AKRON, Ohio – A pair of runs in the sixth inning broke a 2-2 tie, and sent Western Michigan to a 4-2 to defeat at the hands of Akron on Sunday afternoon. Sunday's result sees the two teams split the four-game weekend Mid-American Conference series.  
 
FINAL SCORE: Akron 4, Western Michigan 2
LOCATION: Skeeles Field (Akron, Ohio)
RECORDS: Western Michigan (8-19, 6-8 MAC) | Akron (10-21, 8-12 MAC)
W: Joey Herrick (1-0) | L: Hayden Berg (2-3) | Save: Brett Dietrich (4)
 
Connor Charping and Cade Sullivan had two knocks apiece for Western Michigan, with Sullivan also drawing a walk and driving in a run. Gavin Doyle reached base three times with a hit and a pair of free passes.
 
In a no-decision, Dane Armbrustmacher limited Akron to two runs on four hits over five innings and piled up six strikeouts. It marked the fourth consecutive start in which the lefty picked up at least six strikeouts.  
 
The Broncos tallied the first run of the day in the opening inning, as Sullivan hit the last of three straight singles to score Charping and give WMU the early 1-0 edge.
 
Akron tied it up in the bottom of the second with a solo home run, then moved ahead with another tally in the fourth.
 
Justin McIntyre was hit by a pitch to begin the fifth for WMU, and later came around to score on a wild pitch to even the contest at 2-2. The Broncos had a chance for more in the frame, but left runners at second and third.
 
In the sixth, the Zips regained the lead with a two-out, two-run single.
 
The Broncos put their first two on base in the eighth, and got a leadoff single in the ninth, but were turned away both times.  
 
Western Michigan steps out of conference play on Wednesday as it travels up to East Lansing for the first game of a home-and-home against Michigan State. First pitch against the Spartans is slated for 6:35 pm.