KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Western Michigan Baseball team used dominating pitching to take game one on Friday afternoon of a must win series against Mid-American conference opponent Eastern Michigan, 4-2. With the win, the Broncos move to 7-10 in conference play and 24-16 overall.
Strong pitching was the highlight of the afternoon for the Brown and Gold. Starting pitcher Chris Modrzynski tossed a gem for the Broncos, throwing for 5 complete innings, allowing two earned runs on six hits and striking out three Eagles.
Fellow senior, Zach Mehelich, was the other side of the double edged pitching sword WMU used on Friday afternoon, getting the win out of the bullpen after tossing four scoreless innings, allowing no hits and striking out five. The Jackson, MI native moves to a perfect 3-0 on the season.
At the plate, Western Michigan registered nine hits on the day, while three different Broncos picked up RBI's. Andrew Stone went 2-for-3 including a double and drove in his 13thrun of the season. Senior catcher Jesse Forestell sent his fifth ball over the fence for WMU as well.
Drew DeVIne and Cooper Marshall also both had multi-hit games for WMU.
Blake Dunn stole his 24thand 25thbase of the season, moving him into a tie for 3rdplace all-time at WMU for stolen bases in a season. (Matt Mieske, 1988)
It was a scoreless game heading into the top of the fifth inning inside Robert J. Bobb Stadium. In the top half of the fifth frame, the Eagles used three hits to score two runs and take the lead on the Brown and Gold.
WMU would answer in the home half of the inning, scoring two runs with two outs to tie the game back up at two apiece. The rally started after Drew DeVine picked up his first hit of the ballgame and a batter later was moved to second on a Cooper Marshall single. The Eagles shortstop would make an error on a ball put into play by Justin McIntyre and DeVine would score.
Andrew Stone would belt a ball over EMU's centerfielder who was playing far in on the red-shirt senior. Marshall would score on the play and McIntyre was recorded as the third out of the inning after a close call at the plate.
Western Michigan would take the lead in the bottom of the sixth off the bat of Nate Grys on a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Blake Dunn from 3rd. The next batter, catcher Jesse Forestell, sent the first pitch he saw over the right field wall, increasing the Bronco lead to 4-2.
Zach Mehelich threw a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the ninth and Western Michigan picked up its 7thMid-American Conference win.
The two teams will meet once again on Hyames field at Robert J. Bobb stadium tomorrow afternoon with first pitch set for 1 p.m.
