Box Score
SOUTH BEND, Ind.- Left-handed senior Brian Schutzbach threw 4.1 innings of three-hit, scoreless relief to guide Western Michigan to a 6-4 victory over Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., Monday evening. Chris Lewis and Kyle Galbraith each drove in two runs apiece for the Broncos (27-19-1).
Schutzbach entered the game in the bottom of the fifth, after a two-run homer by Notre Dame's A.J. Pollock brought the Irish within a run, 5-4, and proceeded to retire the next eight batters.
Pollock would be the next to get to Schutzbach again, laying down a bunt single in the eighth. Notre Dame managed to load the bases with two outs with two more singles, but the WMU southpaw came away unscathed, ending the inning with a pop fly to left field. Schutzbach went on to retire the side in order in the ninth on a pair of groundouts and a flyout.
The win improved Shutzbach's record to 3-0 on the season. Bronco right-hander Ross Westdorp started the contest and lasted 4.2 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits. Schutzbach fanned three batters, while Westdorp notched a pair of strikeouts, neither issued a walk.
WMU took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Galbraith singled, advanced to third on two wild pitches and scored on a groundout by Lewis.
Notre Dame (33-15-1) came back with two runs in the bottom of the second. A single and a double gave the Irish two runners in scoring position and both scored after a groundout and a double down the left field line.
Western Michigan wasted no time taking back the lead, scoring four runs (three earned) in the top of the third. The Broncos pounded out four consecutive hits, including doubles by Grant Simotes and Lewis. Galbraith and Lewis each recorded an RBI in the inning, while Zach Gentile scored on a wild pitch and Lewis came across on a two-base throwing error.
After Pollock's home run made the score 5-4 in the fifth, Western Michigan added an insurance run in the sixth. Simotes singled to lead off the inning and scored on a one-out RBI double by Galbraith.
Western Michigan totaled eight hits on the day, Galbraith leading the way going 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored. Notre Dame had 10 hits, four different Irish players had two hits apiece.
Notre Dame starter Brian Dupra (3-3) took the loss, being chased out in the third, allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits.
Western Michigan is back in action at Hyames Field tomorrow, hosting Illinois State at 3 p.m. in the Broncos' final home game of the season. The Brown & Gold travel to Northern Illinois this weekend with MAC Tournament hopes riding on the three-game conference series.
