It was a tale of two outings for Eastern Michigan University in their first conference tournament game since 2018 — before the weather delay, and after it.
The Eagles took a 5-3 lead into the bottom of the fourth inning courtesy of five unanswered runs in the frame and looked to have the Ball State University Cardinals on the ropes. Then, lightning struck.
A three-hour-and-17-minute weather delay zapped away any momentum that Eastern Michigan had built up, and Ball State pounced on the opportunity, scoring three unanswered runs of their own over the next three innings to hold on and knock off the Eagles 6-5.
Eastern Michigan started the game slowly, falling behind the Cardinals 3-0 after the opening three innings and failing to generate any offense of their own before the green and white’s fourth inning avalanche.
A five-run frenzy in the top of the frame sparked the scoring for the Eagles, ignited by John Hale being hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Cooper Vance also double added two additional runs.
Ball State committed an error via a passed ball on a Connor Walsh strikeout that scored another run, and a Logan Hugo sacrifice fly capped off Eastern Michigan’s run that gave them a two-run lead heading into the bottom of the frame.
Unfortunately, those would be the only runs the Eagles would score all game.
Following the lengthy weather delay, the Cardinals immediately responded once play resumed, scoring two runs in the fourth inning. Then, in the sixth, they scored the go-ahead run to take the one-run lead that they would not relinquish the rest of the way.
With the win, Ball State, the No. 3 seed in the bracket, advances to the second round of the tournament to play Kent State University.
With the loss, Eastern Michigan’s hopes of making a Cinderella run as the No. 6 seed have been dashed. The Eagles are now set to continue play in the consolation bracket tomorrow afternoon, playing the loser of tomorrow morning’s clash between Bowling Green State University and the University of Toledo.
