Central Michigan University
Ball State
Chippewas Can't Capitalize, Drop Series Opener
3/30/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Thade Hultzsch, CMUChippewas.com
MUNCIE, Ind. - John Ricotta hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to break a 1-1 tie on Friday as Ball State went on to post a 5-2 victory over Central Michigan in the opener of a three-game Mid-American Conference series at the Cardinals' First Merchants Ballpark Complex.
CMU slipped to 7-18-1 and 2-2 in MAC play. Ball State is 14-11, 3-1. Game 2 of the series is scheduled for Saturday (1 p.m.) and the finale is set for Sunday (1 p.m.).
ON THE MOUND
Pat Leatherman (1-3) started for CMU and went 6 1/3 innings in taking the loss. He allowed three runs with two of them earned, on three hits, while walking three and striking out a career-high 12.
Cameron Brown went 1 2/3 innings in relief. He allowed two runs on one hit, walked one and struck out one.
Nick Floyd (3-0), the second Ball State pitcher, picked up the victory. T.J. Baker picked up the save.
AT THE PLATE
CMU out-hit Ball State, 6-4. Daniel Robinson and Jason Sullivan each had two hits for the Chippewas while Zavier Warren and Zach Heeke each had one. Zach Heeke and David Cole drove in the Chippewas' runs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
CMU tied the game 1-1 with Heeke RBI single in the fifth inning. Griffin Hulecki hit a two-run homer in the eighth to extend Ball State's lead to 5-1.
The Chippewas walked the bases loaded with none out in the ninth inning, and David Cole drove in a run with a groundout to pull CMU to 5-2. The Chippewas re-loaded the bases with another walk, but John Baker came on to get a strikeout and a groundout to end the game and notch the save, his first.
The Chippewas stranded nine baserunners.
