The Ball State Cardinals baseball team is set to host the Northern Illinois Huskies this weekend, and fans are ready for an exciting Mid-American Conference series. This key matchup in Muncie, IN, will see the Cardinals battle a formidable Huskies offense. Read on to learn more about the players to watch and what’s at stake in this crucial baseball series.
Cardinals Clash with Huskies in Weekend Baseball Series: Muncie Hosts Key MAC Matchup
Published: April 12, 2024
Muncie, IN
Series Preview: Cardinals Return Home
Ball State University’s baseball team (23-11, 10-2 Mid-American Conference) welcomes Northern Illinois University (12-19, 3-9 MAC) for a crucial three-game series this weekend. After a challenging 7-5 loss to Indiana University on Tuesday, the Cardinals are eager to return to Shebek stadium following three consecutive road series. The series kicks off at 3 p.m. Friday, with subsequent games scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Each game will be broadcast with a free single-camera view, accessible via links on the team’s schedule page. Spectators are encouraged to participate in a canned food drive benefiting Muncie Mission.
By the Numbers: A Tale of Two Teams
While both teams have faced challenges this season, their strengths and weaknesses present a compelling contrast.
Northern Illinois Huskies: Offensive Powerhouse
- Ranked first in the MAC and No. 27 nationally with 52 home runs.
- Averages 7.9 runs per game, placing them fourth in the conference.
- Pitching staff ERA stands at 7.59, eighth in the MAC.
Ball State Cardinals: Defensive Prowess and Pitching Depth
- Lead the nation with a .987 fielding percentage.
Ball State has committed 15 errors in 1,196 opportunities this year through the first 34 games. Ball State is fourth nationally in double plays turned at 33.
- Pitching duo Keegan Johnson and Jacob Hartlaub are among the MAC’s elite.
Players to Watch
Several key players could significantly impact the outcome of this series.
Northern Illinois: Logan Gregorio, Junior Catcher
Gregorio is a force to be reckoned with, leading the conference in RBI (46, No. 13 nationally) and total bases (95). He also ranks second in home runs (13, No. 14 nationally) and third in total hits (45).
Northern Illinois: Max Vaisvila, Junior Left-Handed Pitcher
Vaisvila boasts a league-leading 4.44 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Northern Illinois: Adam Brouwer, Redshirt Junior Righty
Brouwer leads the MAC with 47 strikeouts.
Ball State: Alex Richter, Senior Third Baseman
Richter has been hit by a pitch 21 times this year, the most in NCAA Division I. The third baseman is only three HBP away from tying Ryan Read’s program record of 24 set in 1995.
Richter also propelled the Cardinals to victory against eastern Michigan with a three-run home run. Ball State rallied back from a 5-3 deficit entering the ninth inning on Sunday, taking a 6-5 lead on Alex Richter’s three-run home run to right field.with six total runs on its way to a 9-5 triumph at EMU.
Ball State: Keegan Johnson, Pitcher
Johnson leads the league in fewest hits allowed per nine innings (5.91) and is second in ERA (2.96) and third in WHIP (1.12)
. Johnson’s six wins are the most in the league and tied for fourth nationally.
Ball State: Jacob Hartlaub,Pitcher
Hartlaub is second in WHIP (1.10) and third in ERA (3.04) among qualifiers so far this year
. Both pitchers have struck out 46 batters, placing them in a tie for second place in the MAC.
Ball State: Dylan Grego, Junior
Grego is the league leader with 50 hits while batting .365 (No. 7 in the MAC) with an 1.014 OPS through 34 games.
Junior Dylan Gregi hit the game-winning single in Ball State’s 4-2 win at Eastern Michigan in 14 innings on Friday and has developed into one of the top shortstops in the conference.
recent Games: Momentum and Setbacks
Ball State is coming off a mixed week, experiencing both triumph and defeat.
- swept eastern Michigan in Ypsilanti last weekend.
Friday’s outcome was the first win for the baseball team in an extra innings since April 7,2023 at The Citadel,and the 14 innings were the most in a Ball State game since the 2018 Cardinals played 14 frames at Indiana on April 18.
- Suffered a 7-5 loss at Indiana on Tuesday night.
Northern Illinois also had a split week:
- Fell 18-10 to Eastern Illinois on Tuesday.
- Won two out of three games against Ohio over the weekend in DeKalb.
Looking Ahead: Rematch with Butler
Following this weekend’s series, ball State will face Butler University at 4 p.m. on Tuesday in a rematch of their March 19 game, where the Cardinals emerged victorious with a 17-7 score in Muncie.
conference Realignment: Huskies’ Future
This series holds added meaning as it may be one of the last times Northern Illinois competes in Muncie as a Mid-American Conference member. The NIU athletic department will switch conferences to the Horizon League beginning with the 2026-27 school year, making 2026 the last season the Huskies are set to compete in the MAC. Ball State will likely play in DeKalb next spring for the final MAC series against Northern Illinois.
