EMERSON, Ga. – In a doubleheader against Big Ten powerhouse Purdue on Saturday afternoon, Western Michigan baseball dropped a pair of games, 5-1 at the Perfect Game Complex at LakePoint.

The Broncos collected 15 hits and two doubles while not committing an error against the Boilermakers on Saturday. Junior Nate Grys had a stellar day at the plate going 3-of-7 with one RBI while fellow junior Jimmy Roche also produced at the plate hitting .375 (3-for-8).

Junior RHP Nic Laio was electric in his first collegiate start in game two against the Boilermakers. Laio went five strong innings, giving up just one run on four hits while striking out three. The junior from Downers Grove, Ill., was pulled after the fifth due to Opening Day pitch count.

In game one of the doubleheader, redshirt senior RHP Andrew Reisinger shutdown the Boilermaker offense in four innings of relief. Reisinger allowed just one run on two hits while striking out one.

The Broncos are back in action for game three of the series on Sunday, Feb. 18 at 11:00 a.m. WMU will throw senior LHP Jacob Piechota while Purdue will throw LHP Ryan Beard.

Game One
Opening up the 2018 campaign, WMU outhit Purdue, 8-7 but was unable to combat a three-run fourth inning by the Boilermakers as the Broncos fell in game one, 5-1.

WMU's lone run came in the top of the eighth off the bat of junior Connor Smith who reached on a fielder's choice that scored Conner Henderson from third. With one out,
Henderson laced a double to right center for the Broncos first extra-base hit of the game. Junior Andrew Stone slapped a single up the middle in the next at-bat to give WMU runners on the corners before Smith scored Henderson.

The Broncos lone run in the eighth came against Purdue's closer Ross Learnard who was a NCWBA Second Team All-American a year ago. In the eighth, WMU registered one run on three hits and left two on-base.

Purdue secured the first run of the game in the bottom of the third as Skyler Hunter singled through the right side with the bases loaded. The Boilermakers added three more runs off of one hit in the bottom of the fourth as right fielder Ben Nisle hit a three-run home run.

The Boilermakers added one more run in the bottom of the eighth to extend their lead. Both Roche and Stone went 2-for-4 at the plate in game one.

Redshirt sophomore RHP Jack Szott picked up the loss for WMU going four innings, allowing four runs on five hits while striking out three. In relief, Reisinger was magnificent, holding Purdue to just one run and two hits in four innings.

Game Two
Western Michigan jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in game two of the doubleheader before Purdue scored in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings en route to a 5-1 victory.
Junior RHP Nic Laio made his first collegiate start and shutdown the Boilermakers, going four innings allowing one run on four hits and striking out three.

WMU got on the board first in the fourth inning as Grys singled through the right side, scoring Smith from second. Smith opened up the inning with a single to left field before Forestell executed a sacrifice bunt to move Smith into scoring position.

The Broncos held the lead until the bottom of the fifth before Purdue's Nick Dalesandro scored from first on a double that went all the way to the wall from Evan Kennedy. WMU had an opportunity to get back on the board in the top of the sixth, loading the bases before a pop out ended the inning.

Purdue grabbed three more runs in the bottom of the sixth as the Boilermakers connected on a three-straight hits including a two-run home run. The lead was extended to 5-1 in the bottom of the seventh as the leadoff hitter for the Boilermakers hit a solo home run.

In game two, WMU left seven runners on base and collected seven hits. Grys continued his stellar day at the plate in game two going 2-for-3 with an RBI.