MUNCIE, Ind. – Ball State and Kent State, the preseason baseball favorites in the Mid-American Conference, opened league play with an exciting finish Friday afternoon at First Merchants Ballpark Complex. The visiting Golden Flashes took a 6-3 lead into the bottom of the ninth and narrowly held on for a 6-5 victory.
Ball State (11-11, 0-1 MAC) sophomore Griffin Hulecki led off the ninth inning with a double off the left-center field wall. Following a strikeout, pinch hitter Zach Milam dropped a ball into the left field grass for a single to put runners on first and third.