INDIANAPOLIS – Caleb Stayton's grand slam to right centerfield in the top of the second inning was the difference in the game on Tuesday afternoon as the Ball State Cardinals defeated Butler by the final score of 7-4.

Ball State scored two in the opening frame and would extend their lead to 6-0 after the long ball from Stayton in the second. The Bulldogs would break into the scoring column in the fourth after a sac fly from Nick Bartolone, but the Cardinals would get that run back in the top half of the fifth with a solo home run.

BU would rally by scoring the final three runs of the game with two in the sixth and one in the ninth, but the early deficit was too much to overcome in the long run. Tyler Houston and Michael DiViesti each recorded RBI singles in the sixth while DiViesti stayed hot to add his second RBI of the game in the ninth. The backup catcher took over for Marras in the sixth and ended the day 2-for-2 with two RBIs.

The Bulldogs posted 15 hits compared to just 11 from BSU. Michael Hartnagel went 2-for-5 with a run scored to extend his hitting streak and Drew Small followed in the order with three hits in his five at-bats. The top of the order was excellent on Tuesday as Houston added a 4-for-5 performance to the box score with his RBI and run scored.

Butler and Ball State combined for 26 hits on the day yet each pitching staff showed flashes throughout the contest. Brock Balderson was hit with the loss after a rock start, but the true freshman lasted five full innings and struck out five. The Bulldogs only used two arms as Tyler Rathjen came in to shut down the Cardinals over the final four innings. Rathjen struck out four and only walked one during his time on the mound. That duo would not hold the upper hand at Bulldog Park today however as Matt Haro earned the win for Ball State while David Current picked up his first save of the year by throwing the final three innings.

Butler will return to action on Thursday with a day game vs. BIG EAST foe Seton Hall. Thursday's game will be broadcasted on the BIG EAST Digital Network while Friday's game will be picked up on Fox College Sports. The 2016 regular season will then come to an end on Saturday which will be Senior Day.