LOS ANGELES – Trailing by three runs late, the Western Michigan baseball team scored six runs on three hits in the seventh inning to capture an 8-5 victory over the University of Southern California on Saturday afternoon at Dedeaux Field.

The Broncos secured their first win of the 2020 campaign while earning their first win over a Pac-12 school since 1989, when WMU defeated USC in the NCAA Midwest Regional. With the win, WMU tied the three-game series with the Trojans and will seek its first series victory over a Power Five school since 1997 on Sunday.

After scoring just two runs on three hits in the season opener, the Brown & Gold offense exploded for eight runs on 12 hits in game two. WMU registered a runner in scoring position in seven of the nine innings and loaded the bases three times.

Four Broncos registered multiple hits in game two with redshirt junior Logan Hudson and sophomore Jimmy Allen each having three. Allen led WMU with a career-high two RBIs going 3-for-5 at the plate with a run scored. Hudson was also 3-for-5 with a run scored and drew one walk along with an RBI.

The one through four hitters of Hudson and juniors Blake Dunn, Justin McIntyre and Connor Charping combined for seven of WMU's 12 total hits. Along with Hudson and Allen, freshman Josh Swinehart and sophomore Will Morrison each registered one RBI.

Earning the win in his first career start was sophomore Easton Sikorski, who dealt a career-high six innings, allowing one earned run on five hits while striking out two. Sikorski in 25 batters faced didn't allow a hit the final three innings of his outing.

In relief the Broncos were led by junior Jack Huisman and the senior trio of Will Mullen, Jack Szott and Tyler Thorington. Through the final four innings of play the bullpen allowed just two earned runs on five hits while striking out two. Thorington earned his first save of the season pitching two thirds of an inning and recording the final out.

Szott provided the spark on the mound in the late innings, entering the game with the bases loaded and no outs in the bottom of the eighth and the Broncos leading by two. Szott recorded back-to-back fly outs and a fielder's choice to get out of the jam and hold the Bronco lead to two.

The Broncos outhit the Trojans 12-10 and left 15 runners on base compared to USC's seven. At the plate the Broncos registered two doubles while drawing eight walks.   

Western Michigan improves its overall record to 1-1 on the season with the series finale against USC set for Sunday at 3 p.m. On Sunday WMU seeks its first series victory over a Power Five school since 1997.

USC got on the board first in the bottom of the second, scoring two runs on two hits and added to its lead an inning later with one run on two hits to grab a 3-0 advantage after three innings of play.

The Broncos looked to get on the board in the top of the fifth after a double down the right field line by Hudson gave WMU a runner in scoring position with two outs. However, WMU was unable to capitalize as the next batter struck out swinging to end the inning.

Sophomore Allen reached second on a double to left center field in the top of the sixth with one out prior to a fly out and ground out to end the Bronco scoring chance.

It was an offensive explosion for the Broncos in the top of the seventh scoring six runs on three hits along with two USC errors to take a 6-3 lead. With one out junior McIntyre doubled to left center field before back-to-back walks by Charping and Hudson loaded the bases for junior Sean O'Keefe.

O'Keefe connected on a dribbler back up the middle that was bobbled by the USC pitcher, allowing O'Keefe to reach first and score McIntyre from third for WMU's first run of the game. Pinch-hitting freshman Swinehart drew a walk to cut WMU's deficit down to one and leave the bases loaded for Allen.

On a 2-2 count, Allen rocketed a ball to right field scoring Hudson and O'Keefe to give WMU its first lead of the game at 4-3. After freshman Greg Budig was hit by a pitch to load the bases once again, sophomore Will Morrison roped a single to left field that scored two and extended the Bronco lead to 6-3.

USC gained a run back in the bottom of the seventh with a one-out single back up the middle before Mullen registered a swinging strikeout to stop the scoring threat. The Trojans had its best chance of the night in the bottom of the eighth after loading the bases with no outs and trailing 6-4.

A pitching change brought redshirt senior RHP Szott to the mound who recorded back-to-back fly outs followed by a fielder's choice to halt the Trojan comeback and keep WMU's lead at 6-4.

The Broncos added two insurance runs in the top of the ninth as the Brown & Gold loaded the bases with one out for Hudson. The Caledonia, Mich., native delivered once again with an RBI single up the middle, scoring two runs and widening the Bronco lead to 8-4.

In the ninth the Trojans cut the WMU lead down to 8-5 after a one out RBI single and positioned runners on first and second with one out. However, the USC comeback was halted once again as Thorington started the 1-6-3 double play to secure the victory.