KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Powered by clutch two-out hitting the Western Michigan baseball team defeated in-state rival Central Michigan 8-3 in the series opener on Friday afternoon inside Robert J. Bobb Stadium at Hyames Field.

All eight of the Broncos runs were scored with two outs as WMU's eight runs was the fourth most given up by Central Michigan this season. Western Michigan recorded 10 hits against the MAC leading Chippewas with eight different Broncos earning a hit and three extra-base hits.

The junior duo of Connor Charping and Sean O'Keefe each recorded multi-hit games with Charping and O'Keefe along with senior Ethan Hajdukovic having multi-RBI games.
In the leadoff spot Charping was 2-for-5 at the plate with one double, one run scored and two RBIs. Charping is now hitting .390 on the season to lead the Brown & Gold.

In the clean-up spot Sean O'Keefe went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and one run scored. O'Keefe also drew a walk and upped his batting average to a stellar .312. Hajdukovic continued to swing a hot bat going 1-for-4 with one run scored, one double and two RBIs. Rounding out the scoring for the Broncos was seniors Drew Devine and Logan Hudson with an RBI each.

On the mound the Broncos got a stellar outing out of senior LHP Brandon Petersen who threw 4.2 innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits with four strikeouts. Notching his team-leading sixth victory of the season was fellow senior Will Mullen who went 4.1 innings allowing one earned run on four hits with four strikeouts.

Central Michigan's Jordan Patty was credited with the loss throwing 4.2 innings and allowing six earned runs on six hits. It was Patty's second loss of the season with the six earned runs the most he's given up since giving up six back on June 2, 2019 against Miami (FL) in the NCAA Tournament.

With the win the Broncos improve their overall record to 18-21 and 17-12 in Mid-American Conference play. WMU and CMU will return to the diamond for a doubleheader on Saturday, May 15 with first pitch set for 12:00 p.m.

After a scoreless first the Broncos got on the board in the bottom of the second with two runs on two hits. With two outs and runners on second and third junior Connor Charping delivered a two-RBI double down the left field line to give the Broncos an early 2-0 lead.

WMU held its lead until the top of the fifth when Central Michigan responded with two runs on one hit. A two out two-RBI single to left field tied the game at 2-2. It didn't take long for the Brown & Gold to respond scoring four runs on three hits in the bottom of the fifth.

Senior Drew Devine roped on RBI single to centerfield, scoring Justin McIntyre from second to push the Broncos back in front. Western Michigan extended its lead to 5-2 thanks to a bases clearing two-RBI double from Ethan Hajdukovic. In the next at-bat Logan Hudson connected on an RBI single to right field to score Hajdukovic and give WMU a 6-2 advantage.

The Western Michigan offense was back to work once again in the bottom of the sixth scoring two runs on three hits with two outs. With runners on second and third, junior Sean O'Keefe rocketed an RBI single to the CMU shortstop to score Charping. Dunn crossed home plate on the same play after a throwing error by the CMU shortstop to give the Broncos an 8-2 lead.

Central Michigan looked to get on the scoreboard in the top of the seventh, loading the bases with two outs. However senior RHP Will Mullen got out of the jam with a fly ball to right field to hold the Chippewas scoreless.

CMU added one run in the top of the ninth to cut into the Bronco lead as an RBI single to left field scored the Chippewa runner from second. That was all the Chippewas got in the bottom of the ninth as WMU executed the perfect 5-4-3 double play to secure the series opener.