MUNCIE, Ind. – The Western Michigan baseball team rallied from a three-run deficit in the top of the ninth, but Ball State hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the frame to claim a 10-9 victory in Sunday's series finale between the two teams.
 
FINAL SCORE: Ball State 10, Western Michigan 9
LOCATION: Shebek Stadium (Muncie, Ind.)
RECORDS: Western Michigan (0-14, 0-3 MAC) | Ball State (11-5, 3-0)
W: John Chambers (1-0) | L: Turner Doran (0-1)
 
Trailing 9-6 entering the top of the ninth, the Broncos put two aboard for Brendan Harrity, who promptly launched a three-run shot to straightaway center to tie the contest. It was WMU's first long ball of the season, and Harrity's first since March 3, 2023.
 
Ball State answered with a home run of its own in the bottom of the ninth to claim the walk-off victory.
 
Western Michigan grabbed the lead right away. Grady Mee opened the contest with a double, moved up to third on a sacrifice bunt, then scored on an error to put the Broncos on top two batters into the afternoon.
 
WMU took advantage of three consecutive walks to add three more runs in the third. Dylan Nevar plated a pair with a single, and Avery Thielman followed with a run-scoring knock of his own to make it 4-0.
 
After the Cardinals got on the board in the bottom of the fourth, Western Michigan answered in the next half inning, as Nevar drove in his third run of the day to extend the lead back to four, 5-1. Nevar's three RBIs on Sunday increased his career total to 167 and moved him past former teammate Cade Sullivan (2021-24) for second on WMU's all-time list.
 
Ball State came right back in the home half, tallying five to take a 6-5 advantage. BSU then added to its edge with an unearned run in the sixth.
 
The Broncos worked their way back to within one in the eighth, as Mee brought Thielman home with a sacrifice fly. BSU countered with a pair in the home half to take a 9-6 edge into the ninth.
 
Western Michigan returns to Kalamazoo next weekend to begin its home schedule, as Eastern Michigan comes to town for a three-game series. First pitch for Friday's Home Opener from Robert J. Bobb Stadium at Hyames Field is scheduled for 3:05 pm. For tickets to any WMU home game, visit wmubroncos.com/tickets.