INDIANAPOLIS – Butler hit two home runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to get back within one run of Ball State, but the Cardinal closer would collect the final two outs of the game to give BSU a 7-6 victory.
 
Jack Moroknek hit a solo shot to right center to keep the Bulldogs alive and a two-run homer from Kade Lewis in the same spot got the Butler faithful on to the edge of their seats.
 
Ball State would go to closer Tanner Knapp with the game on the line and he would strike out each batter he faced to move Ball State to 12-10 on the year. With the setback, Butler moves to 8-10.
 
Ball State scored five of their seven runs in the first inning as they batted through the order. Carter Dorighi broke up the 7-0 score in the fifth for Butler with an RBI single through the right side to score Ian Choi.
 
Moroknek's first RBI of the contest was a sac fly for BU in the seventh and AJ Solomon would enter the game for BU and deliver a single up the middle for the 'Dawgs in the eighth to score Lewis.
 
Lewis went 2-for-5 on the day with two RBI and two runs scored. Billy Wurch and Ian Choi also collected two hits to help Butler reach 11 in the game.
 
Ball State didn't score a run after the fourth inning thanks to a great effort from the BU bullpen. Andrew Crumbley, Tyler Banks, Nick Miketinac, Nate Rosser, and Grant Brooks only allowed one Ball State hit over the final 5.1 innings. BU arms struck out five total and were responsible for seven walks.
 
Simon Linde took the loss while the win went to Will Jacobson. The 7-foot left-hander struck out six over five innings and didn't issue a walk. Zach Kwasny also threw in relief before handing the ball off to Knapp for his fourth save of 2024.
 
Butler will stay home and host a four-game series against Dayton this weekend. A pair of doubleheaders are on the schedule for both Saturday and Sunday. Noon starts will open the action each day.