AKRON, Ohio– After pulling off the upset over the No. 1 seeded Central Michigan Chippewas during the opening day of the Mid-American Conference yesterday, the No. 8 seeded Western Michigan Broncos faced the No. 4 seeded Kent State Golden Flashes in the winner's bracket on Thursday afternoon at Firestone Stadium. WMU mounted a comeback with three runs in the bottom of the fourth to pull within one but KSU used a five-run seventh inning to take the 9-3 victory.

The last time these two teams met was during the 2015 MAC tournament as the Broncos took the 8-3 victory. KSU had revenge this evening pushing WMU to the loser's bracket.

Western Michigan's record moves to 24-28 overall and will return to action on Friday, May 12 at 1 p.m. facing the winner of the No. 7 Akron / No. 6 Miami game played later tonight. 

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The Golden Flashes jumped on the board in the top of the first with a one-out RBI single through the middle from MAC Player of the Year, Maddie Grimm. Starting pitcher Anissa Sanchez delivered the final out of the inning with a strike out.

Kent State added to their lead in the top of the second with three runs off three hits. Junior transfer Holly VanTilburg was called upon in the inning to relieve Sanchez with runners on the corners and one out. The Paw Paw native gave up two hits and retired the final two batters for the Broncos but KSU took a 4-0 lead.

VanTilburg followed that inning up with two strong innings retiring the Golden Flashes in order during the top of the third and fourth including three strike outs.

WMU cut the deficit in the bottom of the fourth scoring three runs, pulling within one. Senior center fielder Ivy Schaaf got the Broncos going with a leadoff double before freshman right fielder Mackenzie Swinehart reached first off a KSU error. Senior Abby Stoner hit a high ball to right center as the designated hitter delivered an RBI double. The Broncos scored two more runs as redshirt junior Marlee Wilson and junior Aspen Williams notched RBIs.

VanTilburg walked a Golden Flash batter in the top of the fifth with one out but the Broncos ended the potential threat with a double play. Senior third baseman Kelsea Cichocki snatched a line drive and picked off the runner at first.

A pair of two-out singles from the Broncos in the bottom of the fifth put WMU in position to tie or take the lead but the Golden Flashes' starting pitcher Ronnie Ladines retired the final out with a line drive right back to the mound. The Kent State offense added five cushion runs in the top of the seventh to seal the 9-3 victory.

Sanchez (9-8) was recorded with the loss pitching 1.1 innings allowing four runs off four hits. WMU relief pitcher, VanTilburg fired 5.2 innings allowing five runs, four hits and struck out four.

Schaaf batted 2-for-4 with a double and a single while Stoner went 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Williams and Wilson each added an RBI against Ladines.