JACKSONVILLE, Fla.- In game one of Saturday's doubleheader, Jacksonville (3-5) fell to Ball State (6-3) by a score of 9-2.
Evan Chrest started on the mound for the Dolphins, pitching 2.3 innings, punched out five batters, and walked one. The Cardinals scored four runs on five hits against Chrest. The sophomore was given the loss, his first of the season.
In the top of the first inning, a groundout (6-3) scored the first run of the game to make it 1-0 Ball State. Chrest got his second strikeout to end the inning and stranded a runner at second.
Jacksonville went hitless in the first, but Chrest returned the favor in the top of the second inning as he worked quickly to get his offense back to the plate in the home half.
The Dolphins got their first hit of the game off the bat of Abdriel Delgado in the bottom of the second, but they couldn't cross home plate as it remained 1-0 Ball State going into the third inning.
The Cardinals came out with a bang in the third, hitting a solo home run over the right centerfield wall to make it 2-0 Ball State in the early going. The Cardinals weren't done yet as they added another home run to extend their lead to 4-0. Chrest battled back and got a strikeout and a fielder's choice groundout (3-6) for the first two outs, but after a walk, Dylan Faulkner took over for him on the mound. Faulkner would give up a run to extend the Cardinal lead to five, but escaped the inning without any further damage.
In the home half of the fourth, Jacksonville got the first two on base but could not take advantage of the opportunity as they stranded the runners.
In the top of the fifth, the Cardinals extended their lead to 8-0, ending Faulkner's day.
Faulkner finished his day after going 2.1 innings and striking out three. He also surrendered one base on balls and gave up three runs on four hits.
Cade Hentz got a one-out infield single then advanced to second on a throwing error by the Cardinals' shortstop to get Jacksonville going in the fifth. Justin Nadeau hit one off the left field wall for an RBI triple, scoring Hentz and making the score 8-1.
Layton Perry received the call from the bullpen to start the sixth and would take care of business, going three-up, three-down. In the home half of the sixth, Tyler Hinrikus slapped a double down the right field and then advanced to third on a deep fly out to center off the bat of Delgado. Hinrikus came around to score on a wild pitch to make it 8-2.
Ball State wasn't finished as a leadoff double into left centerfield had them threatening once again to start the seventh. With nobody out, a sacrifice fly plated a run for Ball State that stretched their lead out to 9-2. Perry ended the inning stranding the bases loaded but got out of the inning.
Perry pitched two innings, giving up one run on three hits, as well as a strikeout and walk each.
Aidan Kelley came in to throw the eighth inning. He struck out three Cardinal hitters and walked two while giving up one run on four hits. Freshman Garrett Corbett was brought in to pitch the ninth and dealt a one-two-three inning. Jacksonville couldn't add any more runs in the final two innings.
Three Strikes:
- Justin Nadeau hit his first triple of the season.
- Tyler Hinrikus got his first hit as a Dolphin.
- Tyrell Brewer hit his second double of the 2024 season.
On Deck:
Due to inclement weather, game two of Jacksonville's weekend series against Ball State was suspended in the bottom of the eighth. The Dolphins will finish off game two of the weekend series on Sunday at 2:00 PM. Game three will be played approximately 30 minutes after the completion of game two.
