The Central Michigan University baseball team blew a three-run lead Thursday afternoon and lost 5-4 to visiting Ball State.
With the loss, the Chippewas (28-25, 15-7) were prevented from clinching the outright Mid-American Conference West Division championship and now have two more chances on Friday and Saturday to keep Ball State (28-26, 13-9) from sharing the title. Eastern Michigan (21-32, 12-9) also entered the weekend with a chance to share the MAC West title and began a home series with Toledo Thursday night.
Central Michigan began the game in fine fashion as starting pitcher Pat Leatherman threw six consecutive scoreless frames, while running one run of support in the second inning and another two in the fourth to give the hosts a 3-0 advantage.