OXFORD, Ohio- Western Michigan fought back from a 6-0 deficit, scoring a run in the eighth and tying the score with five runs in the ninth, but couldn't pull off the victory, falling 7-6 in 10 innings in the series finale against Miami Sunday.
RedHawk junior catcher Max Andresen hit a two-out, bases loaded walk-off single off of Bronco right-hander
Gabe Berman in the 10th for the win. Junior RHP
Will Nimke started the inning on the mound and put the eventual winning run on with a hit by pitch, taking the loss.
Freshman LHP
Keegan Akin kept Miami off the board until the sixth, when the RedHawks plated two for the first runs of the game. Miami scored four more runs in the seventh, using a pair of hits and Bronco error and three walks to open a 6-0 lead.
Western Michigan recorded its first run of the afternoon in the top of the eighth when
Kurt Hoekstra singled and scored on an RBI double by
Hunter Prince.
The Broncos continued to fight in the top of the ninth, and pulled even with five runs on five hits.
Brett Sunde drove in three runs with a two-out, bases loaded double down the right field line. Freshman
Grant Miller then delivered a two-run single up the middle to tie the game.
Theo Piccirilli,
Andrew Sohn and
Jared Kujawa also singled in the inning, and
Beau Filkins and
Brandon Cable drew walks.
Vinnie Booker took a leadoff walk to start off the top of the 10th and moved to scoring position on a sac bunt by
Dan Shutes. WMU came up empty though as a strikeout and fly out ended the Bronco at bat.
Nimke was one of four Bronco relievers and was effective over 2.2 innings, holding Miami without a hit. He retired the first RedHawk two batters he faced in the bottom of 10th, but then plunked Jake Romano to give Miami a runner on first. Catcher's interference allowed another batter to reach base, and Nimke was switched out for Berman. Berman walked Gary Russo to load the bags and Andresen came through with the game-winning hit.
The loss drops Western Michigan to 10-10 on the season and 1-2 in the Mid-American Conference. Miami is 2-1 in the MAC and is also 10-10 overall.
Western Michigan had 10 hits and four errors in the game. Miami had eight hits and did not commit an error.
Hoekstra (2-for-6) and Prince (2-for-4) each had two hits for the Broncos. Hoekstra continued his hitting streak, increasing it to 16 games.
RHP Jacob Banks earned the win on the mound for the RedHawks, throwing an inning of relief.
