March 18, 2015 Box Score
MUNCIE, Ind. - Ball State scored four runs to break open a tie game in the bottom of the eighth to defeat Rutgers baseball, 6-2, Wednesday at Ball Diamond. It was the first meeting between the two schools.
On the mound, sophomore Ryan Fleming (Churchville, Pa.) was effective in his first start of the season with two runs allowed in five innings of work. The left-hander logged scoreless baseball after the first and struck out four in the outing. Classmate Colin Bohnert (West Caldwell, N.J.) followed with 1.2 scoreless frames in relief.
Senior Vinny Zarrillo (Forked River, N.J.) produced four quality at bats for RU with two walks, a single and a sacrifice fly, while freshman Milo Freeman (Millburn, N.J.) delivered a pair of singles. Rutgers stranded 10 runners on base.
The Cardinals (12-7) jumped on top in the first inning with two runs with two outs. However, Fleming settled in from there to keep the deficit at two heading to the fifth.
RU (3-13) broke through with a pair of runs in the fifth to even the score. Freeman singled to start the inning and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by junior John Jennings (Berkeley Heights, N.J.). Sophomore Mike Carter (Bloomfield, N.J.) and junior R.J. Devish (Beachwood, N.J.) then both walked to load the bases, forcing a Ball State pitching change. Junior Tom Marcinczyk (Middlesex, N.J.) worked the count to full on the reliever before being drilled by a pitch for an RBI. Next up, Zarrillo lifted a sacrifice fly deep enough to left to plate Carter.
Both teams exchanged zeros on the board into the late innings, including in the bottom of the seventh when sophomore Max Herrmann (Rutherford, N.J.) stranded an inherited runner at second. However, Ball State sent 10 batters to the plate and recorded four runs to go ahead in the eighth. Colin Brockhouse (1-0) then closed it out to seal the win for the hosts, as he pitched three innings. Herrmann (1-2) suffered the loss.
Each side played errorless ball in the field.
The Scarlet Knights will next travel over to West Lafayette, Ind., this weekend to open Big Ten play at Purdue. The first game is slated for Friday at 5:30 p.m.
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