LOUISVILLE, Ky. – On Friday afternoon inside Jim Patterson Stadium the Western Michigan baseball team gave No.3 Louisville all it could handle in a 4-2 loss to begin its three-game weekend series.

The Broncos scored two runs on six hits against one of the best pitching staffs in the nation and put runners in scoring position in each of the first five innings of play. Five Broncos registered a hit in game one of the series with the junior duo of Justin McIntyre and Logan Hudson each earning RBIs.

WMU grabbed an early 1-0 lead before Louisville responded with runs in the second and fourth to gain a 2-1 advantage. WMU tied the game up at 2-2 in the top of the fifth prior to Louisville scoring runs in the sixth and eighth to secure the victory.

Offensively the Brown & Gold were led by Logan Hudson who went 2-for-3 at the plate with a triple, a walk and an RBI. Hudson now has a team-high 11 RBIs on the season and extended his reached base streak to eight games. The Caledonia, Mich., native also has a team-high four multi-hit games.

Fellow junior Justin McIntyre belted his second career home run in the top of the first to highlight a 1-of-5 day at the plate with one RBI and one run scored. McIntyre's home run came off of reigning ACC Pitcher of the Year and 2020 Preseason All-American Reid Detmers in the top of the first inning. McIntyre is the fifth Bronco this season to register a home run.

Juniors Connor Charping and Blake Dunn each registered a hit against the Cardinals with Dunn notching a career-high three stolen bases. Dunn is now a perfect 9-for-9 in stolen base attempts this season and is tied for the team lead with Charping.

Hitting in the seven spot freshman Greg Budig went 1-for-4 with his lone hit being a double down the left field line off of Detmers in the top of the fourth. It was the first career double for Budig as the Broncos now have 17 doubles through eight games.

Louisville starting pitcher Reid Detmers was pulled after five innings, tied for the shorting outing of the season for the preseason All-American. Detmers in five innings gave up two runs on six hits as WMU raised Detmers ERA from 0.82 to 2.14. Heading into the series Detmers was ranked as the 11^th best draft prospect in the NCAA.

Despite receiving the loss it was a stellar day on the mound for sophomore RHP Brady Miller who went seven innings, allowing four runs on eight hits with four strikeouts. Miller gave up just three extra-base hits in 32 batters faced while 64 percent of his pitches were strikes.

Western Michigan and Louisville head back to the diamond for game two of the three-game series on Saturday, Feb. 29. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m. as sophomore RHP Easton Sikorski (2-0, 0.64 ERA) earns the start for the Brown & Gold.

It was a fast start for the Broncos as WMU got on the board first thanks to a home run from Justin McIntyre. With one out and on an 0-2 count, McIntyre blasted his second career home run over the left field wall to give WMU a 1-0 lead. The Broncos proceeded to load the bases in the top of the first with one out before back-to-back strikeouts ended the scoring threat.

Louisville knotted the game up at 1-1 in the bottom of the second as a one out sacrifice fly to right field with runners on second and third plated the run from third. However, the Broncos halted the Cardinal threat as WMU got the runner out at third trying to advance to end the inning.

The Broncos advanced a runner to third base in both the third and fourth innings but was unable to capitalize as the game remained deadlocked at 1-1. After a strikeout to begin the top of the third, Hudson roped his fourth career triple off the right field
wall before a pair of strikeouts ending the scoring chance.

Louisville gained its first lead of the game in the bottom of the fourth. With the bases loaded and one out, a sacrifice fly to centerfield scored the runner from third and gave the Cardinals a 2-1 lead.

Western Michigan rallied back in the top of the fifth scoring one run on two hits. With one out Blake Dunn laid down a perfect bunt to reach base and then proceeded to steal second and third to give WMU a runner in scoring position. The next at-bat, Hudson laced an RBI single back up the middle on a 2-0 count to tie the game at 2-2 after five innings of play.

The Cardinals regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth as its third sacrifice fly of the game plated a run and game Louisville a 3-2 lead. Louisville looked to add to its lead as a runner from third tagged up and sprinted towards home on a fly ball to centerfield. Patrolling center field Blake Dunn showed off his arm strength and threw the runner out trying to take home to keep the Bronco deficit at one.

WMU was unable to rally late as the Cardinals scored an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth to secure the 4-2 game one victory.