KENT, Ohio – Despite grabbing an early lead Western Michigan baseball dropped its series finale at Kent State, 15-3 on Sunday afternoon at Schoonover Stadium.

The Bronco offense generated just three runs on eight hits against the Golden Flashes in game three as sophomore Blake Dunn along with senior Jimmy Roche were the lone Broncos to register double-digit hits.

Dunn at the plate went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored and extended his reached base streak to a staggering 27 games. The Saugatuck, Mich., native recorded double digit hits in every game over the weekend and collected an RBI in back-to-back games. Against the Golden Flashes Dunn hit .636 with two RBIs and three runs scored.

Hitting in the six spot in the batting order, Jimmy Roche was 2-for-4 with an RBI. It was Roche's second straight multi-hit game and fourth this season. In the three-game series the Orland Park, Ill., native hit .357 with three RBIs, three runs scored and three stolen bases.

Joining Dunn and Roche in the RBI department was sophomore Justin McIntyre who went 0-for-2 at the plate but recorded an RBI, a run scored and drew a walk. McIntyre picked up his sixth RBI of the season on Sunday and had two for the weekend.

On the mound the Broncos used six different pitchers allowing 15 runs on 17 hits while striking out four Kent State batters. In the final innings, senior LHP Matt McConnell was effective allowing no runs on three hits in seven batters faced.

As a team in the three-game series WMU hit .292 with a slugging percentage of .363 and an on-base percentage of .393. The Broncos scored 19 runs on 33 hits against the Golden Flashes with six doubles and one triple.  

Western Michigan will be back on the road for midweek action on Wednesday, April 10 against the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. The Broncos then return home for its first weekend series at Robert J. Bobb Stadium at Hyames Field, April 12-14 against Northern Illinois. WMU now has an overall record of 8-20, 2-5 in Mid-American Conference play.

Kent State grabbed the lead in the bottom of the first posting one run on two hits while leaving two runners on base. WMU responded in the top of the third, scoring off the bat of Dunn who rocketed a ball back up the middle to tie the game at 1-1 through three innings.

In the top of the fourth the Broncos gained its first lead of the game, scoring one run on three hits. Sophomore Sean O'Keefe led off the inning with a single to third base, marking the second straight inning the Brown & Gold's leadoff man got on base.

After a strikeout, WMU knocked back-to-back singles off the bats of junior Drew Devine and redshirt sophomore Logan Hudson to load the bases with one out. With the bases loaded McIntyre drew a walk to bring O'Keefe around to score and propel the Broncos to a 2-1 advantage. However, the scoring threat was halted with back-to-back fly outs to end the fourth.

The Kent State offense came to live in the bottom of the fourth scoring six runs on five hits to grab a 7-2 lead. The six run fourth was highlighted by a three RBI double to right center field along with a two run home run over the left field wall.

WMU gained a run back in the top of the fifth as Roche slapped an RBI single to right field, scoring Dunn from second to cut into the Golden Flashes' lead. After the fifth the Broncos were held scoreless the final four innings of play as Kent State scored four in the sixth and four more in the seventh to secure the series victory.