WMU Avoids Four-Game Sweep with 14-Inning, Marathon Win

MUNCIE, Ind. -- By the time Sunday's 5-hour, 24-minute marathon was over, the box score barely fit on one page.

Ball State and Western Michigan combined to use 14 pitchers and send 137 batters to the plate in a 14-inning affair that saw both teams lead by as many as five runs before eventually duking it out in extra innings

After heroic plays offensively and defensively by both teams down the stretch and in extras, Western Michigan finally prevailed 15-12 to salvage one game of this MAC-opening four-game series at First Merchants Ballpark Complex.

Western Michigan shortstop Drew Devine made the defensive play of the game with the diving stab of a Noah Navarro liner with the bases loaded in the 13th to preserve the tie and then homered just minutes later in the 14th to put the Broncos on top for good.

Ball State (9-8, 3-1 MAC) wanted a sweep but was left looking at the positives of a series win after the Cardinals could not completely capitalize on a late five-run rally.

"The kids fought back; there's no doubt about that," head coach Rich Maloney said. "They gritted it out, so you have to give them credit. it's a hard pill to swallow not to get over the top after that comeback, but we won the series. It's hard to sweep a team. We battled all weekend and won three out of four, and it's a good start."

Ball State watched an early 6-0 lead evaporate as Western Michigan (1-9, 1-3 MAC) scored 11 unanswered runs. The Cardinals got one run back in the seventh on a Ross Messina homer and then pulled even in their final scheduled at bat courtesy a pinch-hit, three-run homer from Cade Fitzpatrick and a game-tying single from Adam Tellier.

Both bullpens hung zeros in the 10th, 11th and 13th frames, and the teams traded single runs in the 12th. Ball State had chances, including a golden opportunity with the bases loaded and two outs in the 13th. But that's when Devine flashed his glove to keep things tied.

Devine and Will Morrison both homered in the decisive 14th inning, and the Cardinals were retired in order in the bottom of the frame. The teams combined for seven home runs on the day, five of them for WMU, including two by Greg Budig.

Tellier, Chase Sebby and Ryan Peltier collected three hits each on the day for Ball State, while Sebby and Messina matched Fitzpatrick with a team-high three RBIs.

Sunday's game marked the longest for the Cardinals in terms of both time and innings since a 5-hour, 34-minute, 14-inning contest at Indiana on April 18, 2018.

Ball State plays home again next weekend when Toledo comes to town for another four-game series. Friday's series-opening first pitch is set for 3 p.m.

WMU Avoids Four-Game Sweep with 14-Inning, Marathon Win

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Team Stats

Adam Tellier

Chase Sebby

Ryan Peltier

Noah Navarro

Players Mentioned

Cade Fitzpatrick

Ross Messina

Noah Navarro

Ryan Peltier

Chase Sebby

Adam Tellier

Players Mentioned

Cade Fitzpatrick

Ross Messina

Noah Navarro

Ryan Peltier

Chase Sebby

Adam Tellier