YPSILANTI, Mich.- Junior catcher Brett Sunde had two of Western Michigan's four hits and drove in both Bronco runs leading Western Michigan to a 2-1 road victory at Eastern Michigan.
Sunde delivered the game-winning RBI with a two-out single in the ninth and drove in the Broncos' first run of the day with a two-out double in the first.
Junior right-handed pitcher Gabe Berman earned the win on the mound, upping his record to 2-2 on the season. Berman entered the game with one out in the eighth and stranded a pair of runners. He threw a total of 1.2 hitless innings and did not allow a baserunner.
Junior left-handed pitcher Derek Schneider gave a quality start, scattering six hits and one run over 6.2 innings. He struck out two and walked one. Senior Will Nimke was the first out of the Bronco bullpen and also stranded two Eastern Michigan runners in the seventh.
Sophomore third baseman Grant Miller and junior shortstop Kurt Hoekstra scored WMU's two runs.
Miller was hit with a pitch for the 12th time this season in the leadoff at bat of the game and came home on the two-out double by Sunde. Miller ranks in the top 10 in the nation for hit-by-pitch.
Hoekstra drew a walk with two away in the ninth and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Sunde punched a ball into right field allowing Hoekstra to race home for the 2-1 Bronco lead.
Eastern Michigan's lone run came in the third inning on a fielder's choice off the bat of Jordan Peterson. RHP Charlie Land (2-4) struck out seven and took the loss for the Eagles, throwing 8.2 innings. Sam Delaplane gave up the game-winning hit to Sunde.
Western Michigan (11-13, 4-3 MAC) and Eastern Michigan (10-18, 2-5 MAC) square off again tomorrow at 3 p.m. and conclude the three-game series Sunday with a 1 p.m. first pitch.
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