GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Western Michigan baseball team scored six runs in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings, but it was VCU who tallied a pair in the 11th to come out on top, 9-7, in the first game of the First Pitch Invitational II on Thursday.  

FINAL SCORE: VCU 9, Western Michigan 7 (F/11)
LOCATION: Fluor Field (Greenville, S.C.)
RECORDS: Western Michigan (7-6) | VCU (9-4)
W: Owen Tappy (2-1) | L: Hayden Berg (1-2)
 
Western Michigan trailed 7-1 entering the bottom of the ninth inning. Grady Mee got the Broncos started with an RBI single, and Jackson Kitchen followed with a two-run double to make it 7-4. WMU then loaded the bases with one out for Dylan Nevar, who hit a long fly ball which brought Kitchen in to score. With two outs, CJ Richmond doubled to left center, bringing the tying runs home and sending the game into extra innings all even at 7-7.
 
After Hayden Berg retired the Rams in order in the top of the 10th, Western Michigan got the winning run into scoring position in the home half of the frame before it was turned away.
 
VCU pushed across a pair in the 11th to regain the lead, 9-7. Richmond again doubled with two outs to keep WMU's hopes alive, but the Rams closed the door on the Bronco comeback attempt.
 
Nolan Vlcek was rolling early in his first start of the season for Western Michigan, as he retired 10 of the first 11 Rams he faced. The right-hander ended up going a career-high 5.0 innings for the Broncos and piled up four strikeouts.
 
Western Michigan pushed across the game's first run in the third, as Mee scored on a passed ball.
 
VCU answered right back with one in the fourth, then moved in front with a three-run sixth. The Rams tacked on three more in the eighth to push their advantage to 7-1.
 
The Broncos continue play at the First Pitch Invitational II on Friday as they take on Michigan State. First pitch is scheduled for 4 pm, and the game will be streamed on the Greenville Drive's YouTube channel.