AVON, Ohio -- The No. 7 seeded Western Michigan baseball team, led by stud junior pitcher Keegan Akin, won the opener of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Tournament 5-1 over No. 2 Ball State Wednesday afternoon at All Pro Freight Stadium.

The Broncos improved to 19-31 overall and will face No. 3 Miami on Thursday, May 26 at 4:30 p.m. in the winner's bracket.

Akin was in a groove against the Cardinals, as his final line read 7.2 innings, four hits, one run (unearned), seven strikeouts and one walk. He extended his scoreless inning streak to 24.2 before a run came across in the bottom of the eighth inning. He retired seven straight batters in the middle innings. Sophomore Jacob Piechota finished the game out, earning his third save of the season going 1.1 innings allowing no runs on two hits and two walks.

The game went six scoreless innings until the Broncos broke through on Ball State's BJ Butler in the top of the sixth inning with a pair of runs. Sophomore Evan Nelson led off with a double to left center field and junior Alex Goodwin was hit by a pitch in the next at-bat to put runners on first and second. After both runners moved up on a passed ball, Butler was able to get back-to-back strikeouts to steal the momentum right back, but junior Nick Vogelmeier delivered a clutch two-run single through the left side to put WMU up 2-0.

The Broncos added another run in the top of the eighth inning with three singles. Junior Grant Miller led off with a single through the left side and moved up to second on senior Hunter Prince's sacrifice bunt. Sophomore Tanner Allison came up with a big RBI single through the right side to plate Miller and put WMU up 3-0.

Ball State added a run in the bottom of the eighth inning to make it 3-1 WMU. With a runner on third after a double play, MAC Player of the Year Alex Call hit a tough flyball to left field that was dropped and allowed the run to come in. Piechota forced a flyout to Allison in center field to get out of the inning.

WMU added a pair of key insurance runs in the top of the ninth inning off two hits and a walk. Conner Henderson led the inning off with a walk and freshman Connor Smith sliced a double down the right field line to put runners on second and third. Miller delivered the big two-run single to center field to put the Broncos up 5-1.

BSU threatened in the bottom of the ninth, loading the bases and bringing the tying run to the plate. Piechota forced a fly ball to Goodwin in right field to end the game.

The top of the order had a huge day offensively for WMU, as Miller finished 3-for-4 with a run and two RBI and Smith went 3-for-5 with a double and a run. Vogelmeier had a key two-run single and Allison had an RBI single. The Broncos outhit the Cardinals 11-6 in the ballgame.

Follow the Broncos on Twitter @WMUBaseball for all updates about the team!