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MUNCIE, Ind.— The No. 4 Ohio baseball team (29-23, 21-15 MAC) fell to No. 1 Ball State (39-17, 32-7 MAC) in their first game of the 2022 Mid-American Tournament today (May 26), 6-4. 
 
"We competed and battled with them," said head coach Craig Moore. "I'm proud of the guys. They fought all day long; we just weren't able to finish it." 

Individually, senior Will Sturek (Minnetonka, Minn.) led the way, going 1-for-2 with a two-run home run. On the mound, fifth year Edward Kutt IV (Westlake, Calif.) went 5.2 innings, giving up three earned runs on six hits while registering two strikeouts. Fifth years Chace Harris (New Marshfield, Ohio) and Brett Manis (Port Huron, Mich.) pitched the remainder of the game, striking out one apiece. 
 
After a scoreless top of the first, Ball State struck in the bottom of the inning, scoring one run off an RBI single. Kutt drew a groundout before a lightning strike delayed the game. Almost 24 hours later, play resumed with one out and one runner on base. Another Cardinals RBI single in the first and then a groundout in the top of the second left Ohio trailing, 3-0.
 
Redshirt freshman AJ Rausch (Powell, Ohio) tagged up on a sacrifice fly from redshirt senior Spencer Harbert (Middletown, Del.), scoring the Bobcats' first run. The next at-bat, Sturek crushed a two-run homer to down the right field line, tying the game, 3-3. 
 
Harbert launched Ohio ahead in the sixth with a solo shot down the left field line, giving the Bobcats a 4-3 lead. The Cardinals tied the game again in the seventh, scoring on a wild pitch. 
 
In the bottom of the ninth, Ball State hit a two-run home run and the Bobcats fell, 6-4. 
 
UP NEXT 
The Bobcats return to action tomorrow (May 27) when they take on No. 3 Toledo. First pitch is set for 9 a.m.
 
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