KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Western Michigan baseball was held to just two hits on Friday afternoon in a 3-0 loss to Butler in game one of the three-game series against the Bulldogs inside Robert J. Bobb Stadium.
Game two of the three-game series is on Saturday, March 17 with first pitch set for 3:05 p.m. Senior LHP
Jacob Piechota hits the mound for the Broncos.
Butler scored all three of its runs in the first inning, scoring three runs on three hits. The Bulldogs out of the Big East Conference improve to 14-2 this season and are receiving votes in the NCWBA Top 25 poll.
Junior
Conner Henderson and freshman
Blake Dunn recorded the lone hits for the Broncos, with Dunn recording the first hit of the ballgame for WMU in the bottom of the sixth. In the seventh, Henderson registered an infield hit to give the Broncos a runner on first with one out.
As a pitching staff the Broncos struck out seven Butler batters with junior RHP
Nic Laio leading the way with four. Laio got the starting nod for WMU and went six innings, allowing three runs on 10 hits.
Out of the bullpen, junior LHP
Matt McConnell and senior RHP
Andrew Reisinger shut down the Bulldog offense giving up no runs on one hit while striking out three. Butler's Connor Mitchell earned the victory with a complete game shutout, allowing two hits and striking out 10.
Butler led off the game with a double and after advancing the runner to third, a softly hit single by right fielder Gehrig Parker gave the Bulldogs an early 1-0 lead. The next batter laced a double down the left field line, scoring Parker from second to extend the Bulldog lead. Two batters later, Butler scored on a caught stealing attempt as the BU runner crossed the plate before the out was made at second to end the inning.
The Bulldogs loaded the bases in the top of the third before Laio registered one of his four strikeouts on the day to end the scoring threat.
Western Michigan earned its first hit of the ballgame in the bottom of the sixth as Dunn smashed a one out single to left center field. A fielder's choice helped junior
Cooper Marshall reach base with two outs before getting caught stealing second base to end the inning.
The Broncos next scoring chance came in the bottom of the seventh as Henderson reached first on a one out infield single towards third base. Henderson was then thrown out for the first time this season trying to steal second base.
Butler looked to add to its lead in the top of the eighth inning as the Bulldogs loaded the bases with two outs. However, Reisinger ended the scoring chance with his second strikeout of the day.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Broncos looked for the comeback attempt as the tying run was on-deck with two outs. Copper Marshall drew a two out walk before advancing to second on a wild pitch to give the Broncos their first runner in scoring position of the game. However, WMU grounded out to the Butler first baseman four pitches later to end the game.
