KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan baseball team heads down to Greensboro, N.C., this weekend for four games in three days against North Carolina A&T and Bucknell.
SERIES INFO
Game One: Friday, March 3 | WMU at North Carolina A&T | 3 pm |
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LIVE STATS
Game Two: Saturday, March 4 | WMU vs. Bucknell | 12 pm
Game Three: Sunday, March 5 | WMU vs. Bucknell | 12 pm
Game Four: Sunday, March 5 | WMU at North Carolina A&T | 4 pm |
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LIVE STATS
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LEADING OFF
- Western Michigan heads to East Greensboro, N.C. this weekend for four games in three days
- The Broncos are set for two games apiece against North Carolina A&T and Bucknell
- WMU has never faced either the Aggies or the Bison prior to this weekend
- Western Michigan is coming off of a three-game series at Northern Kentucky last weekend
- Dane Armbrustmacher racked up eight strikeouts in six innings on Saturday against NKU
- The lefty is tied for third in the MAC with 14 punchouts so far this season
- Brendan Harrity went 4-for-8 for the weekend with three doubles
- Harrity's three doubles are two shy of the conference lead
- Reliever Hayden Berg retired 12 of the 13 batters he faced on Friday
- Berg owns a 1.23 ERA and a .120 opponents' batting average through 7.1 innings (both 2nd in MAC)
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Western Michigan continues its stretch of 14 straight games away from home to start the season this weekend with four games in three days down in East Greensboro, N.C. The Broncos are set to play two games each against North Carolina A&T and Bucknell. This weekend will mark the first time WMU has faced either program.
LAST TIME OUT
Western Michigan is coming off of a three-game sweep at the hands of Northern Kentucky last weekend. The Broncos rallied late to force extra innings in each of the first two games of the series, but NKU picked up walk-off wins on both Friday and Saturday. The Norse then used an early offensive onslaught to finish out the sweep on Sunday.
BRONCO BOMBS
The Broncos hit 57 home runs in 2022, their most in a season since blasting 59 in 2008. Western Michigan has picked up right where it left off so far in 2023. After going without a home run in the season opener at #1 LSU, WMU has hit a home run in five consecutive games. Four different Broncos have gone deep so far, with
Gavin Doyle becoming the first to have multiple home runs this seasons with homers on Saturday and Sunday at Northern Kentucky.
ARMBRUSTMACHER CONTINUES TO RACK UP K'S
Dane Armbrustmacher has fanned 14 in his first two starts of the young season, tied for third-most in the Mid-American Conference. On Saturday at Northern Kentucky, Armbrustmacher fanned eight in his six innings of work. The left-hander has registered five or more strikeouts in 11 of his 19 career starts for Western Michigan.
JACKSON IS COOKING
Jackson Kitchen made a pair of starts over the weekend for the Broncos and delivered with three hits, a pair of runs scored and four RBIs. On Saturday, Kitchen delivered a two-run triple in the ninth inning, and then scored the tying run to force extra innings. Elevated to the lead-off spot on Sunday, he reached base twice, scored and added an RBI.
FRESH FACES
For the second straight weekend, numerous newcomers made their Bronco debuts. On the pitching side,
Matt Hoover,
Mike Kelly and
James Geshel all took the mound for the first time in the Brown & Gold. Offensively,
Jack Fitzharris,
Luke Kerrins and
Connor Ostrander all came to the plate for their first at-bats at Western Michigan.
"ICE" BERG AHEAD
Righty reliever
Hayden Berg has kept opposing bats cool thus far in 2023. The junior retired 12 of the 13 Norse hitters he faced on Friday and fanned four. Berg has allowed one run on three hits in 7.1 innings for a 1.23 ERA and .120 opponents' batting average, which are both second in the MAC.
HOT-HITTING HARRITY
Brendan Harrity had a 4-for-8 weekend at Northern Kentucky, with doubles accouting for three of his four knocks. The second baseman also scored three times. His three doubles are two shy of the MAC lead.
NOT JOSHING AROUND
Josh Swinehart went 5-for-12, reached base at a .500 clip and scored five times at NKU. The five runs are tied for the team lead, and the junior is tied with
Gavin Doyle for the team lead with four walks. Swinehart (.435) and Doyle (.423) rank first and second, respectively, on the team in OBP.
MASHING MORRISON
Will Morrison had back-to-back multi-hit games on Saturday and Sunday at Northern Kentucky. The redshirt junior went 5-for-10 for the weekend to bring his season average to a team-leading .300.
