ATHENS, Ohio – Western Michigan senior right-hander Nolan Vlcek tossed a complete game on Saturday afternoon to help the Broncos collect a 10-1 series-clinching victory at Ohio. It is the fourth series victory for WMU in its last five visits to Athens.
 
FINAL SCORE: Western Michigan 10, Ohio 1
LOCATION: Bob Wren Stadium (Athens, Ohio)
RECORDS: Western Michigan (14-13, 7-4 MAC) | Ohio (8-18, 4-10)
W: Nolan Vlcek (2-0) | L: Tim Knapschaefer (2-2)
 
The senior went the distance for the first time as a Bronco and picked up WMU's first nine-inning complete game since Brady Miller went the full nine innings in a home victory over Ohio on May 17, 2019.
 
Vlcek was dialed in from his first pitch of the afternoon, as he started his day by setting the Bobcats down in order in the bottom of the first. The righty kept Ohio scoreless until the fifth, when he was greeted with back-to-back hits to start the frame which produced the home team's lone run of the contest. Vlcek bounced back, getting a pop up and then an inning-ending double play on a line drive which was snared by Michael Maloney, who fired to second to complete the twin killing.
 
The Bobcats only got one more baserunner for the rest of the day, a leadoff single in the bottom of the sixth. Following that knock, Vlcek retired the final 12 Ohio hitters he faced. In total, he scattered seven hits, erasing two on double plays, and struck out six, one shy of his career high.
 
Vlcek did not issue any walks, the third time in the last four games Western Michigan's staff has not allowed any walks. WMU pitching has surrendered just one walk in 39.0 innings pitched over that four-game stretch.
 
The Broncos got the lead for Vlcek in the second, as Grady Mee delivered a two-out, two-run double to open the scoring.
 
Western Michigan then added four more two-out runs in the third. Greg Budig and Connor Ostrander each knocked in a run with a single, and Brendan Harrity followed with a two-run double. Budig and Harrity both tied their career high with three hits in the game.
 
Harrity again delivered with two outs in the fifth, as he plated Dylan Nevar with a single for his career-high tying third RBI of the contest. It was one of three runs scored by Nevar on the day.
 
The Broncos tacked on three insurance runs in the eighth to reach double-digit runs for the ninth time this season. Maloney and CJ Richmond each notched RBI singles, and Nevar capped the day's scoring with a sacrifice fly.
 
Western Michigan goes for a sweep of its weekend series against Ohio on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 1 pm on ESPN+.