This weekend we played in a four-team tournament held by the University of Louisville. Cal Berkley, Indiana State University, Kent State University and the University of Louisville rounded out the tournament field.

Friday afternoon, we began play against Cal. The Pac 10 is a strong conference and the Bears had beaten some good teams early in the year, so we knew in order for us to win, we had to play solid baseball. Cal's starting pitcher, Tyson Ross, shut our offense down the whole game. He only allowed three hits in eight innings of work and struck out 10. Cal's offense was sparked by David Cooper, who was 3 for 4 with two home runs. We ended up losing 8-0 and started the weekend off the wrong way. We had to put this game behind us quick, because Saturday we were playing a very good Indiana State team.

We started Saturday's game off just the way we wanted to. We got out to a quick lead after Anthony Gallas hit his second home of the year in the top of the second. Andrew Davis hit a two-run double in the third to give us a 3-0 lead. We added one more run in the sixth, and that would be all Kyle Smith would need. Smith pitched six innings, not allowing a run or a hit. Reid Lamport came in and pitched the last three innings. Indiana State did not have a hit until the eighth inning when they laid a bunt down the third-base line with two strikes.
 

We were all sort of bummed about losing the no-hitter, but getting the win was more important. We were now 1-1 on the weekend, and Louisville was the only thing that stood in our way of winning the weekend.

Sunday's game was very intense and full of excitement. We jumped out to an early 2-0 start. But Louisville answered back quickly with a run in the third. Both teams were shut out until the bottom of the ninth. Louisville had a man on second with two out. Closer Ryan Davis fielded a ground ball that was chopped down the third-base line. He fired it to first but it was not in time. Meanwhile, the runner on second continued to run home. I threw the ball home but as the runner was diving home he knocked the ball out of our catcher's glove. The Cardinals tied the game up and we were headed to extra innings.

That play could have put us away, but we battled and scored two runs, and we won the game 4-2. This was the type of game that really could change our season. We fought hard and played well against a very good team. We didn't have to time to celebrate too much though, we are traveling to Southern Mississippi next weekend to face another very good team.

Brad Winter

(photo courtesy of Kent State Media Relations Office)