Ball State had the NIU baseball team’s number all last season.

This year isn’t any different, as the Cardinals swept the Huskies this weekend in a three-game series, 13-1, 11-4 and 15-7. Game 4 was cancelled Sunday because of inclement weather.

“I’m proud of how our kids played,” Huskies head coach Dave Schrage said. “We battled all the way through for all 16 innings. We played hard, but it’s just pretty obvious that Ball State is better than we are right now.”

The Huskies started Game 1 on Saturday scoring 3 runs in the first inning. Junior outfielder Pat Kerrigan hit a 2-run triple and was brought in on the next hit after Brent Coyner grounded out.

The Cardinals responded by scoring at least 1 run in the next three innings and 4 runs in the fifth, taking the 9-3 lead.

“Ball State is hitting everything we throw at them,” Schrage said. “We threw our best at them in [pitcher] Brad Gavelek, and they picked up 16 hits off of him.”

In Game 2, the Huskies fell behind 2-0 after the first inning but responded by scoring 2 runs in the top of the second. Ball State scored 5 runs in the fourth and added 2 in the sixth to take a 10-4 lead. But the Huskies (8-10 overall, 0-3 Mid-American Conference) scored 3 runs in the seventh to pull within 3, 10-7.

On Friday, Brian Bullington overpowered the Huskies, striking out 13 NIU batters in the Cardinals’ 13-1 win.

NIU only managed to score 1 run, which came in the first inning. Designated hitter John Brock, hit a lead-off home run over the right field fence to give the Huskies their only score of the game.

“We really never threatened,” Schrage said. “Bullington overpowered us. They outplayed us in every aspect of the game. They outhit us and they played better defense.”