BIRMINGHAM, Ala.- Western Michigan dropped both games of Saturday's doubleheader, falling 7-2 and 2-1 as UAB completed a three-game series sweep of the Broncos. WMU (0-3) will look to rebound next weekend, traveling to Tennessee for a four-game series against UT-Martin, Feb. 20-22.
Junior catcher Brett Sunde led the Broncos with a .364 batting average over the series, going 4-for-11 with two RBIs, a walk, a run scored and a double.
GAME 1: WMU 2, UAB 7
Western Michigan fell behind 6-0 before dropping a 7-2 decision in game one of Saturday's doubleheader. UAB's Brett Blackwood hit a two-run homer in the second inning to give his team a 2-0 lead. The Blazers added two more runs in the fourth and sixth innings to open a 6-0 advantage.
Both sides would get a run in the seventh and the Broncos scored a final run in the top of the ninth.
Sunde went 2-for-4 in the game with an RBI double in the seventh. Senior right fielder Jared Kujawa drove in WMU's run in the ninth with a bases loaded walk.
The Broncos had five hits in the game, while UAB collected 11. Blackwood finished 2-for-4 with four RBIs for the Blazers.
WMU junior left-handed pitcher Derek Schneider took the loss in the start, allowing four runs, four hits and four walks over three innings pitched. He struck out four. The Broncos would use four additional pitchers in the game.
UAB's James Naile picked up the win, scattering one run and three hits over eight innings while striking out six.
GAME 2: WMU 1, UAB 2
Western Michigan and UAB played seven scoreless innings in game two before the Blazers broke through with two runs in the bottom of the eighth. The Broncos scored a run in the top of the ninth but fell by a 2-1 final.
WMU senior right-handed pitcher Chad Mayle struck out five over four innings in the starting effort, then handed the ball off to freshman LHP Tanner Allison. Allison worked three scoreless innings and into the eighth. He recorded a groundout, but then gave up a pair of singles on a base hit to right field and a bunt.
Junior RHP Gabe Berman was called to the mound to face Nathan Vincent, but Vincent would come up with the game-winning hit for the Blazers, smacking a two-run double to right field.
WMU didn't go down without a fight in the top of the ninth. Junior shortstop Kurt Hoekstra cracked a leadoff triple to right center and Sunde followed with an RBI single to center field. Kujawa laid down a sac bunt to push pinch runner Jordan Tillman to second. WMU stranded the game-tying run however, ending the game with a pair of swinging strikeouts.
UAB starter Johnny Lieske tossed eight shutout innings, striking out seven and allowing just four hits and one walk, earning the win. Ryan Ruggles recorded the final strikeout to pick up the save.
Allison was charged with the loss for Western Michigan. His final line read two runs, two hits, one walk and two strikeouts over 3.1 innings.
Western Michigan had six hits in the game and left six runners on base. Hoekstra was the only Bronco with multiple hits, going 2-for-3.
