The University of Dayton Baseball team is slated to play a four-game series against Ball State this weekend. The series will begin on Friday in Muncie, Ind. with a 3 p.m. start time. The series will move to Dayton on Saturday for a doubleheader, which will begin at 12 p.m. and have a brief intermission in between games.
PROBABLE PITCHERS
Game 1: RHP
Brandon Smith (UD) vs. RHP John Baker (BSU)
Game 2: RHP
Austin Cline (UD) vs. RHP Kyle Nicolas (BSU)
Game 3: RHP RJ Wagner (UD) vs. TBD (BSU)
Game 4: LHP
Peter Rozman (UD) vs. TBD (BSU)
ABOUT DAYTON
- Junior Pat Meehan hit his team-leading fourth home run in the team's loss to Wright State with a solo shot off the scoreboard in the right field fence.
- Meehan also has a batting average of .348, which ranks second on the team.
- Redshirt sophomore Brandon Smith lead the team with a .349 batting averageÂ
- Smith was named the Atlantic 10 Player of the Week after hitting .538 at the plate and his first two home runs of the season last week in games against Eastern Michigan, Hartford and Wright State.
- Smith is also the probable starter for Friday's game and enters the day with a 5.87 ERA across three appearances (one start) and 7.2 innings pitched.
- Justin Longbrake is Dayton's current leader in ERA with a 4.15 mark in five appearances out of the bullpen, which is tied for a team high, and 8.2 innings on the mound.
ABOUT BALL STATE
- Friday's game will be Ball State's 2018 home opener.
- The Cardinals are 8-8 this season, including a series sweep over Western Carolina last weekend.
- Ball State's scheduled probable starters for this weekend have records of 2-1 this season and ERAs of 5.01 and 4.12, respectively.
- Baker has a team-high 35 strikeouts in 23.1 innings pitched and has allowed just 22 hits and six walks.
- The Cardinal bats are led by Jeff Riedel, who is hitting .408 and has eight extra base hits and 13 RBIs.
- Colin Brockhouse and Seth Freed share the team lead for home runs with four apiece.
