Kent State University
Ball State University
Romel's Strong Start Not Enough in Series Opener
5/14/2021 5:18:00 PM | Baseball
MUNCIE, IND- Collin Romel threw six strong innings but it was not enough as Ball State pulled away late to take game one of the four-game series 8-2 on Friday afternoon.
The lefty allowed just three hits and two earned runs on Friday, walking three and striking out five. Romel ran into some bad luck in the first inning. After retiring the first two batters, Romel struck out Ross Messina but Messina reached on a dropped third strike. The Cardinals capitalized as two batters later Ryan Pelltier homered on the first pitch he saw, giving Ball State a 3-0 lead. Romel would settle in, allowing just two hits over the next five innings. Ball State threatened in the fifth, loading the bases with one out, but the senior responded with back-to-back strike outs to get out of trouble.
The Cardinals would break the game open with a five-run seventh, which was more than enough for Ball State right hander John Baker, who was terrific on Friday. The senior retired the first 17 batters he faced and took a no-hitter into the seventh before a Cam Touchette single. Baker went eight innings, allowing a run on three hits and struck out seven. His shutout bid was spoiled in the eighth on a Kyle Jackson run scoring ground out with the bases loaded. Aidan Longwell followed suit with a rbi groundout of his own in the ninth.
The loss evens Kent State's record at 22-22 and fall to 15-14 in MAC play. Ball State improves to 31-14 and 22-7 against the MAC. The two teams will meet for a pair of seven-inning games tomorrow starting at 1 p.m.
