KALAMAZOO, Mich.- Miami beat a throw home at the plate in the the top of the 11th to squeeze by Western Michigan baseball, 3-2, in game two of this weekend's three-game series Saturday. The Broncos (7-11, 0-2 MAC) will look to avoid a series sweep in game three tomorrow, set for a 2 p.m. first pitch.
A Bronco rally fell short in the bottom of the 11th after senior Jordan Tillman was hit by a pitch to put the tying run on base for WMU. A sacrifice bunt by junior Hunter Prince moved Tillman to second with one out. However, back to back strikeouts killed the Bronco rally and gave WMU their second loss in Mid-American Conference play.
WMU scored the first of its two runs early in the bottom of the first inning as senior Drew Farmer reached third on excellent base running, getting a great jump off the bat of sophomore Nick Vogelmeier on the hit and run attempt. Farmer was credited for a stolen base on the play.
Junior Kurt Hoekstra earned an RBI the next at bat, lacing a ground ball to the RedHawk second baseman giving Farmer enough time to score to give the Broncos an early 1-0 lead.
The game stayed scoreless until the top of the fourth when Miami (4-14, 2-0 MAC) collected two runs on two hits to take the lead. With runners on first and second with two outs, Miami third baseman Scott Slappey hit a two RBI double to right center field, making the score 2-1 in favor of the RedHawks.
A sacrifice fly to left field off the bat of senior Jared Kujawa in the bottom of the sixth scored Hoekstra from third and knotted the game back up at 2-2. Hoekstra started off the inning with a double down the right field line and then advanced to third on an error by the Miami right fielder.
RHP Gabe Berman ended any threat of a RedHawk rally in the top of the eight after loading the bases with no outs. A perfectly executed 6-2-3 double play got the first two outs of the inning with Berman the next at bat getting Miami's Jake Romano to pop out into foul territory to end the inning and keep the score tied.
Miami broke the tie in the top of the 11th with a close play at the plate after a diving catch by Prince at first. Prince tried to get the Miami runner streaking home but the tag by freshman Mitchell Ho came just inches short, giving the RedHawks the lead and ultimately the victory.
The Broncos used four pitchers on the afternoon totaling nine strikeouts as a staff. LHP Derek Schneider started the game for WMU going six innings, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out six. Berman registered the loss allowing just one run on three hits and striking out three in four innings of work.
At the plate, Kujawa and Hoekstra collected the only RBI's on the day. Hoekstra went 1-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored. Vogelmeier had an effective day going 2-for-4.
Western Michigan looks to earn its first MAC victory of the season tomorrow against Miami in the series finale. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. at Robert J. Bobb Stadium.
