VALPARAISO, Ind. – The Western Michigan baseball team pushed across five runs in the eighth, but ultimately fell, 9-6, at Valparaiso on Tuesday in its final non-conference action of the regular season.   
 
FINAL SCORE: Valparaiso 9, Western Michigan 6
LOCATION: Emory G. Bauer Field (Valparaiso, Ind.)
RECORDS: Western Michigan (16-28) | Valparaiso (18-21)
W: Kaleb Krier (2-1) | L: Drew Szczepaniak (0-2)
 
Trailing 9-1 heading into the eighth inning, WMU got the first three runners aboard in the frame to load the bases for Gavin Doyle. Doyle brought in a pair with a single to give the him 100 RBIs in his Western Michigan career.
 
After a walk reloaded the bases, Bobby Dearing came through with a two-run single of his own. Dearing drove in a career-high three runs in the contest. With two outs, Connor Ostrander delivered a pinch-hit RBI single to get the Broncos within three, 9-6.
 
Valparaiso threatened in the bottom of the inning, but freshman DJ Thompson came out of the bullpen and extinguished the threat with a strikeout.
 
Western Michigan could not get anything going offensively in the ninth, however, leaving the visitors' comeback attempt short.
 
After a scoreless first inning on both sides, Western Michigan opened the scoring in the second. Doyle led off with a double, moved to third on an infield single by Josh Swinehart, and then scored on a Dearing ground ball to give WMU a 1-0 edge.
 
Valparaiso answered with six in the third to move in front. The Beacons then added single tallies in the next three frames to take a 9-1 advantage after six innings.
 
Western Michigan ends the regular season with its final six games at home, beginning this weekend with a three-game series against Ohio. First pitch of the series opener between the Broncos and the Bobcats is set for Friday afternoon at 3:05 pm.