NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Despite outhitting Belmont 6-3, the Bruins drew a two out bases loaded walk in the bottom of the ninth as Western Michigan baseball fell to Belmont, 2-1 on Thursday in game one of the Mule Mix Classic.

The Broncos trailed 1-0 after the third inning and were held scoreless until the top of the ninth before junior Drew Devine delivered a two out RBI single to centerfield to tie the game. In the bottom half of the inning Belmont had a runner on second with two outs before an intentional walk followed by back-to-back walks drove in the game-winning run.

WMU had five different batters record a hit with Devine registering the lone RBI of the night. Devine went 1-for-4 at the plate with an RBI and a stolen base. Seniors Andrew Stone, Nate Grys and Jimmy Roche each had a hit along with juniors Ethan Hajdukovic, Devine and sophomore Blake Dunn. 

The Bronco pitching staff was stellar on the mound allowing just one earned run and three hits while striking out seven Belmont batters. In his first start of the season RHP Tyler Thorington went three innings allowing one unearned run on two hits with one strikeout.

In relief, junior RHP Zach Mehelich was dominant throwing a career-high four scoreless innings giving up just one hit and striking out four.

WMU outhit Belmont, 6-3 and left eight runners on base. With runners in scoring position the Broncos were 2-for-12 while the leadoff hitter for the Brown & Gold reached base in three of the nine innings. It's the first time this season WMU has outhit its opponent. Belmont's Logan Bowen was credited with the win while WMU's Matt McConnell got the loss.

The Broncos are back in action as part of the Mule Mix Classic on Friday, Feb. 22 at Austin Peay. First pitch against the Governors is set for 4:00 p.m. With the loss, WMU drops its overall record to 0-4.

Belmont struck first in the bottom of the third after loading the bases with one out. Belmont's Hunter Holland delivered with an RBI single to left field, scoring the runner from third to give the Bruins an early 1-0 lead. Thorington ended the scoring threat on the next batter, grounding into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.

WMU was held scoreless until the top of the ninth but had runners in scoring position in the sixth and eighth innings. The Broncos loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the eighth after a walk by Hajdukovic led to pinch runner Conner Henderson
stealing second base. Stone also drew a walk which led to Dunn recording a single to load the bases.  

Senior Jimmy Roche grounded into a fielder's choice the next at-bat with Belmont throwing home to get the force out. With the bases loaded and one out fellow senior Nate Grys grounded into a double play to end the scoring threat.

In the top of the ninth, redshirt sophomore Logan Hudson drew a one out walk before sophomore Connor Charping came in as a pinch-runner. Charping moved to second after a groundout to give WMU a runner in scoring position with Devine at the plate. The Marshall, Mich., native delivered with an RBI single back up the middle, scoring Charping from second to tie the game at 1-1.

Belmont drew a one out walk in the bottom half of the inning to put the winning run on-base. After a groundout to the WMU shortstop moved the runner to second, the Broncos intentionally walked the next batter to give the Brown & Gold the force out first and second. However, Belmont drew back-to-back walks to drive in the winning run and secure the 2-1 victory.