IOWA CITY, Iowa – The Western Michigan baseball team fell, 9-3, in the first game of its three-game non-conference series at 20th-ranked Iowa on Friday evening.   
 
FINAL SCORE: #20 Iowa 9, Western Michigan 3
LOCATION: Duane Banks Field (Iowa City, Iowa)
RECORDS: Western Michigan (5-14) | #20 Iowa (17-3)  
W: Brody Brecht (2-1) | L: Brady Miller (1-3)
 
Western Michigan put two runners on with one out in the first, but could not push across the game's first run. Iowa had a similar chance in the home half, but a Brady Miller strikeout extinguished the threat.
 
The Hawkeyes grabbed the lead in the second, tallying three runs. Iowa added to its advantage in the middle frames, and led 9-0 through six innings.
 
With two outs in the seventh, freshman Grady Mee collected a pinch-hit single, the first hit of his collegiate career, to extend the inning for Jackson Kitchen. Kitchen delivered an RBI double to get WMU on the board.
 
After giving up hits to the first two batters he faced, reliever James Geshel settled in for the Broncos, retiring eight straight and nine of the final 10 Hawkeyes he faced.
 
Western Michigan got two runs in the ninth, as Kitchen drew a walk with the bases loaded and Will Morrison was then hit by a pitch with the bags full, with each play forcing in a run. The WMU comeback attempt was halted there, as the Hawkeyes induced a game-ending double play.
 
The Broncos and Hawkeyes continue their three-game weekend series on Saturday afternoon. First pitch is set 3:05 pm, and the game will be streamed on BTN+.