AKRON, Ohio – Western Michigan senior right-hander Nolan Vlcek racked up a career-high 11 strikeouts, but the Broncos fell victim to a late-inning Akron rally in an 8-3 setback on Saturday afternoon.  
 
FINAL SCORE: Akron 8, Western Michigan 3
LOCATION: Skeeles Field (Akron, Ohio)
RECORDS: Western Michigan (22-17, 13-7 MAC) | Akron (10-32, 5-15)
W: Jared Schaeffer (2-6) | L: Nolan Vlcek (3-2)
 
Vlcek was in a groove early for the Broncos, retiring the first nine Zips he faced and striking out seven of them.
 
Western Michigan grabbed the first run of the day just three batters into the contest, as Cade Sullivan tripled to right center with one out, then touched home on a Dylan Nevar bounce out.
 
The Broncos took advantage of an Akron error to tack on another in the second, with CJ Richmond scoring on the miscue.
 
Akron's first baserunner was a lead-off double in the fourth, which eventually came around to score to cut WMU's edge to 2-1.
 
Vlcek responded to the lead-off double by setting the next nine Zips down in order to keep the Broncos in front by one. For the day, the righty went 6.1 innings, limited Akron to three runs on three hits and piled up a career-high 11 strikeouts. The 11 strikeouts are the most by a single WMU pitcher in a game this season. Saturday also marked the third straight game and fourth time in the last five contests Western Michigan's pitching staff has collected double-digit strikeouts.
 
After the Broncos rallied late to win the series opener on Friday, it was Akron's turn on Saturday, as the hosts pushed across two in the seventh to take the lead, and added five in the eighth to stretch the advantage to 8-2.
 
Western Michigan started the ninth inning with three consecutive hits, and got a run back on a Richmond knock which plated Nevar. The WMU rally was halted there however, as a fly ball and double play put a stop to the comeback.  
 
The Broncos and Zips are set for a rubber match of their three-game series on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 pm.