Not a good start for Ball State baseball

Ball State started the 2011 season by getting swept at Kennesaw State. In game one, the Cardinals only had 3 hits in a 3-2 losing effort. Mitch Widau hit a 2-run homer to account for the offense. A missed suicide squeeze by the Cardinals in the 9th ruined a chance to take the lead before KSU rallied to win in the bottom of the ninth. Cal Bowling started on the mound for BSU and threw 4 1/3 innings and gave up 2 earned runs.

In game two on Saturday, KSU used a 12-run 6th inning to turn a 9-2 Ball State lead into a 14-9 KSU lead and went on to win 17-9. It was a very ugly game as there were 14 unearned runs in the contest. Cody Elliott had 4 RBI's to lead the Cardinals. Derek Grabner started on the hill and pitched 4 2/3 innings and gave up 2 runs, both earned. The bullpen was not as good, giving up 7 earned runs (15 runs total) in 3 1/3 innings.

Game three was on Sunday where the Cards gave up runs in each of the first 6 innings in a 10-7 defeat. TJ Weir got the call for BSU and gave up 4 earned runs (6 total) in 3 1/3 innings. The BSU offense clicked with 13 hits in the game after only getting 10 hits over the previous two games. Stephen Claypool had 3 hits (2 doubles) and 2 RBI to power the Cards.

BSU travels to SE Missouri next weekend for a 3-game series. Friday's game is at 4pm EST, while the Saturday and Sunday games both start at 2pm EST. SEMO is 2-1 on the season.