LAKELAND, Fla. - The Western Michigan Baseball team lost a close one to the Detroit Tigers prospect team in Lakeland, Florida inside Joker Merchant Stadium on Monday. The Broncos played error free baseball for the second game in a row, and struck out 10 Tigers in a 5-1 defeat. 

Before the first pitch the Broncos were greeted by former legendary coach, Jim Leyland. The Broncos played everyone on the roster sending 21 players out on the field. The Broncos also dug deep into the bullpen sending nine pitchers out to the mound.

Sophomore Drew Devine went 2-for-3 on the day with a fifth inning double down the left field line accounting for one of the five Brown & Gold hits.Junior Nate Grys, coming off a monster weekend against St. Bonaventure, demolished a home run in the seventh inning to deep left-center field.

Sophomore Tyler Thorington got the start for the second year in a row against the Tigers Prospects team.  The sophomore struck out two Tigers in two innings of work. Junior Chris Modrzynski came in to pitch in the third inning, sitting the Tigers down in order while striking out two.

Freshman Jack Huisman stuck out two of the six batters he faced for the Broncos. Fellow freshman Sean O'Keefe saw his first action on the mound for the Brown and Gold striking out two in the seventh inning.

The Broncos return to play at the Snowbird Classic on Tuesday, March 6 against Villanova at 12:00 p.m. WMU is currently riding a four-game win streak and have won five of their last six contests.

Notable Tiger players:
Kyle Funkhouser got the start for the Tigers Prospects Team. Funkhouser also started against the Broncos in the 2016 NCAA Tournament Regional for the Louisville Cardinals.

Cam Gibson- Son of Tiger great Kirk Gibson.

Daz Cameron- Son of former three-time gold glove award and MLB journeyman, Mike Cameron.