KENT, Ohio – Western Michigan junior first baseman Cade Sullivan hit a pair of home runs, tying him for both the program single-season and career records, but the Broncos ultimately dropped a 6-4 decision to top-seeded Kent State in the opener of the 2023 MAC Tournament on Wednesday afternoon.
 
FINAL SCORE: No. 1 Kent State 6, No. 4 Western Michigan 4
LOCATION: Olga Mural Field at Schoonover Stadium (Kent, Ohio)
RECORDS: No. 4 Western Michigan (21-30) | No. 1 Kent State (41-14)
W: Mitchell Scott (2-1) | L: Hayden Berg (1-2)
 
Sullivan's home runs were his 17th and 18th of 2023, tying him with Frank Alfieri, who launched 18 homers during the 1999 season, for the single-season program record. The junior's two blasts also brought his career total to 28, which puts him in a four-way tie with Alfieri, John Toner and Kris Gundrum for WMU's career program record. Sullivan's 58 RBIs are tied for third-most in a single season in program history.
 
Western Michigan put its first three batters on base to start the game. One out later, Jimmy Allen drove a sacrifice fly to the opposite field to give the Broncos an early 1-0 advantage.
 
Sullivan came to the plate to leadoff the third, and deposited his first home run of the day over the right field wall to double WMU's advantage.
 
Brady Miller took the ball for Western Michigan, and the righty cruised through much of the first five innings. In the first five frames, Kent State managed just two baserunners, one of which was erased on a caught stealing by Bronco catcher Greg Budig. In total, Miller limited the top offense in the conference to three runs on four hits over seven innings in a no decision.
 
The Golden Flashes evened the score at 2-2 with a pair in the bottom of the sixth. The home team had a chance to take the lead, but a great play by Gavin Doyle at third base kept the game tied heading into the seventh.  
 
Western Michigan came right back in the next half inning and regained the lead, as Doyle hit a sacrifice fly to bring home Grady Mee and put WMU back in front, 3-2.  
 
Miller came back with a shutdown inning to keep WMU's lead at one heading into the eighth.
 
After the Broncos left a couple on base in the top of the frame, Kent State tied it in the bottom of the eighth at 3-3, and then moved ahead on a three-run homer with two outs.
 
Sullivan got WMU back within a pair with his second long ball of the afternoon in the top of the ninth. Doyle and Dylan Nevar then both singled to put the tying runs on base with two outs for Western Michigan, but the Broncos were turned away.
 
Western Michigan now waits to see who it will play on Thursday, as it will meet the loser of Wednesday evening's contest between No. 2 seed Central Michigan and No. 3 seed Ball State in an elimination game. First pitch for Thursday's contest is scheduled for 12:30 pm on ESPN+ and the Bronco Media Network.