With the wind blowing out at Ball Diamond on Saturday, the ball quickly followed suit.
Western Michigan University defeated Ball State University 20-10 as the teams combined for 12 home runs. Broncos designated hitter Jamie Simpson and Cardinals sophomore shortstop T.J. Baumet each hit three homers.
The loss snapped Ball State's three-game winning streak.
The visitors started the game with a leadoff home run from center fielder Kyle Galbraith and put eight runs on the board in the inning.
Ball State (18-18) senior starting pitcher Brenden Stines (2-4) threw three innings, allowing 14 runs for the loss. Western Michigan (11-25) sophomore starter Brian Stroud (2-7) allowed seven runs in five innings, but picked up the win. Freshman reliever Casey Weber pitched the final four innings for his first career save.
Ball State scored six runs of its own in the first inning, all after the first two batters had been retired. Baumet hit the first of his home runs to draw the Cardinals within two, but Stines couldn't keep it close, allowing six more runs in the third.
"The turning point was the third inning when they put six runs on the board and we didn't respond," coach Greg Beals said.
The Broncos scored 20 runs on just 15 hits, taking advantage of four walks from Stines and four errors by the Cardinals.
"We didn't play good enough defense behind [Stines]," Beals said. "As tough as it is, it's tougher when we add to it."
Sophomore Kolbrin Vitek went 3-for-4 with three doubles to raise his season total to 21, tied for third most in a single season at Ball State. Baumet finished 3-for-5 with four RBI and three home runs to raise his season total to six. Freshman first baseman Ian Nielsen was the other Cardinal to go deep, his seventh of the year.
Ball State finished the game without a stolen base for the first time since April 11 in the first game of a doubleheader at Bowling Green State University and the eighth time all year.
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