ATHENS, Ohio –  With two outs in the top of the ninth, freshman Blake Dunn delivered an RBI single to right field to give Western Michigan baseball a 7-6 victory over Ohio on Friday afternoon at Bob Wren Stadium.

After back-to-back fly outs to begin the top of the ninth, junior Nate Grys drew a walk before stealing second base two pitches later to give WMU a runner in scoring position.

On a 2-2 count, Dunn roped a ball that went past the out stretched glove of the Ohio second baseman and into right field. Rounding third on the throw, Grys was called safe at home on a close play at the plate to give WMU a 7-6 lead.

In the bottom of the ninth, redshirt senior RHP Andrew Reisinger recorded one out before an error put the tying run on-base for the Bobcats. In stepped fellow senior RHP Jimmy Townsend-Chase who retired the final two batters of the game to earn his seventh save of the season and give WMU a 7-6 victory.

The Bronco offense was powered by Dunn and Grys who went a combined 8-for-9 at the plate with five RBIs and four runs scored while also collecting two doubles and a home run. Overall, WMU pounded out seven runs on 12 hits while Ohio had six runs on eight hits.

Dunn became the third Bronco this season to register a perfect day at the plate going 5-for-5 with two RBIs, a run scored and one double. Dunn's five hits marked a new career-high for the freshman outfielder.

Grys went 3-for-4 with three RBIs, three runs scored, two doubles and a home run on Friday. The Madison Heights, Mich., native was just a triple away from completing the cycle. Grys blasted his 10th home run of the season in the top of the fourth, marking the first Bronco to reach double digit home runss in a season since 2009. Grys now has a 19 career home runs.

On the mound, junior RHP Nic Laio got the start and went 6.1 innings allowing five runs on seven hits with five strikeouts. It's the third straight start for Laio in which he has went at least six innings.

Reisinger earned his eighth win of the season on Friday to improve his overall record to a stellar 8-1. Reisinger out of the bullpen went two innings, allowing no runs on no hits in nine batters faced. Townsend-Chase earned his seventh save of the season, retiring the final two batters of the game.

With the win, WMU improves it overall to 21-22 and 10-10 in Mid-American Conference play. The Broncos and Bobcats are back at it for game two on Saturday, May 12 with first pitch set for 3:00 p.m.

Western Michigan jumped out to a 5-2 lead through five innings in game one against Ohio on Friday. The Broncos scored a run in the first and fourth innings before recording three in top of the fifth.

Grys blasted his tenth home run of the season over the left field wall to extend the Bronco lead in the top of the fourth. Grys' 19 career home runs rank as the 15th most in program history.  

In the top of the fifth, WMU scored three runs on two hits with all three runs coming with two outs. Juniors Jimmy Roche and Jesse Forestell drew two out walks before a wild pitch advance both to second and third. Fellow junior Nate Grys brought them both around to score on a two-RBI single to give WMU a 4-2 advantage.

With Blake Dunn at the plate, the Saugatuck, Mich., native scored Grys with an RBI double to left center field to give the Broncos a 5-2 lead. It was Dunn's seventh double of the season.

The Bobcats rallied back in the sixth and seventh innings, scoring one in the sixth and three in the seventh to gain the lead. Just like the Broncos, the Bobcats scored three runs on two hits in the bottom of the seventh to grab a 6-5 lead.

WMU tied the game at 6-6 in the top of the eighth after back-to-back singles gave WMU runners on the corners with no outs. Sophomore Drew Devine executed a perfect sacrifice bunt toward the first base side, scoring Dunn from third to tie the game.

Dunn provided the heroics for the Broncos in the top of the ninth, registering the go-ahead RBI single with two outs to regain the lead. On a 2-2 count, Dunn slapped a ball to right field that scored Grys from second.

Ohio had the game-winning run at the plate in the bottom half of the inning before Townsend-Chase closed the game out to earn his seventh save of the season. Townsend-Chase's seven saves is tied for fourth most in a single-season in school history.