MUNCIE, Ind. – It was a low scoring affair on Friday afternoon at Merchants Ballpark Complex as the Western Michigan baseball squad fell to Ball State in a pitchers' duel 2-0 in game one of its four-game series.
The Broncos out hit the Cardinals in game one, registering four hits to Ball State's two. Of WMU's four hits, two were for extra-bases with one double and one triple. All four of WMU's hits came from four different Broncos while the Brown & Gold left six on-base compared to Ball State's five.
Western Michigan used just two pitchers in game one with RHP
Zach Mehelich and RHP
Will Mullen leading the Broncos on the mound. In the starting role Mehelich threw three innings allowing two runs (0 ER) and gave up no hits in 13 batters faced.
Out of the bullpen the Broncos got a stellar performance from senior RHP
Will Mullen who went five innings allowing no runs on just two hits with two strikeouts. Mullen registered seven ground outs 18 batters faced and only allowed two walks. Overall Mehelich and Mullen gave up just two runs on two hits against Cardinal hitters.
In the lead-off spot for the Broncos junior
Justin McIntyre went 1-for-4 with the Broncos lone triple on the afternoon. Senior
Ethan Hajdukovic also went 1-for-4 at the plate with one double while
Connor Charping in the two-spot in the line-up went 1-for-4.
Heading into the weekend with WMU's top batting average, junior
Sean O'Keefe went 1-for-3 and drew one walk while being intentionally walked. Senior
Drew Devine also drew a walk for the Broncos while going 0-for-3 at the plate.
Western Michigan now has an overall record of 0-7 and 0-1 in Mid-American Conference play. WMU and Ball State continue its series on Saturday, March 20 with a seven-inning doubleheader beginning at 12:00 p.m.
Mehelich was dominant on the mound to begin the game retiring the first six Cardinal batters as WMU and Ball State were knotted at 0-0. Ball State got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth, scoring two runs on one hit. A sacrifice bunt scored the first Ball State run before a two-out single to right field gave Ball State a 2-0 lead.
WMU's best chance to score came in the top of the seventh as Charping led off the inning with a single to centerfield followed by a
Drew Devine walk.
Logan Hudson used a sacrifice bunt to move the runners to second and third before O'Keefe was intentionally walked to load the bases with one out.
However, the Broncos were unable to light up the scoreboard as a fly out and a ground out ended the scoring chance. WMU got runners on base in the eighth and the ninth innings but were unable to cross home plate as Ball State held on to win Friday's pitchers' duel 2-0.
