LOS ANGELES – The Western Michigan baseball team wrapped up its season-opening three-game series at the University of Southern California with a 14-3 loss inside Dedeaux Field.

The Broncos fell in the series opener and finale but captured an 8-5 win on Saturday night over the Trojans. The win on Saturday marked WMU's first win over a PAC-12 school since defeating USC in the NCAA Midwest Regional back in 1989.

In the series finale the Broncos recorded three runs on five hits with four different Broncos registering a hit. Junior Sean O'Keefe led the Broncos with his first multi-hit game of the season going 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Earning the third RBI for the Brown & Gold was sophomore Gavin Doyle who went 0-for-2 with a walk and an RBI.

Three separate Broncos scored runs on Sunday afternoon as the junior trio of Justin McIntyre, Logan Hudson and Connor Charping each crossed home plate. McIntyre was 1-for-3 at the three-hole spot in the line-up with one run scored and one stolen base.

On the mound WMU used six different pitchers to tally 10 strikeouts. It's the first time since May 8, 2019 against Ohio that the Bronco pitching staff has struck out 10 or more batters. Both senior Tyler Thorington and junior Jack Huisman registered two strikeouts to lead the team. In his first start of the season Thorington went two innings allowing no earned runs on three hits in 13 batters faced.

Over the weekend the Broncos scored 11 runs on 18 hits while registering a .330 on-base percentage. Leading the way was McIntyre who 4-for-10 at the plate with a double and two runs scored. Behind McIntyre was redshirt junior Logan Hudson who earned a .333 batting average with two runs scored, one double and two RBIs. O'Keefe, Hudson and sophomore Jimmy Allen each recorded two RBIs over the weekend while Will Morrison, Gavin Doyle and Josh Swinehart each had one.

Western Michigan concludes the season-opening weekend with an overall record of 1-2 and will be back in action for a four-game series beginning on Friday, Feb. 21 at Alabama A&M. Following its series with Alabama A&M the Broncos will travel to nationally-ranked Louisville for a three-game series, Feb. 28 – March 1.

After a pair of scoreless innings USC got on the board first in the bottom of the second scoring four runs on two hits to take an early 4-0 lead. The Trojans added to its lead an inning later with one run on two hits to grab a 5-0 advantage. USC widened its lead once again scoring five runs in the fourth and one in the fifth.

The Bronco offense came to life in the top of the sixth, lighting up the scoreboard for three runs on two hits. With two outs and McIntyre on second, WMU drew back-to-back walks to load the bases for sophomore Gavin Doyle. Doyle drew the third straight walk of the inning with two outs to score McIntyre and give WMU its first run of the ball game.

A few pitches later Sean O'Keefe rocketed a two RBI single back up the middle to score Hudson and Charping and cut the WMU deficit down to 11-3. The Broncos carried its momentum into the seventh inning, loading the bases once again with two outs before a strikeout ended the scoring threat.

USC halted the Bronco momentum scoring three runs on three hits in the bottom of the seventh to widen its lead to 14-3. WMU looked to mount a comeback in the late innings after putting runners on first and second with two outs in the top of the eighth before a fielder's choice ended the scoring chance.