Box Score
KALAMAZOO, Mich.- Western Michigan scored runs in five straight innings and got a solid performance from starter Billy Morrison, as the Broncos bounced back from a Friday loss to Ball State with a 6-3 win on Saturday. Senior outfielder Joe Sheets recorded his second home run in as many games, and team-leading eighth of the season.
Sheets opened the scoring for WMU in the bottom of the second with a leadoff blast to left field, as the Broncos would go on to score runs in each of the next four frames.
Western Michigan extended its advantage to 3-0 in the third. Joe McDonald hit a double and scored on a two-bagger by Grant Simotes, who later crossed the plate on a two-out single to center field by Matthew Abro. McDonald scored again in the fourth. After laying down a bunt single and advancing to second on a throwing error, he made his way home on a Zach Gentile single up the middle.
The Broncos added runs in the fifth and sixth to take a 6-0 lead. Derek Mosher came up with a one-out, bases loaded single in the fifth. The Broncos had a chance to do more damage with the bags still full but a pair of strikeouts ended the inning. Chris Lewis drew a walk in the sixth, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on Abro's second RBI-single of the day.
Morrison was nearly flawless on the mound through the first seven frames, working a five-hit shutout, but ran into trouble in the top of the eighth. Ball State's Dean Anna, Wayne Bond Jr., and Justin Rogers homered in consecutive fashion, putting an end to Morrison's day.
Despite giving up the three home runs, it was still one of Morrison's better showings as he struck out a career-high seven batters. The only other time the Cardinals threatened was in the fifth. After a single and a pair of strikeouts, Morrison walked the next two batters to load the bases, but was dealt out of the jam by catcher Kevan Hess who made a sliding grab on a foul ball to end the inning.
Derek Mosher moved over from third base to the pitcher's mound to take over for Morrison and did not give up a hit the rest of the game, recording his fourth save of the season. With the win, Morrison improved to 4-1 on the year.
Abro, Sheets, McDonald and Kyle Galbraith all had a pair of hits for Western Michigan, who recorded a total of 11.
The Broncos (21-14-1, 6-8 MAC) and Cardinals (23-16, 8-6 MAC) take to the yard again tomorrow in a rubber match at Hyames Field at 1 p.m.
Game Notes: WMU has hit at least one home run in the last seven straight games, and has hit multiple homers in five of those seven.
