OXFORD, Ohio – The Western Michigan baseball team claimed both games of a Saturday doubleheader at Miami, beating the RedHawks 8-4 in the opener and 4-0 in the nightcap to win the first Mid-American Conference (MAC) series of the season.
In game one, the Broncos recovered from an early 2-0 deficit to come back and defeat the RedHawks, using a big four-run eighth inning in the process. In game two, Jimmy Townsend-Chase pitched 8.0 scoreless innings in the Broncos' first shutout of the season. Senior Gabe Berman came up clutch for WMU, as the career saves leader at WMU earned a save in both games, including pitching out of a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the ninth in game two, with no outs.
In game one, Miami jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, using an RBI double and a sacrifice fly in the inning. WMU tied it up at 2-2 in the top of the third inning, using three hits along with a RedHawk error. Tyler Frank reached on an error and moved up to second base. After a lineout, Connor Smith drilled a double down the right field line to put runners on second and third, setting the table for senior Grant Miller, who drove in both runs with a double down the left field line.
Miami regained the lead with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning, using an RBI single to lead 3-2. The Broncos climbed right back in the top of the sixth inning, scoring two runs to take back a lead they would not surrender. Alex Goodwin drew a walk to open the inning and advanced to third on Jesse Forestell's double to left center. Nate Grys hit a sacrifice fly to center field to bring in Goodwin and tie it up 3-3 and Jimmy Roche ripped an RBI single up the middle to score Forestell and give WMU a 4-3 lead.
The four-run eighth inning put WMU up 8-3, a lead too large for the RedHawks to recover from. Forestell singled to open the inning, advanced to second on a wild pitch and came in to score on an error in center field on a Grys single. Grys also came around to score to make it 6-3. Later in the inning, Smith hit a two-run triple to score Nick Vogelmeier and Conner Henderson, making it 8-3 WMU on Smith's team-leading fifth triple of the season.
Miami added a run in the bottom of the ninth inning, but the Broncos used a clutch double-play to get out of the inning and secure the win on Berman's first save of the day.
Andrew Reisinger got the start for WMU, pitching 3.1 innings and getting a no decision. Sophomore Chris Modrzynski was huge out of the bullpen for WMU, pitching 4.2 innings allowing no earned runs with two strikeouts on his way to his first career win. Berman earned his first save of the season and 22nd of his career in game one, bringing his career total to 23 after Saturday.
In game two, the Broncos scored two runs in each the first and third inning and that would be all they would need, as the trio of Townsend-Chase, Kyle Mallwitz and Berman combined for the shutout.
In the first inning, Smith hit a one-out single to get things started for WMU. Miller was hit by the next pitch and Tanner Allison drew a walk to load the bases with one out. After a strikeout, the Broncos took advantage of some RedHawk miscues, scoring both runs on a wild pitch turned into a throwing error by the catcher.
The third inning started off much like the first, as Smith ripped a one-out single and Miller was hit by the next pitch. Allison came up to send a two-run double to right center to give WMU a 4-0 lead it would hang on to the rest of the way.
Miami loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, but Berman stayed strong, forcing a pop out, a fly out and a groundout to end the threat and give WMU the series.
In both games combined, Smith went 4-for-9 with a double, a triple, two RBI and three runs while Miller went 2-for-5 with a double, two RBI, two runs, two hit by pitch and a walk. Forestell finished 3-for-4 with a double and two runs in game one while Roche went 2-for-4 in game two. Allison went 1-for-2 with a double and two RBI in game two.
Next up for WMU is Michigan State, as the Broncos head to East Lansing on Tuesday, March 28 with first pitch scheduled for 3:05 p.m.
