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BASEBALL

RECAP: Ball State baseball sweeps Western Michigan

Sophomore outfielder Roman Baisa runs to first base during the game against Ohio University on April 2 at the First Merchants Ballpark Complex. Ball State lost 10-0, bringing the Cardinals losing streak to eight games in a row. Emma Rogers // DN
Sophomore outfielder Roman Baisa runs to first base during the game against Ohio University on April 2 at the First Merchants Ballpark Complex. Ball State lost 10-0, bringing the Cardinals losing streak to eight games in a row. Emma Rogers // DN

Ball State statistics

Runs: 18

Hits: 19

Errors: 0

W — Kevin Marnon (3-4, 4.24 ERA)

Western Michigan statistics

Runs: 3

Hits: 8

Errors: 1

L — Tanner Allison (0-1, 16.20 ERA) 

Ball State baseball set season highs with 18 runs and 19 hits in Sunday's 18-3 win over Western Michigan.

The Cardinals (14-18, 3-6 MAC) broke season-high marks that were set in Saturday's 16-5 win over the Broncos (13-14, 3-6 MAC) and are now on a three-game winning streak after also winning 12-9 in the second half of Saturday's doubleheader.

"It was just fun to have a weekend like that, and now we get to go have ice cream," head coach Rich Maloney said. "When we sweep someone, we have ice cream."

Ball State jumped out to a 6-0 lead before the Broncos even had a chance to bat.

The Cardinals led 1-0 with one out in the top of the first after a bases-loaded walk when junior designated hitter Colin Brockhouse stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded.

Another run scored on a wild pitch before Brockhouse pushed a line drive down the right field line for a two-RBI single and the 4-0 lead.

Junior shortstop Seth Freed was hit by a pitch in the next at-bat, leading Western Michigan head coach Billy Gernon to pull junior left-handed pitcher Tanner Allison (0-1, 16.20 ERA) after just a third of an inning.

Following an RBI sacrifice bunt by senior centerfielder Matt Eppers and a walk by junior right fielder Jeff Riedel, sophomore left fielder Roman Baisa hit an RBI single for the 6-0 lead.

All six runs were charged to Allison, who was also credited with the loss.

Ball State redshirt senior left-handed pitcher Kevin Marnon (3-4, 4.24 ERA) was credited with the win. He allowed one run through the first five innings before being pulled with two runners on and nobody out in the sixth.

Marnon finished with two strikeouts, four walks, five hits allowed and three earned runs (both inherited runners scored) in five-plus innings on the mound. Junior right-handed pitcher Brendan Burns (1-1, 4.00 ERA) pitched final four innings without allowing a run, striking out four against three hits and a walk.

Eppers finished 2-3 with two runs and two RBIs, and went 10-13 in the series.

"We kind of changed our hitting approach a little bit, so guys were up there just free-swinging, playing their game instead of trying to over-think, over-process," Eppers said. "I think it payed huge dividends this weekend."

Freed led off the top of the third inning with a solo home run, his second of the season, sparking a four-run rally that extended the Cardinals' lead to 10-1.

Ball State scored at least one run in every inning except the second and seventh.

The Cardinals return to Muncie for a matchup with Valparaiso (12-17, 3-6 Horizon League) 3 p.m. Tuesday at Ball Diamond.

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