AKRON, Ohio – The Western Michigan baseball team opened up a four-game weekend series at Akron with a 10-6 setback on Friday afternoon at Skeeles Field.   
 
FINAL SCORE: Akron 10, Western Michigan 6
LOCATION: Skeeles Field (Akron, Ohio)
RECORDS: Western Michigan (6-18, 4-7 MAC) | Akron (9-19, 7-10 MAC)
W: Taed Heydinger (2-5) | L: Joe Shapiro (0-6)
 
Will Morrison and Josh Swinehart led Western Michigan's 13-hit attack with three knocks apiece, with Morrison scoring twice for the Broncos. Swinehart reached in all five of his plate appearances, as the sophomore also walked and was hit by a pitch. Jimmy Allen and Cade Sullivan each added two hits, while Gavin Doyle drew three walks.
 
In relief, Jack Huisman limited Akron to one run on six hits over five innings. The senior right-hander collected three strikeouts.
 
After a pair of scoreless innings on both sides, Western Michigan struck for the contest's first run in the third. With two outs and two aboard, Dylan Nevar singled to pick up his team-leading 20th RBI of the season and give the Broncos a 1-0 edge.
 
The Zips responded in the bottom half, plating five runs with the aid of a pair of home runs.
 
WMU opened the fourth with three straight singles, but an Akron double play limited the Broncos to a single tally in the inning. The Zips then scored four in the bottom of the frame to extend their advantage to 9-2.
 
Still trailing 9-2 in the seventh, Western Michigan pushed across four. The Broncos loaded the bases with two outs for Swinehart, who drove in the first run when he was hit by a pitch. Ben Campos followed with a two-run single, and Allen then knocked in one with a base hit of his own, trimming the WMU deficit to 9-6.
 
The Zips answered again in the home half, as a leadoff home run pushed the hosts' advantage to 10-6.
 
Western Michigan and Akron continue their four-game weekend series with a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch for game one of the twin bill is slated for 12 pm.