Down two runs in the 9th inning. The veteran heart of the order up to bat. The scene was set for a thrilling comeback and the Ball State baseball team delivered, scoring three runs in the final at bat to beat league leader Central Michigan 8-7 on Sunday. The victory earned BSU a series split and allowed it to keep pace with CMU atop the MAC standings with 12 games to play.

"The atmosphere between the teams was electric. After the win, our huddle was special," head coach Rich Maloney said. "I'm happy for our boys to experience this when their backs were against the wall do or die. Long way to go, but a moment they will never forget."

Aaron Simpson went 3-for-4 and added a sac fly and Adam Tellier and Noah Navarro each had three hits at the top of the batting order. 

SEASON-CHANGING INNING: Ball State led 5-4 after five innings when Central Michigan struck for three in the 6th to take a 7-5 lead. The home team was destined for a win and series win, which would've moved Ball State to three games back in the standings. In the 9th, Navarro led off the inning by hitting an 0-2 pitch to left for a single. An error put runners on 1st and 2nd when Nick Powell, the team leader with a .338 batting average, blasted a double to score Navarro and Ross Messina to tie the game. Powell would score on Simpson's sac fly to give Ball State the lead. Maloney then went to ace John Baker for the save. Baker grabbed his fourth save with a 1-2-3 inning and the celebration was on. 

BIG PICTURE: The win keeps Ball State (30-14, 21-7 MAC) just a game behind 22-6 Central Michigan for 1st place. The regular season champion goes to the NCAA this year. 

WHAT'S LEFT: Ball State, one game back, and CMU each have 12 games remaining. Ball State, in order, has Kent State (14-13) at home, goes to Ohio (15-13) and closes the regular season at home vs. Miami (14-15). Central Michigan is at Western Michigan (16-12), hosts Eastern Michigan (11-14) and closes at Toledo (13-12). 

TEAM EFFORT: Eight different Cardinals had multiple RBIs over the weekend and five different players scored three runs or more. Nine pitchers saw action, with four different pitchers appearing in two games. 

SERIES IN TOTAL: Over the course of the four games, here's how Ball State and Central Michigan compared. Three of the four games were close except for game 3, a Ball State blowout win:

UP NEXT: Ball State welcomes Kent State to Muncie for four games next weekend. The first game is Friday, May 14 at 3 p.m. with a noon doubleheader the next day.