KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Western Michigan baseball was unable to hold off a late-inning rally by Miami on Friday afternoon inside Robert J. Bobb Stadium at Hyames Field as the Broncos dropped the series opener to the RedHawks, 10-6.

The Broncos held a 5-3 lead heading into the seventh inning before Miami scored seven runs in the final three innings of play. Western Michigan got to within one run of the RedHawks in the bottom of the eighth, loading the bases with two outs before a strikeout ended the scoring threat.

In the bottom of the ninth, the Broncos drew a leadoff walk to begin the inning before the next three batters were retired to end the game. Overall, WMU registered six runs on eight hits and left 10 runners on-base. Miami scored 10 runs on 10 hits.

Redshirt freshman Logan Hudson had a stellar day at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a double and a triple to go along with one run scored and an RBI. Junior Nate Grys continued to stay hot offensively, connecting on his eighth home run of the season and third in the past two games in the bottom of the fifth.

Fellow Junior Conner Henderson earned his second multi-RBI game of the season, recording a career-high three RBIs against the RedHawks.  

On the mound the Broncos got a quality outing from junior RHP Nic Laio who went six innings, allowing five hits while striking out six Miami batters. WMU's used four pitchers on the afternoon, recording a total of 10 strikeouts. It's the 11^th time this season the WMU pitching staff has recorded at least 10 strikeouts.

Game two of the three-game series with the RedHawks is Saturday, May 5 with first pitch at 1:00 p.m. Western Michigan now has an overall record of 19-20 and 8-9 in Mid-American Conference play.

Miami got on the board first in game one with one run on two hits. A two-out single by Landon Stephens gave the RedHawks an early 1-0 lead. It didn't take long for the Broncos to respond, scoring two runs on three hits in the bottom of the second.

With runners on second and third and one out, Henderson delivered with a two-RBI single back up the middle to give WMU its first lead of the game. The Broncos left runners at second and third after a fielder's choice ended the inning.

The RedHawks tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the fourth before WMU answered back in the bottom half of the inning. After a one out triple by Logan Hudson, Henderson rocketed a fly ball to centerfield that was caught for the out before Hudson raced
home to score on a close play at the plate and give WMU the lead.

Miami scored one run on two hits in the top of the fifth before Nate Grys regained the lead for the Broncos with a two-run home run to centerfield in the bottom half of the inning. Grys now has eight home runs this season and 17 for his career.

WMU held a 5-3 advantage until the seventh inning as the RedHawks scored three runs off the bat of Hayden Senger. Senger sent a three-run home run over the left field wall on a 1-1 count to give Miami a 6-5 lead.

After each team scored a run in the eighth inning, Miami extended its lead with three runs on two hits in the top of the ninth to take a 10-6 lead. Junior Jesse Forestell led off the bottom of the ninth for the Broncos with a walk before the next three batters were retired to end the game.