Box Score ATLANTA, Ga. -- The Western Michigan baseball team's pitching staff was dominant through 10 innings, but the Broncos ultimately fell 3-2 in 12 innings to Georgia State on Opening Day of the Atlanta Challenge. The Broncos fall to 0-1 while the Panthers improve to 1-0.
Junior Keegan Akin got the starting nod on the mound and he made the best of it, striking out 11 batters in 6.0 shutout innings. Akin allowed four hits, walked none and started the game out striking out the first five Panthers. Sophomore Jacob Piechota took over in the seventh, where he stranded a leadoff double and ultimately threw 1.2 shutout innings with one strikeout. Junior Kyle Mallwitz entered to throw 2.1 scoreless innings, but the Panthers got to him in the 11th where they scored two runs. Freshman Jack Szott suffered the loss, pitching the final 1.2 innings allowing one run on two hits and two strikeouts.
"It is hard to remember being this optimistic on opening day. We have a handful of key injuries right now but our guys played great tonight," Head coach Billy Gernon said. "Akin was lights out but on an opening day pitch count; his 11 k's and no walks are about as good as it gets."
The Broncos brought both runs home in the top of the 11th inning where they had four hits and a stolen base. Senior Drew Farmer had a bunt single to first base with one out and sophomore Tanner Allison followed that with a single to the left field. With runners on first and second, Alex Goodwin broke the scoreless tie with an RBI single to center field scoring Farmer and putting the Broncos up 1-0. Senior Hunter Prince added some insurance with an RBI single that scored Allison to make it 2-0 WMU.
The Panthers struck back for two runs in the bottom of the 11th to tie it at 2-2. GSU started with three straight singles in the inning and scored the runs off a sacrifice fly and an RBI groundout. In the bottom of the 12th, Jarrett Hood hit a one-out double and Israel Zachary drove him in with a walkoff single to center field to end the game.
Farmer and junior Nick Vogelmeier started off 2016 on a high note as they each finished 3-for-5. Goodwin and Prince each went 1-for-5 with an RBI while senior Mitchell Ho and Allison each tallied a hit for the Broncos. WMU finished with 10 hits (10-for-43) and drew one walk.
The Panthers saw 10 different players get a hit as Joey Roach was the lone player with multiple (2-for-5). Starting pitcher Cole Uvila threw 7.0 scoreless innings allowing five hits while Wayne Wages threw the final 3.2 innings allowing two runs on four hits and earning the win.
The Broncos return to action tomorrow as they play Georgia Tech on the Yellow Jackets home field. Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m. with senior Derek Schneider expected to get the starting nod for the Broncos.
Box score is coming soon!
