CLINTON, S.C. – The Western Michigan pitching staff held Presbyterian College to two hits, and Brendan Harrity delivered the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth inning on a safety squeeze bunt to lift the Bronocs to a 5-4 win over the Blue Hose on Tuesday.
 
FINAL SCORE: Western Michigan 5, Presbyterian 4
LOCATION: PC Baseball Complex (Clinton, S.C.)
RECORDS: Western Michigan (7-5) | Presbyterian (7-6)
W: Joe Shapiro (1-0) | L: Jeffrey Hays (0-2) | Save: Hayden Berg (1)
 
Trailing 4-3 entering the eighth inning, Western Michigan got back-to-back knocks from Dylan Nevar and CJ Richmond to put the go-ahead runs aboard. One out later, a wild pitch enabled Nevar to race home and tie the contest, with Richmond moving up to third on the play. After a walk, Harrity came to the plate and pushed a bunt to the first-base side of the mound, perfectly placed to score Richmond from third and put the Broncos ahead, 5-4.
 
The WMU bullpen slammed the door from there. Joe Shapiro set the Blue Hose down in order in the bottom of the eighth, with Hayden Berg then striking out the side in a perfect ninth inning. Shapiro tossed a pair of scoreless frames to pick up his first win of the season, while Berg's effort earned him his first save of the campaign.  
 
DJ Thompson got his first start of the season for Western Michigan and retired nine of the first 10 batters he faced on the way to 4.0 hitless innings for the Broncos.
 
WMU staked their sophomore starter to a three-run lead in the third. With the bases loaded and one out, Michael Maloney ripped a two-run single to right center, the first of his career-high tying three hits, to put the Broncos on top. Cade Sullivan then brought Jackson Kitchen around to make it 3-0.
 
Presbyterian got to within one with a two-run fourth, then grabbed a 4-3 lead with a pair in the sixth.
 
Western Michigan heads back to Greenville, S.C., this weekend for the First Pitch Invitational II. The Broncos are set to open up the tournament on Friday night at 6 pm against Western Carolina. Each game of the tournament will be streamed on the Greenville Drive's YouTube channel.