KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Sophomore Nick Crandell tossed eight innings without allowing an earned run on Saturday afternoon, as Western Michigan topped Miami, 2-1, in the finale of the two teams' doubleheader. The RedHawks edged the Broncos, 4-3, in the opener.     
 
FINAL SCORE (G1): Miami 4, Western Michigan 3 (F/7)
LOCATION: Robert J. Bobb Stadium at Hyames Field (Kalamazoo, Mich.)
RECORDS: Western Michigan (9-21, 6-10 MAC) | Miami (14-19, 10-11 MAC)
W: Tyler Ronevich (2-2) | L: Brenden Lovell (2-1) |
Save: Patrick Mastrian IV (2)
 
FINAL SCORE (G2): Western Michigan 2, Miami 1
LOCATION: Robert J. Bobb Stadium at Hyames Field (Kalamazoo, Mich.)
RECORDS: Western Michigan (10-21, 7-10 MAC) | Miami (14-20, 10-12 MAC)
W: Nick Crandell (1-2) | L: Zach Maxey (1-2) | Save: Dane Armbrustmacher (1)
 
Crandell limited the RedHawks to just three hits over his career-high eight innings of work, and did not allow an earned run. The righty also racked up a career-best six strikeouts to earn his first victory as a Bronco. Having worked seven-and-a-third innings on April 1 at Eastern Michigan, Crandell now owns the two longest outings by a Western Michigan pitcher this season.
 
The sophomore right-hander faced the minimum through the first four innings of game two, picking off the lone runner he had allowed to reach. In the fifth, Miami scratched across an unearned tally to grab a 1-0 edge.
 
Western Michigan answered in the bottom of the sixth, as Cade Sullivan and Dylan Nevar ripped back-to-back doubles to even the game at 1-1.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, WMU took advantage of a Miami miscue to take the lead, as a throwing error allowed Ben Campos to race home and score the decisive run.
 
The RedHawks got the tying run to third in the top of the eighth, but Crandell induced a ground ball to get the Broncos out of the inning with their one-run advantage intact. Dane Armbrustmacher then came on for the ninth and set Miami down in order to earn his first save of the season.
 
In the twin bill opener, Miami grabbed the first run of the contest in the third, but WMU came right back with a pair in the bottom half. Jimmy Allen scored on an error, and Nevar plated a run with a double to give the Broncos a 2-1 edge.
 
The RedHawks leveled the score with a run in the fourth, then pushed ahead with another in the fifth to make it 3-2.
 
Sullivan brought WMU even once again with a sacrifice fly in the fifth, but the RedHawks notched the contest's decisive run in the top of the sixth.
 
Connor Charping bunted his way aboard, stole second, and eventually made it to third in the bottom of the seventh, but was left stranded.
 
The Broncos and RedHawks close out their four-game series on Sunday afternoon with a 1:05 pm first pitch at Robert J. Bobb Stadium at Hyames Field. Armbrustmacher (2-2, 3.43 ERA) is slated to be on the hill for Western Michigan, while Miami will counter with righty Aaron Massie (1-1, 5.40 ERA).