KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan baseball team dropped a 3-1 decision to Bowling Green on Saturday afternoon in the middle game of the two teams' weekend series.   
 
FINAL SCORE: Bowling Green 3, Western Michigan 1
LOCATION: Robert J. Bobb Stadium at Hyames Field (Kalamazoo, Mich.)
RECORDS: Western Michigan (9-22, 5-9 MAC) | Bowling Green (23-10, 12-5)
W: Carrson Sova (3-1) | L: Joey Wizceb (2-6) | Save: Connar Penrod (9)
 
Bowling Green had each of its first four batters reach in the second inning, and plated all three of its runs in that frame to grab a 3-0 edge.
 
The Falcons threatened to add to their cushion in the third, but WMU starter Joey Wizceb was able to strand a couple of runners on the basepaths.
 
After a leadoff single in the fourth, Wizceb settled in, retiring the next six batters he faced and 10 of the next 11. BGSU had runners on first and third in the seventh, but Zach Vriesenga was able to keep the visitors from adding to their lead.
 
Wizceb went 6.2 innings, giving up three runs and collecting three strikeouts, while Vriesenga delivered 2.1 scoreless frames and notched a pair of strikeouts to keep Western Michigan within striking distance.
 
The Broncos had opportunities to cut into Bowling Green's advantage, including in the second and fourth, when they had two runners aboard with one out, but could not score either time. WMU then loaded the bases with two outs in the sixth, but was once again turned away.
 
Western Michigan manufactured its lone run of the afternoon in the bottom of the seventh. Chris Akers opened the frame with a single, stole second, advanced to third on a base hit by Grady Mee, then scored on a Michael Maloney ground ball. Mee was in scoring position with two outs in the frame for Lucas Rick, who hit a line drive right at BGSU's left fielder to end the threat.
 
Dylan Nevar reached on an error to start the eighth and got as far as third base, but the Falcons were once again able to keep WMU off of the scoreboard in the inning.
 
The Broncos and Falcons close out their three-game weekend series with a rubber match on Sunday afternoon from Robert J. Bobb Stadium at Hyames Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 pm. For tickets to any WMU baseball home game, visit wmubroncos.com/tickets.