Saturday’s Baseball Results
Ball State 5, Ohio 0
Ball State 6, Ohio 5
Northern Illinois 3, Toledo 2
Northern Illinois 4, Toledo 0
Central Michigan 3, Eastern Michigan 1
Kent State 4, Bowling Green 3
Bowling Green 6, Kent State 2
Western Michigan 6, Miami 3
Stories courtesy of MAC Sports Information Departments
Ball State 5, Ohio 0 -- Boxscore
Ball State 6, Ohio 5 – Boxscore
MUNCIE - In between games Saturday, John Baker was asked how he'd celebrate pitching the first-ever 9-inning no-hitter in Ball State history.
"Win another game," he said.
Ball State (33-17, 17-5 MAC) followed through with that by clinching a sweep with a 6-5 win after Baker and Luke Jaksich made Ball State history with a combined no-hitter in a 5-0 win Saturday afternoon.
Baker continued his dominant junior season, improving to 7-1 and lowering his ERA to 1.60 with a performance for the ages. He retired 21 of the 25 batters he faced, finishing 7 no-hit innings with 9 strikeouts and 4 walks. He was unofficially at 116 pitches when Jaksich came in to pitch the 8th. Jaksich got the final 6 outs, striking out 3 and walking just 1 batter. The combined no-no went 148 pitches with a game time of 2:11.
Overall, it's the 3rd no-hitter in Ball State baseball history - the first since 1996. A trio of pitchers completed a 5-inning no-hitter against Taylor on April 11, 1996. In May of 1992, Curt Conley pitched a 7-inning no-hitter in a 3-0 win over Miami.
On the day, William Baker and John Ricotta each went 4-for-7, with Ricotta doubling twice. Aaron Simpson had 3 hits and scored twice. Here's what happened in each of Saturday's games:
GAME 1 - Ball State 5, Ohio 0
A win that will go down in Ball State history, Baker tore through Ohio's lineup for 7 innings before handing the ball to Jaksich to complete the historic accomplishment. Baker got the first 6 batters in order before issuing a walk in the 3rd inning. Mack Murphy then made a couple nice grabs in left field and already there was a feeling something good could happen. Baker, however, downplayed the idea that the zero under "visitor hits" on the scoreboard was a factor for him.
"I mean, it was in the back of my head a little, but I was just trying to make pitches and get the win for the team," the junior right-hander said.
In the 5th, Baker punched out a pair of Bobcats before Noah Powell made a great play in the hole at shortstop, finished with a pick at 1st base by Ricotta. Later, Baker retired the last 5 batters he faced.
Overall, only 2 Ohio baserunners reached 2nd base. All game it was soft contact, as Baker and Jaksich struck out 12 and forced 12 flyouts compared to just 3 groundouts.
An RBI double by Simpson and a sac fly from William Baker in the 3rd were more than enough for BSU to win. Will Baker added an RBI single in the 5th inning and Murphy put the game way out of reach with a 2-run single to center in the bottom of the 6th.
Baker said it was his first no-hitter at any level of baseball. Chase Sebby, who caught every inning of the weekend series, said he caught the first 6 innings of a no-hitter in junior college. Jaksich said he didn't really think about the no-hitter, but became a little excited during the game's final out.
GAME 2 - Ball State 6, Ohio 5
An expected rainfall was a constant presence in the nightcap, as the Cardinals quickly had to refocus and play 25 minutes after enjoying a historic no-hit pitching performance. Triples, bunts and a gutsy performance from Nolan Gazouski were the name of the game as Ball State completed the sweep.
Ohio made sure to make up for lost time early, getting out to a 5-1 lead after 3 innings. OU shortstop Tayber Funderburg walked and scored in the 1st inning and he'd add a 2-run single in the 2nd. Catcher Sebastian Fabik smacked a 2-run triple and with starting pitcher Kenny Ogg throwing a good game it seemed like Ohio might salvage a win. Ball State chipped away at the lead with a sac fly from Griffin Hulecki in the 4th and an RBI double from Ricotta in the 5th.
"You have to give Ohio credit," head coach Rich Maloney said. "I know they didn't come away with anything, but every game was a battle."
Trailing 5-3, the Cards built a 2-out rally in the 6th that featured a pair of excellent bunts and a 2-run triple by Simpson. After an Ohio error, Justin Conant bunted for a hit and then Simpson delivered the triple that tied the game 5-5. Will Baker than put down another bunt single, scoring the speedy Simpson for what would be the winning run.
Gazouski, who came up big in a similar situation 2 weeks ago vs. Bowling Green, closed the door. The right-hander pitched 3.2 innings for his first win of the season, striking out 5 and allowing just a pair of baserunners. Just moments after he entered the game in the 6th, he threw a double-play ball and then took the Cardinals home for the final 9 outs.
Ricotta and Will Baker each had 3 hits in the second game, and Ricotta and Simpson each drove in a pair of runs.
Northern Illinois 3, Toledo 2 -- Boxscore
Northern Illinois 4, Toledo 0 – Boxscore
TOLEDO, Ohio - The Northern Illinois University baseball team swept a doubleheader against the Toledo Rockets at Scott Park Saturday, winning by scores of 3-2 and 4-0 to win the weekend series. Head Coach Mike Kunigonis recorded his 100th career win in the nightcap, as NIU posted its first shutout since Feb. 25, 2018 at Western Kentucky.
"It was a grind from the first pitch on, but it was a great day today," said Kunigonis. "The pitching staff was outstanding all day. Erik Hedmark was unreal in game two, and Ty Jandrowski and Will Anderson slammed the door shut in both games."
Game One - NIU 3, Toledo 2
NIU (17-32, 13-11 MAC) got off to a fast start, as Tommy Szczasny (Tinley Park, Ill./Lincoln-Way North), Brendan Joyce (South Elgin, Ill./Parkland College), and Dylan Lonteen (Peoria, Ill./Illinois Central College) hit three straight singles to open the game. The Huskies put a run on the board when Jake Dunham (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North) hit into a 6-4-3 double play to make the score 1-0. Toledo starting pitcher Michael Jacob held NIU to that single run in the inning by getting a flyout to end it.
The Rockets tied the game at one in the bottom of the second. Zach Schwartzenberger reached with a one-out single, then took second base on a Ryan Anderson (Palatine, Ill./McHenry C.C.) wild pitch. With two out, Andrew Compton cracked a double down the right field line to bring in Schwartzenberger and tie the game at one. Toledo took the lead in the bottom of the fifth when Darryn Davis hit a leadoff home run to give the Rockets a 2-1 lead.
The Huskies came back to tie the game in the top of the seventh. Kam Smith (Colonial Beach, Va./The Steward School) led off with a single, followed by a Jordan Larson (Dodgeville, Wis./College of DuPage) double. After a Josh Mutter (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way North) flyout, pinch-hitter Malik Peters (Calumet City, Ill./Mount Carmel) hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield to score Smith and make the score 2-2.
NIU had a chance to take the lead in the top of the eighth. Joyce led off with a single down the left field line, then moved to second on a Lonteen sacrifice bunt. After a Dunham groundout, Nick Drobushevich (Moline, Ill./Moline) reached on an error that moved Joyce to third with two out. Toledo then went to the bullpen for Austin Calopietro, who struck out Smith to end the inning.
The Huskies broke through in the top of the ninth. Larson led off with a single up the middle. Mutter then put down a sacrifice bunt to move the NIU first baseman into scoring position. Peters then ripped a single to right field, bringing in Larson from second base to give the Huskies a 3-2 lead. Ty Jandrowski (Kenosha, Wis./Madison College) made that lead hold up, throwing a perfect ninth inning for his xth save of the year.
Peters finished the game 1-for-1 with two RBI. Larson was 3-for-4, while Joyce and Smith were each 2-for-4. Nate Thomas (South Bend, Ind./Mishawaka Marian) earned the win in relief, throwing three scoreless innings with three strikeouts while allowing two hits.
Game Two - NIU 4, Toledo 0
The nightcap started as a pitcher's duel between NIU's Erik Hedmark (Algonquin, Ill./Dundee-Crown) and Toledo's Nate Haugh. Hedmark struck out five in his first three innings while allowing two hits. Haugh allowed just one hit in his first four innings.
Toledo (16-33, 4-18 MAC) put together the first true scoring threat in the game in the bottom of the fourth. Chris Meyers led off with an infield single. Hedmark then hit Schwartzenberger with a pitch to give Toledo runners at first and second. Lonteen threw out Meyers at third on a groundball for the first out. NIU then got out of the inning when Peters snagged a line drive off the bat of Compton and threw to first to double up Ryan Thompson.
NIU broke the stalemate in the top of the sixth. Peters singled to left field with one out, then got to third on an errant pickoff throw by Haugh. Szczasny drove in the NIU second baseman with a single up the middle to give the Huskies a 1-0 lead. Joyce then reached on an error by Trace Hatfield at second base, which got Szczasny all the way to third. Toledo then went to the bullpen for Kyle Jones. Jones got Lonteen to hit into a fielder's choice that retired Joyce for the second out. After Lonteen stole second to give NIU runners at second and third with two out, Dunham cleared the bases with a two-run single that made the score 3-0.
Toledo had a chance to score in the eighth. Thompson led off with a single to right field. After Hedmark struck out Compton for his eighth punchout of the day, David Jeffers reached on a bunt single. Thomas Eitniear then put down a sacrifice bunt to give the Rockets runners at second and third with two out. Hedmark got out of the inning by getting Brad Boss to flyout.
NIU tacked on an insurance run in the eighth. With Joyce at second base with two outs, Dunham reached on an error by Meyers at third base that allowed Joyce to score and give NIU a 4-0 lead. Hedmark put up one more scoreless frame in the bottom of the eighth before giving way to William Anderson (Columbus, Ind./Columbus East) who threw a scoreless ninth to preserve the shutout and the sweep of the doubleheader.
Hedmark's eight innings and eight strikeouts set new season-highs for the freshman. The left-hander scattered six hits and walked just two batters. Szczasny was 2-for-4 in game two with an RBI.
The Huskies play their last midweek game of the regular season on Tuesday, May 14 when NIU travels to Milwaukee. First pitch has been moved up to 12 p.m. from the previously scheduled 4 p.m.
Central Michigan 3, Eastern Michigan 1
Boxscore
Coming soon...
Kent State 4, Bowling Green 3 -- Boxscore
Bowling Green 6, Kent State 2 – Boxscore
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio –The Kent State University baseball team (27-21, 12-8 MAC) split a twin bill with Bowling Green (15-32, 7-17 MAC) Saturday afternoon to close out its Mid-American Conference at Stellar Field in Bowling Green, Ohio. After bludgeoning the Falcons 18-9 in the first game of the series Friday afternoon, the Flashes won the first game of Saturday's double header 4-3 before dropping the series finale 6-2.
Redshirt sophomore Ben Carew tallied three hits between the two games to extend his hitting streak to 14. He has reached base safely in each of the last 29 games.
Game 1: Kent State 4, Bowling Green 3
The Flashes eked out a 4-3 victory over the Falcons in the first game of the twin bill, outhitting Bowling Green 10-7. Junior Cam Touchette and senior Kian O'Brien led the Kent State offense as Touchette went 3-for-4 and scored three of the Flashes' four runs and O'Brien also added two runs, driving in Touchette twice.
Freshman Justin Kirby belted his eighth home run of the season and sophomore Michael Turner recorded his seventh RBI of the series.
Junior John Matthews recorded his third consecutive win on the mound for the Flashes, tossing 4.2 innings in relief, fanning six. Junior Zach Shultz started on the bump, spinning 4.1 innings and striking out three.
The Flashes struck first in the top of the first inning as Touchette notched a one-out single and advanced to third on an error by the Falcon pitcher and eventually scored on an RBI-ground out by Turner.
Kent State added a run in the top of the third inning to take a 2-0 lead. Touchette again reached base with one out via a walk and stole second. He advanced to third on a productive at bat by Turner, who grounded out to second base, and finally scored on an RBI-single to center field by O'Brien.
The Falcons responded in the bottom half of the third, managing a run on three hits and a balk to bring the score to 2-1, Flashes.
After a three up and three down fourth inning by both teams, the Flashes again added a run in the fifth when Kirby belted a solo home run to left field through wind blowing in from center field.
The Falcons added a run of their own in the bottom of the inning, capitalizing on a wild pitch, a passed ball and a Kent State defensive miscue.
Kent State and Bowling Green again exchanged a run apiece in the seventh inning as O'Brien drove in a run with a single to left field following a one-out triple by Touchette. The Falcons rounded out the game with a run to bring the final score to 4-3.
Game 2: Bowling Green 6, Kent State 2
The Kent State offense was quieted in the series finale as the Falcons forced the Flashes to settle for a 2-1 series victory with a 6-2 win. The Flashes out-hit Bowling Green 11-7, however the Flashes stumbled with three defensive miscues.
The Flashes fell behind 6-0 through the first six innings, finally responding with a run in the top of the seventh inning to break up the shut out. Freshman Collin Mathews reached on a two-out single and scored from first base on double to left field off the bat of redshirt sophomore Kevin Dobos.
Kent State scored its final run of the day in the top of the eighth as Touchette again singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Turner followed with a double to left field to score Touchette and record his eighth RBI of the three-game set.
The Flashes loaded the bases and brought the tying run to the plate in the top of the ninth but fell short with a final score of 6-2.
Redshirt freshman Trevor Pittman suffered the loss on the mound for the Flashes, pitching 2.0 innings to start the game, striking out two while allowing four runs. Freshman Luke Albright recorded another strong performance in relief, striking out a career-high ten batters in 6.0 innings of work, allowing just two runs and a single walk.
Up next, Kent State will play its final home game at Schoonover Stadium for the 2019 season, hosting Wright State on Tuesday, May 14, at 6 p.m.
Western Michigan 6, Miami 3
Boxscore
OXFORD, Ohio – Trailing by two after six innings of play Western Michigan baseball rattled off five runs on four hits in the top of the seventh inning to defeat Miami, 6-3 in thrilling comeback fashion to even the series on Saturday afternoon.
WMU scored all six of its runs in the sixth and seventh innings highlighted by the five-run seventh. In the top of the seventh the Broncos collected just four hits with two of the hits being triples by sophomore Blake Dunn and junior Drew Devine.
For the sixth time in the last seven games the Brown & Gold scored over four runs and notched 12 hits against the RedHawks. It's the 23rd time this season WMU has registered double digit hits. Three Broncos recorded multi-hit games with Devine earning his eighth two-RBI game.
Freshman RHP Brady Miller had a career day on the mound tossing a career-high seven innings, allowing one earned run on six hits while striking out two to capture his fourth win of the season. In nine starts this season, Miller is 4-2 with an impressive 3.20 ERA.
The Bronco offense was led by Drew Devine who went 3-for-4 with two RBIS and a run scored. Devine earned his 15th multi-hit game of the season and seventh multi-RBI game. With his performance at the plate the Marshall, Mich., native extended his hitting streak to six games and his reached base streak to seven games.
Batting cleanup, senior Nate Grys went 2-for-3 with a run scored to earn his 12th multi-hit game of the season. Fellow senior Jimmy Roche earned his 14th multi-hit game of the season with a 2-for-5 performance at the plate.
The two through five hitters of Roche, Dunn, Grys and Devine went a combined 8-for-17 (.470) with three RBIs and four runs scored against the RedHawks in game two.
Dunn also registered his 28th stolen base of the season and is now tied for second most in a single-season in school history. Dunn needs just four stolen bases to break the school record (31) set by Joel DeVisser back in 1998.
The Broncos have now won four of their last five Mid-American Conference contests and improved their overall record to 17-28, 10-11 in conference play. WMU will look to clinch its second straight MAC series on Sunday, May 12 with first pitch set for 1:00 p.m. The Broncos haven't loss a series at Miami since 2014.
Miami gained an early lead in the bottom of the first thanks to an RBI double to left center field to grab a 1-0 lead. The RedHawks extended their lead in the top of the fifth, scoring two runs on two hits for a 3-0 advantage after five innings of play.
WMU rallied back in the top of the sixth, scoring one run on three hits. With runners on first and second and one out, Dunn stole third to give the Brown & Gold runners on the corners with Devine stepping to the plate. On a 1-0 count, the junior shortstop roped an RBI single to left field, scoring Dunn from third to give the Broncos their first run of the ballgame.
In the top of the seventh the Bronco offense exploded for five runs on four hits with two triples to gain their first and only lead of the ballgame. Sophomore Connor Charping led off the inning with an infield single followed by a double by fellow sophomore Justin McIntyre to give WMU runners in scoring position with no outs.
Senior Andrew Stone slapped an RBI ground ball to second base to score Charping from third to cut Miami's deficit down to one. With Dunn at the plate the Saugatuck, Mich., native rocketed his second triple of the season off the right centerfield wall to score McIntyre and tie the game at 3-3.
Following a walk by senior Nate Grys, Dunn scored on a ball that got away from the Miami catcher to give WMU a one-run lead. Five pitches later, Drew Devine notched his first triple of the season to right field, scoring Grys from second to extend the Bronco lead. One pitch later, Devine came across to score to give WMU a 6-3 advantage thanks to a passed ball.
In the final two innings of play junior Zach Mehelich shut down the RedHawk offense out of the bullpen. Mehelich retired six of the final eight batters with two strikeouts to secure the game two victory and even the series with Miami.
