MUNCIE, Ind. – The Western Michigan baseball team dropped an 8-2 decision at Ball State on Saturday in the middle game of the two teams' three-game weekend series.
 
FINAL SCORE: Ball State 8, Western Michigan 2
LOCATION: Shebek Stadium (Muncie, Ind.)
RECORDS: Western Michigan (0-13, 0-2 MAC) | Ball State (10-5, 2-0)
W: Jacob Hartlaub (3-1) | L: Joey Wizceb (0-3) | Save: Zach Leduc (1)
 
Ball State struck first for the second straight day, plating a run in the home half of the opening inning. The hosts then scored two more in the second to make it 3-0.
 
Tanner Mally and Grady Mee each had one of their two hits on the day in the top of the third, but the Broncos were turned away.
 
After BSU made it 4-0 in the fourth, WMU had two runners on base again in the fifth, but once again was held off of the scoreboard. The hosts then extended the margin with four in the bottom half.
 
Western Michigan grabbed its first run of the contest in the sixth, when Connor Ostrander notched a two-out single to bring Michael Maloney home. The Brown and Gold loaded the bases later in the frame, but could not add any more.
 
The Broncos pulled a run closer in the seventh, as Mee singled, stole second, moved to third on an error and then raced home on a wild pitch.
 
Western Michigan and Ball State close out their weekend series on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 1 pm.