ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Western Michigan senior left fielder Josh Swinehart hit a grand slam with two outs in the top of the ninth inning to cap WMU's 10-9 come-from-behind-win at Michigan on Tuesday. It was the third win of 2024 for the Broncos against the Wolverines, giving the Brown and Gold the season series victory.
 
FINAL SCORE: Western Michigan 10, Michigan 9
LOCATION: Ray Fisher Stadium (Ann Arbor, Mich.)
RECORDS: Western Michigan (16-13) | Michigan (14-19)
W: Zach Vriesenga (1-0) | L: Ricky Kidd (1-3) | Save: Hayden Berg (2)
 
Western Michigan entered the ninth inning trailing 9-5. With runners at the corners and one out, Cade Sullivan sent one right back up the middle to get WMU within three and bring the tying run to the plate in the form of CJ Richmond. Richmond ripped a line drive single to right to load the bases for the Broncos.
 
One out later, Swinehart stepped to the plate and launched a grand slam to left field to put the Broncos on top, 10-9. The second grand slam of the season for WMU, the blast capped a career-high, five-RBI day for the Mattawan, Mich., native.
 
Michigan put the potential tying run on base in the bottom of the ninth, but Hayden Berg came in to get the final out for the Broncos and earned his second save of the campaign. True freshman Zach Vriesenga, who pitched the eighth, picked up the win for Western Michigan, the first of his collegiate career.
 
After a scoreless first inning on both sides, Western Michigan posted a four-run second. The Brown and Gold had the bases loaded with one out for Ben Campos, who beat out an infield single to plate the contest's first run. Grady Mee followed with a two-run single, and Jackson Kitchen then brought Campos around with a sacrifice fly.
 
The Wolverines answered with five of their own in the bottom of the inning to move ahead.
 
Michigan added another in the third and a pair in the fifth to extend the margin to 8-4.
 
It remained a four-run spread until the eighth, when Swinehart plated Richmond with a sacrifice fly. The Broncos brought the potential tying run to the plate later in the frame, but the Wolverines escaped without further damage.
 
The hosts then answered with a tally of their own in the bottom of the inning to restore the four-run cushion, 9-5, setting the stage for WMU's rally.
 
Western Michigan returns to Robert J. Bobb Stadium at Hyames Field for its next four games, starting on Friday afternoon as it opens up a three-game MAC series against Miami. First pitch for Friday's series opener against the RedHawks is scheduled for 3:05 pm. For tickets to any WMU baseball home game, visit wmubroncos.com/tickets.