After two innings of pent-up frustration, Jeremy Busch finally let it show.

The NIU center fielder could only watch as a Ball State grand slam sailed over the left-center field fence in the ninth inning of Sunday’s game at Ralph McKenzie Field.

Only two innings prior, Busch and the Huskies looked to be enjoying themselves. They had held the lead all day – but then came the eighth inning.

Ball State capitalized on two NIU errors, a passed ball and two infield singles to pull out a five-run eighth inning, giving the Cardinals an 8-5 lead.

“I don’t know what to say after a game like this,” said NIU pitcher Brian Smith, who took the mound in the eighth inning. “One thing just lead to another. Every team makes mistakes, but we’re better than this.”

In the top of the ninth, things only got worse for NIU. Ball State catcher Matt Singleton blasted Smith’s fastball for a grand slam, extending the Cardinals lead to 12-5.

The left-center field fence became the outlet for Busch’s frustration when he gave it a dejected kick after the ball flew out of his reach.

“It’s frustrating,” Busch said. “Smitty came out and gave us a couple plays that we just didn’t make. We have to make those plays.”

The grand slam began a seven-run ninth inning, but it was the eighth inning that NIU coach Ed Mathey confronted his team about after the game.

“We make one or two of those plays, we get out of that inning no harm done,” Mathey said.

Four of Ball State’s 15 runs were earned, while the others were a result of the Huskies’ six errors in Sunday’s game.

“It’s been a major factor in every game we’ve lost,” Busch said. “We’ve had a slow start, and I think it’s nerves. With baseball, you can’t do that.”