MUNCIE, Ind.- Ball State baseball slipped by Western Michigan Saturday, 3-2, to even this weekend's Mid-American Conference series at one game apiece. The two meet again tomorrow in decisive game three at 1 p.m.

Ball State's Ryan Spaulding gave the Cardinals a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first with a two-run home run. WMU tied the score in the top of the fifth. With one out, Hunter Prince reached first with a single up the middle. Theo Piccirilli then hit a base hit to center field and an error allowed Prince to score and Piccirilli to advance to third. A groundout by Dan Shutes scored the Broncos' second run.

Ball State (26-13, 10-3 MAC) took the lead back in the bottom of the fifth. Cole Griesinger singled with one out and later scored on a two-out hit by Sean Godfrey.

Western Michigan (14-20, 5-9 MAC) loaded the bases with one out in the sixth, but Ball State right-handed pitcher T.J. Weir struck out the next two Bronco batters. WMU also had a runner on third with two outs in the eighth, but a strikeout again ended the Bronco at bat. Weir (5-1) went a full nine innings for the Cardinals and totaled 14 strikeouts on the day.

Western Michigan starter Chad Mayle (4-3) also threw a complete game. After giving up two hits in the first, Mayle allowed just four the rest of the game. He struck out four and walked three. The loss was his first in five MAC starts this season.

Prince, Piccirilli and Brett Sunde each had two hits for WMU. Andrew Sohn stole his team-leading 10th base of the season.