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For the second year in a row Buffalo will open up thier "home" play at Monroe Community College. The field conditions at Audubon will force the Bulls to play Ball State in the same venue where they opened conference play against CMU last year.
Buffalo is coming off a 2-1 series win on the road against Northern Illinois. UB came back from a big loss in game one to win two straight close games on Saturday and Sunday. This weekend however the Bulls will take on the conference-leading Cardinals. UB hopes to break the seven game BSU winning streak.
Ball State finished second in the MAC West Division last season and advanced to the championship game of the conference tournament before being eliminated by Bowling Green. This year they are 17-8 overall and 3-0 in MAC play having swept Bowling Green last weekend. Ball State was picked to finish first in the Mid-American Conference West Division in the league’s preseason poll and so far they are living up to the hype.
Last weekend the BSU starters allowed just eight runs in 22.2 innings to power the team, and freshman Zach Plesac was named the MAC West Pitcher of the Week for his efforts.
While the weekend pitching staff has been the best in the MAC, with Mike Burke and Anthony Magovney ranking first and second in the conference in ERA, the offense has found success in "small-ball". UB's wins over NIU highlighted how UB has worked for runs this season. On the year The Bulls have 35 sacrifices, 91 walks and 24 stolen bases.
Probable Starters -
Friday: Mike McGee (1-2, 4.32 ERA) vs. T.J. Weir (2-1, 3.82 ERA)
Saturday: Anthony Magovney (5-0, 1.34 ERA) vs. Scott Baker (3-2, 4.28 ERA)
Sunday: Mike Burke (2-1, 1.00 ERA) vs. Zach Plesac (6-1, 2.16 ERA)
