Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
KALAMAZOO, Mich.- Western Michigan won both games of a doubleheader against Buffalo Sunday, 4-0, 3-0. Billy Morrison threw a nine-inning, four-hit shutout in game one, while Brian Stroud and Derek Mosher combined for the shutout in game two. The Broncos improve to 18-10-1 on the season, 5-4 in the MAC.
Morrison (3-1) was masterful in game one, striking out six and walking none. Getting into a groove in the middle innings, he retired 16 straight batters. Morrison had allowed just two hits going into the last frame, before he gave up back-to-back singles with two outs in the ninth. It was his second complete nine-inning game of his career and his second shutout this season.
Offensively, WMU scored a run in the first inning and three in the fifth to secure the victory. Zach Gentile plated the run in the first after reaching on an error by the second baseman and advancing to second. Joe Sheets roped a line drive to left field to collect the RBI.
Derek Mosher drew a walk to open the fifth, moved over to second on a groundout and scored on a Gentile hit that dropped in between the infield and center fielder. Sheets plated Gentile with a double to left field. Sheets would steal third and score on another throwing error by Buffalo.
Stroud continued to keep Buffalo's bats silent in game two, scattering four hits over seven innings, while striking out seven and walking just one. Earning the win, he improved his record to 4-0 on the season. A freshman, Stroud has given WMU quality starts all season, as the team is 6-1 when the Joliet, Ill., native takes the mound.
Tim Mowry made a brief appearance in the eighth but was replaced by Derek Mosher after allowing runners on the corners with no outs. Mosher walked the first batter he faced in the eighth to load the bases, but got out of the jam, recording a popout and a pair of swinging strikeouts to end the Bulls' at bat. Mosher was credited with his third save of the year.
The Broncos got their scoring going in game two with a pair of runs in the third. Grant Simotes walked, Gentile poked a single and the two pulled off a double steal. With both runners in scoring position, Lewis ripped a two-run single up the middle.
WMU wouldn't score again until the bottom of the eighth. Matthew Abro reached on a fielding error by the center fielder, stole second and scored on an RBI single by Mosher to left field.
Western Michigan didn't commit an error the entire afternoon, while Buffalo was cited with four. The Broncos had 14 hits in the two games and the Bulls had 10. WMU stole six total bases.
Abro led the team with three hits on the day. Mosher, Kevan Hess, Sheets, Gentile and Lewis each had two. Sheets' two-bagger in game two was the only extra-base hit for WMU.
Brian Randazzo had three hits to pace Buffalo, while Adam Schonieckzi tallied two.
Western Michigan concludes its seven-game homestand next week, hosting Grand Valley State in a make-up game on Tuesday at 3 p.m. The Brown & Gold returns to Hyames Field on Wednesday for a 2 p.m. showdown with IPFW.
Game Notes: Game time temperature was 36 degrees ... Lewis had a 10-game hit streak snapped in game one ... collecting hits in both games, Abro and Gentile extended their hit streaks to 10 games, tying a team-season best ... WMU has recorded five shutouts this season ... it was the first three-game MAC series sweep for the Broncos since May 18-20, 2006 vs. Eastern Michigan ... WMU won the first game of the series on Friday, 12-5 ... with 18 wins in 2008, the Brown & Gold surpassed its win total from 2007 (16).
