Season Statistics
KALAMAZOO -- No. 74 Ball State edged No. 52 Western Michigan, 4-3, in a Mid-American Conference showdown at Sorensen Courts Saturday afternoon.
The Broncos (22-4, 3-1 MAC) fell behind early against the Cardinals (17-6, 4-0 MAC) by dropping matches at one and two doubles. Tim Bradshaw and Jeff French kept the Broncos from being swept by winning 8-6 at three doubles.
Ball State took an early 2-0 lead in singles after Joe Epkey knocked off Jose Orozco 6-4, 6-1 at two singles, but the Broncos got the point back when Bradshaw finished off Patrick Thompson 6-2, 6-1 at three singles. Anthony Epkey pulled BSU to within a point of victory after he beat WMU's Alex Birchmeier 6-2, 6-0 at four singles.
The Broncos stormed back as Kevin Hayward defeated Jarrod Epkey 6-4, 6-4 at five singles and French finished off Daniel Vidal 7-5, 6-4 at six singles. French staged a furious comeback as he trailed 5-2 in the first set before winning five straight games to win the set and eventually even the team match, 3-3, while winning his 16th consecutive singles match in the process.
The match came down to the matchup at one singles between the only two nationally-ranked singles players in the MAC, No. 85 Matt Baccarani for BSU and No. 113 Brady Crosby for WMU. Crosby took the first set, 7-6 (6), before Baccarani evened the match at a set apiece, 6-2.
The two players battled back and forth in front of a partisan WMU crowd in the decisive third set. The tide turned with the score tied at 4-4 when Baccarani broke Crosby's serve to go up 5-4. He closed the match out the match on his serve to give Ball State the victory and at least a share of the MAC regular season championship.
"It was a good match between two quality teams on a great day for tennis," head coach Dave Morin said. "I'm disappointed that we lost, but I like how we fought back after struggling early in doubles and gave ourselves a chance to win the match."
The Broncos return to action the next two weekends in Toledo, Ohio. WMU battles the Rockets in the final regular season match of the season next Saturday at 1 p.m. before the MAC Tournament begins on April 27.
Tennis Match Results
Ball State vs Western Michigan
Apr 14, 2006 at Kalamazoo, Mich.
#74 Ball State 4, #52 Western Michigan 3
Singles competition
1. #85 Matthew Baccarani (BS) def. #113 Brady Crosby (WMU) 6-7 (6-8), 6-2, 6-4
2. Joe Epkey (BS) def. Jose Orozco (WMU) 6-4, 6-1
3. Tim Bradshaw (WMU) def. Patrick Thompson (BS) 6-2, 6-1
4. Anthony Epkey (BS) def. Alex Birchmeier (WMU) 6-2, 6-0
5. Kevin Hayward (WMU) def. Jarrod Epkey (BS) 6-4, 6-4
6. Jeff French (WMU) def. Daniel Vidal (BS) 7-5, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. #26 Matthew Baccarani/Joe Epkey (BS) def. Brady Crosby/Bryan Norville (WMU) 8-5
2. Anthony Epkey/Jarrod Epkey (BS) def. Alex Birchmeier/Jose Orozco (WMU) 8-5
3. Tim Bradshaw/Jeff French (WMU) def. Patrick Thompson/Joe Vallee (BS) 8-6
Match Notes:
Ball State 17-6, 4-0 MAC; National ranking #74
Western Michigan 22-4, 3-1 MAC; National ranking #52
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (2,3,4,5,6,1)
