EAST LANSING, Mich.- Michigan State scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth to edge visiting Western Michigan, 5-4, Wednesday in a midweek matchup.

Sophomore shortstop Nick Vogelmeier collected three of Western Michigan's seven hits, going 3-for-4 with a run scored. Junior Brett Sunde totaled three RBIs, driving in a run in the third with a sac fly and smacking a two-run double in the eighth that gave WMU a 4-3 lead. It was his team-leading 10th double of the season.

WMU was retired in order in the top of the ninth and couldn't hold the one-run lead in the bottom half of the inning. MSU got a leadoff double from Blaise Salter to start the Spartan at bat and Ryan Richardson was hit by a pitch to put two runners on. Anthony Cheky plated the tying run with an RBI double. With no outs, Western Michigan intentionally walked the next batter to load the bases. Chad Roskelly clinched the win for Michigan State with a sac fly to center field.

Bronco junior right-handed reliever Gabe Berman (2-3) took the mound in the top of the ninth and was saddled with the loss. Seven different pitchers appeared in the game for WMU in a scheduled staff day. Nick Bradley threw one inning in the start, allowing one run and two hits. Pat Haynes recorded two swinging strikeouts tossing one scoreless inning in the seventh.

An error in the outfield led to an unearned run for the Spartans in the first. Bronco senior designated hitter Jordan Tillman smoked an RBI single and Sunde drove in a run with his sac fly in the third to give Western Michigan a 2-1 lead, but MSU evened score in the bottom half of the inning. Michigan State pulled ahead 3-2 with another unearned run in the fifth.

Tillman reached on a passed ball strikeout to lead off the ninth. Vogelmeier bunted for a single and the two runners moved up a base on a sac bunt by Kurt Hoekstra. Sunde scorched his two-run double down the left line.

Michigan State (16-14) had eight hits, including a 3-for-4 effort from Salter. Sophomore Joe Mockbee (4-1) earned the win in relief, working the final two innings, allowing no runs and one hit, while striking out one and walking one. Freshman Alex Troop started on the hill for the Spartans and went 5.1 innings, allowing two runs off five hits.

Western Michigan enters this weekend's Mid-American Conference three-game series against Toledo with an 11-16 overall, 4-5 MAC record. Game one Friday is scheduled for 3 p.m., followed by 1 p.m. contests Saturday and Sunday. UT enters with a 10-21 overall, 4-5 league record.