DELAND, Fla. – In the final game of the Stetson Tournament, the Western Michigan baseball team used a big four-run ninth inning to defeat the host Hatters 5-3 en route to the team's fourth straight victory, two of which have come against 2016 NCAA Tournament teams (UConn & Stetson). WMU, who improved to 5-5 this season with the win, went 3-0 at the Stetson Tournament, while UConn went 2-1, Stetson went 1-2 and St. Joseph's went 0-3.
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"The wind was blowing in today at 20 mph and the short game was critical. Although we failed to execute early, we were outstanding late when it mattered most," head coach Billy Gernon said. "It got things started for us in the ninth. Jack Szott was stellar today, giving us a much needed quality start."
As Gernon mentioned, Szott got the start for the Broncos and made the best of it, pitching 7.0 innings allowing just one run on five hits and two walks with three strikeouts. Junior Jake Bartels entered to finish it out on the mound and earned the win, pitching the final 2.0 innings allowing two runs (both unearned) on two hits with two strikeouts.
Both team's pitchers held their opponent scoreless until the sixth inning, as Szott faced just one over the minimum through 4.2 innings. The Bronco offense finally broke through in the top of the sixth inning with one run off two hits and a walk to take a 1-0 lead. Nick Vogelmeier led the inning off with a single up the middle to put the pressure on. After a fielder's choice, Connor Smith moved up into scoring position by stealing second before Grant Miller drew a four-pitch walk to put runners on first and second. Tanner Allison was due up next, and he stayed hot in the early parts of the season with an RBI single to center field to score Smith and give the Broncos the lead.
The Hatters responded in the bottom of the sixth inning with a run of their own, bringing the score to 1-1 after two singles and a sacrifice.
The flood gates opened for the Broncos in the top of the ninth inning, as WMU scored four runs on three hits, an error and a walk to make it 5-1. In the inning, Alex Goodwin led off with a perfect bunt single and was moved up to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Forestell. An E4 put runners on the corners with one out and Tyler Frank at the plate pinch hitting. Frank laid down a great safety squeeze bunt and the Hatter pitcher was late with a glove-toss to home plate, scoring Goodwin and giving the Broncos a 2-1 lead. After a strikeout and a Vogelmeier walk, Smith smoked a single through the right side to score two runs and Grant Miller followed that with an RBI single to make it 5-1 WMU.
The Hatters made it more interesting in the bottom of the ninth inning, as a runner reached on an error to open the inning and was brought in on an RBI double, making it 5-2 WMU. The next batter was hit by a pitch and that was followed by an RBI single to bring the tying run to the plate with two outs, but Bartels forced an easy fly out to left field to secure the Bronco win.
Goodwin was the lone Bronco with multiple hits, as he went 2-for-4 with a run. Smith finished 1-for-4 with two RIB while Miller, Allison and Frank all drove in one run. Evan Nelson added his first double of the season as well.
The Brown & Gold will take Monday off before facing Georgetown in Port Charlotte, Fla., in the Snowbird Classic on Tuesday, March 7 at noon.
