Box Score KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- The Western Michigan baseball dropped a nonconference game against Valparaiso Tuesday afternoon at Hyames Field despite a big day from junior Evan Nelson.
Nelson finished 4-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI, but the Broncos fall to 8-21 this season and suffer their first home loss while the Crusaders improved to 11-15. Valpo finished with 13 hits and two errors while WMU had 10 hits and was charged with one error.
WMU took an early lead with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Junior Grant Miller, who leads the team in hits and RBI, led the inning off with a single up the middle. After he advanced to second on a wild pitch, he scored on Nelson's team-leading sixth double down the right field line.
The Crusaders erased the lead and grabbed a 2-1 advantage with a pair of runs in the top of the second inning, but the Broncos answered with a run in the bottom of third to tie it at 2-2. In the third inning, Connor Smith hit a one-out single to left field and was driven in on Nelson's second hit of the day, a single to first base that caromed off the defender into foul territory.
Valpo jumped out to a 4-2 lead with two runs in the top of the fourth inning, but the Broncos were able to come back and tie the game once again, this time at 4-4 with a run in each the fourth and fifth inning. In the bottom of the fourth, senior Mitchell Ho reached on a throwing error by the shortstop and advanced to second on Jimmy Roche's groundout. Miller ripped a single to left center field to score Ho easily and make it 4-3. In the fifth inning, Jesse Forestell led off with a walk and advanced to third on Nelson's second double of the day, this one down the right field line. Hunter Prince hit a deep fly ball to right field to plate Forestell and tie it at 4-4.
Valpo tacked on three more runs in the top of the sixth inning and added an insurance run in the top of the ninth inning.
Nelson led the way offensively, but both Miller and Smith finished 2-for-5 while Miller drove in his team-leading 18th RBI of the season. Nate Grys and Ho also contributed a hit while Prince drove in a run on the sac fly to right field. Freshman Jesse Forestell drew a walk, but saw his nine-game hitting streak come to an end.
Senior Derek Schneider (0-5) suffered the loss for WMU, pitching 5.0 innings, allowing six runs (four earned) on eight hits and three walks with three strikeouts. Sophomore Jacob Piechota pitched 2.2 innings in relief of Schneider and allowed just one run on three hits. Freshman Matt McConnell pitched the final 0.2 innings perfect with one strikeout.
The Broncos will stay at home this weekend for their home Mid-American Conference (MAC) opener as Northern Illinois comes to town for a three-game series. The team's will play Friday, April 15 at 3 p.m. and at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 16 and Sunday, April 17. Follow the Broncos on Twitter @WMUBaseball for all updates about the team!
