Comeback Falls Short in 6-5 Baseball Loss at WMU

Sunday, May 3

Kalamazoo, Mich.

1:00 PM

Ball State University

26-19, 11-10

Western Michigan

19-23, 11-10

Ball State Cardinals

Western Michigan

Dayton Takes Series Finale Over Ball State, 3-1

May 04, 2015 | Baseball

Box Score

By: Ball State Athletics

KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- The Ball State baseball team's rally from a six-run deficit came up just short Sunday in a 6-5 loss at Western Michigan.

The Cardinals fell to 26-19 (11-10 Mid-American Conference) with the loss. Western Michigan improved to 19-23 (11-10 MAC) and clinched the weekend series between the teams at Robert J. Bobb Stadium.

Jarett Rindfleisch hit his eighth home run of the year and drove in a pair of runs to lead Ball State offensively, while the Cardinals' bullpen turned in a strong performance.

Western Michigan used a four-run first inning, including a three-run Tanner Allison homer, to grab the early lead. Devin Wilburn came out of the Ball State bullpen to shut the Broncos out over the next three innings before surrendering single runs in both the fifth and sixth.

Ball State began its comeback with three runs in the seventh inning, including a run-scoring triple from Matt Eppers. The first four batters hit safely as the Cardinals logged five of their eight hits for the game in that inning.

Rindfleisch's two-run homer in the eighth inning cut the deficit to one, but the Cardinals then went down in order in the ninth as Western Michigan's Gabe Berman polished off the win.

Keegan Akin started the game for the Broncos and earned the win, while Brendan Burns suffered the loss for Ball State. Scott Baker came on for the final 2.2 innings and kept Western Michigan off the scoreboard during his time on the mound.

Sunday's game marked the final road contest of the regular season for Ball State, which will now play eight in a row at home. The Cardinals host IPFW at 3 p.m. Wednesday at the First Merchants Ballpark Complex.