OXFORD, Ohio – With the scored tied in the top of the tenth inning, freshman Josh Swinehart belted his first career go-ahead home run to lift the Western Michigan baseball team past Miami 3-2 on Saturday night inside McKie Field at Hayden Park.

The ten inning win marked the seventh straight victory for the Broncos, the longest winning streak since winning nine in a row back in 2006. The seven straight wins is also the most under head coach Billy Gernon. With the win WMU claimed its first series over Miami since 2017.

Western Michigan scored three runs on six hits on Saturday night while holding Miami to two runs on just three hits. WMU had six players register a hit against the RedHawks with junior Sean O'Keefe and Swinehart each earning RBIs.

On the mound the Broncos were guided by the duo of sophomore RHP Easton Sikorski and senior RHP Will Mullen. The duo allowed just three hits in 10 innings while striking out a staggering 13 Miami batters. For the second straight night Mullen got the win out of the bullpen to improve his record to 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA.

Swinehart belted his second career home run and first career go-ahead home run in the top of the tenth to give WMU a 3-2 lead and finish off a 1-for-3 night at the plate with one run scored and one RBI. Joining
Swinehart in the RBI department was O'Keefe who went 1-for-4 with one RBI. O'Keefe tied the game at two with an RBI single in the top of the seventh inning.

Junior Justin McIntyre continued his hot streak at the plate scoring one run to go along with one walk and one stolen base. Sophomore Jimmy Allen scored a run for the Broncos while also drawing a walk in the Saturday night victory.

RHP Easton Sikorski was dominant through six innings for Western Michigan allowing two earned runs on three hits while striking out nine batters, one shy of matching his career-high. Mullen in four innings of work held Miami hitless and registered four strikeouts in 16 batters faced.

With the win the Broncos now have an overall record of 10-11 and a Mid-American Conference record of 10-5. Western Michigan seeks its second straight four-game series sweep on Sunday, April 11. First pitch against the RedHawks is set for 1:00 p.m.

It was a pitcher's duel during the early portion of Saturday's contest as WMU and Miami combined for just two hits during the first five innings of play. The Broncos got on the board first in the top of the sixth as Jimmy Allen scored on a wild pitch to give WMU a 1-0 lead. In the sixth the Broncos scored one run on no hits, capitalizing on back-to-back wild pitches.

Miami responded in the bottom of the sixth with two runs on two hits to gain a 2-1 advantage. The Brown & Gold responded right back in the top of the seventh with one run on two hits. Justin McIntyre stole second with one out before O'Keefe rocketed an RBI single to score McIntyre and tie the game at two.

WMU and Miami remained scoreless until the top of the tenth when Swinehart belted a home run over the left field wall on a 1-0 count to give the Broncos a 3-2 lead.  The home run was Swinehart's second of the season. 

In the bottom of the tenth the RedHawks registered a one out walk prior to a fly ball to WMU shortstop Drew Devine and a fielder's choice that secured WMU's 3-2 victory.