INDIANAPOLIS – Ball State broke a 2-2 tie in the top of the eighth inning and a three-run home run in the top of the ninth would lift the Cardinals to victory over the Bulldogs 7-2. The win takes Ball State to 13-9 overall while the loss moves Butler to 5-7.
 
Jack Myers had a solid outing with six strikeouts and no walks over seven full innings of action. The outcome came down to the bullpen where Ty Johnson would be credited with the win (2-1) and Jon Vore would take the loss (0-2).
 
Ball State hit the scoreboard first in the top of the second inning off a triple from Powell to right centerfield. The second run for the visitors crossed home plate in the third off a wild pitch.
 
Butler battled back and tied the game at 2-2 in the fourth inning. Andy Bennett hit a triple down the line in right to score Dan Harwood and Keenan Taylor.
 
The 2-2 tie ran into the top of the eighth inning, but Ball State would grab the lead with an RBI single to left. The game would blow up for the Bulldogs in the ninth with Messina hitting a three-run shot over the wall in left. Powell also tripled in the inning to score Peltier.
 
Andrew Orselli entered the game in the eighth and would be credited with a five-out save. Butler also used Nick Eaton and Lukas Galdoni out of the bullpen.
 
Nine Butler hits were recorded by five different players. Four of the five had two hits on the day. Freddie Matos was 2-for-4 from the plate and Brody McGrath was 2-for-3. Harwood went 2-for-5 with a run scored and Bennett was 2-for-3 with the two RBI.
 
These two teams will return to action with an 11 AM doubleheader at Ball State tomorrow.