff 1 ; BROCKHOUSE, Colin 1 ; BAKER, William 1 ; SEBBY, Chase 1 ; POWELL, Noah 1
CS: FREED, Seth 1
Batting:
3B: Parks, Pavin 1
RBI: Hamilton, Brad 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Parks, Pavin 1
HBP: Mamarella, Mason 1
