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Box Score (PDF)

MUNCIE, Ind. – The Ohio Baseball team (16-28, 10-11 MAC) dropped the series opener to Ball State (31-17, 15-5 MAC), 4-2, on Friday evening at First Merchant Field.

Sophomore INF Aaron Levy (Cincinnati, Ohio) hit his fifth home run of the year and was 1-for-5 with one RBI and one run scored.

Senior INF Rudy Rott (Holmen, Wis.) went 2-for-3 with two singles, a walk, and run scored. Rott is now in second all-time in career hits at Ohio with 272 and is 14 behind the all-time leader, Jake Madsen who had 286.

Junior INF Trevor Hafner (Perrysburg, Ohio) had a double while Ohio had eight total hits. The Bobcats reached four times on walks.

Ohio jumped out to an early 1-0 lead with Levy's solo home run in the top of the first inning.

The Bobcats extended their lead to 2-0 when sophomore INF Treyben Funderburg (Beavercreek, Ohio) ripped a single to center field that scored Rott.

Funderburg ended the day 1-for-4 with one RBI.

Ball State scored all four runs in the seventh inning. BSU got on the scoreboard when Chase Sebby hit a double that scored one. After loading the bases, Noah Powell hit a double down the left field line that cleared the bases and gave the Cardinals a 4-2 lead.

Sophomore RHP Edward Kutt IV (Westlake, Calif.) fell to 3-4 after allowing four earned runs in 6.2 innings pitched. Kutt IV struck out seven batters, one behind his season high.

Sophomore LHP Brett Manis (Port Huron, Mich.) allowed just two runners to reach in 1.1 innings. Manis did not give up an earned run and fanned one batter.

Ohio will continue the series against Ball State tomorrow at noon, an hour earlier than previously scheduled.

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