Box Score
KALAMAZOO, Mich.- Western Michigan (16-10-1, 3-4 MAC) scored a run in every inning but the first and eighth, as the Broncos won game one of a three-game series against Buffalo, 12-5, at Hyames Field Friday. Junior right-hander Ethan Hollingsworth (4-2) hurled eight strong innings, striking out eight, earning his fourth win of the season.
Kevan Hess drove in a run with a fielder's choice to put WMU's first tally on the board in the second inning. Buffalo (8-21, 2-7 MAC) scored its only runs off of Hollingsworth in the third, using a walk, a single and double to plate two.
Briefly trailing, 2-1, the Broncos fired back with a pair of runs of their own in the bottom of the third to regain the lead, 3-2. Joe Sheets belted his team-leading fifth home run of the season, a solo shot to center field, and Kelmigian roped an RBI double.
The Brown & Gold recorded another run in the fourth, scoring without a hit. Derek Mosher reached safely on his second of four walks on the game and stole second. He was pushed to third on a sacrifice bunt by Hess and scored on a Simotes groundout.
Western Michigan pulled ahead by a margain of 8-2 the next inning, scoring four runs in the fifth. Kyle Galbraith drove in a run with a double to left center and Mosher pushed two more across the dish with a two-run double down the right field line. Simotes notched his second RBI of the day with a sac fly to left field.
Zach Gentile doubled to lead off the bottom of the sixth and scored on a single by Sheets, who later scored on a Chris Lewis two-bagger. The Broncos wrapped up their scoring with another pair of runs in the seventh, extending the lead to 12-2. Gentile and Lewis each tallied an RBI.
Michael Klepper replaced Hollingsworth in the top of the ninth and got off to a rough start, walking the first two hitters he faced and allowed a single with no outs to load the bases. Buffalo took adavantage, coming up with three runs in the final frame.
Western Michigan pounded out a total of 15 hits and committed two errors. UB had 10 hits and one error. Sheets, Lewis, Kelmigian, Galbraith and Hess each had two hits apiece for the Broncos. As a team WMU drew six walks and had just one strikeout.
WMU and Buffalo return to Hyames Field tomorrow for a 1 p.m. contest. RHP Billy Morrison (2-1, 4.84 ERA) will get the starting nod for the Broncos, while RHP Mike Stangroom (1-3, 3.71 ERA) will take the mound for the Bulls.
Game Notes: Winning its 16th game, WMU tied its win total from 2007 with 22 games left to go in 2008 ... Chris Lewis extended his hit streak to a team season-best 10 games ... Matthew Abro and Zach Gentile are both on eight game hit streaks ... Hollingsworth has totaled 18 strikeouts in his last two starts ... the game was delayed 17 minutes due to rain.
