MUNCIE, Ind. – The Western Michigan men's tennis team fell in their final regular season road contest of 2015, dropping a 5-2 decision to the Ball State Cardinals at the Cardinal Creek Tennis Center on Saturday. With the loss, the Broncos fall to 17-6, 2-2 in Mid-American Conference play. They will conclude the regular season at home next weekend when they host the Toledo Rockets.

The Broncos collected wins in the Nos. 4 and 5 singles matches but could get no more as the Cardinals controlled play on their home court. Matt Hamilton cruised to a straight sets victory over Jan Jirus at the No. 4 position, taking him down 6-2, 6-1 for his 30th singles win of the season. Hamilton is the first Bronco to win 30 singles matches in a year since Nadin Indre did it in 2012.

Following Hamilton's lead was junior Jimmy Beckwith, who came back from being a set down to beat Andrew Stutz in three full sets in the No. 5 singles match. Beckwith trailed after Stutz won the first set 6-4 but bounced back with a 6-2 win in the second set. He wrapped up the match with a perfect third set, winning 6-0 to complete the win.

Ball State 5, Western Michigan 2

Singles competition
1. Ray Leonard (BSU) def. Maik Steiner (WMU) 3-6, 6-1, 6-2
2. Lucas Andersen (BSU) def. Jefta Kecic (WMU) 6-2, 6-2
3. Patrick Elliott (BSU) def. Ruben Greiner (WMU) 6-0, 6-1
4. Matt Hamilton (WMU) def. Jan Jirus (BSU) 6-2, 6-1
5. Jimmy Beckwith (WMU) def. Andrew Stutz (BSU) 4-6, 6-2, 6-0
6. Patrick Downs (BSU) def. Pablo Mora (WMU) 6-2, 4-6, 7-6

Doubles competition
1. Patrick Elliott/Lucas Andersen (BSU) def. Stephen Payne/Ruben Greiner (WMU) 6-3
2. Ray Leonard/Collin Rigney (BSU) def. Jefta Kecic/Jimmy Beckwith (WMU) 6-4
3. Andrew Stutz/Matt Helm (BSU) vs. Maik Steiner/Matt Hamilton (WMU) 4-5, unfinished