TOLEDO, Ohio – The Western Michigan baseball team had an early lead on Saturday, but a five-run sixth inning helped Toledo come back to earn an 8-5 victory in the finale of the two teams' weekend series.  
 
FINAL SCORE: Toledo 8, Western Michigan 5
LOCATION: Scott Park (Toledo, Ohio)
RECORDS: Western Michigan (10-26, 6-12 MAC) | Toledo (16-22, 10-11)
W: Nathan Leininger (4-5) | L: Zach Vriesenga (0-3) | Save: RJ Shunck (1)
 
Western Michigan grabbed the early lead on a pair of home runs. Avery Thielman started it off with a two-run shot to center field in the top of the first, the first homer of his collegiate career. Lucas Rick then made it 3-0 with a solo blast in the second. The long ball was the fourth of the year for Rick, tying him for the team lead.
 
After Toledo pulled one back in the bottom of the second, Michael Maloney delivered a two-out, RBI single in the third to push WMU's advantage back to three, 4-1.
 
The Rockets scored a pair in the bottom of the inning to close to within one, but Zach Vriesenga came out of the bullpen and stranded the tying run on base to keep Western Michigan in front.
 
Vriesenga retired nine batters in a row at one point, and the Broncos added to their advantage on an RBI single by Thielman in the fifth. It was the career-high tying third RBI of the afternoon for Thielman, which had WMU in front, 5-3, through five innings.
 
Toledo then put together a five-run sixth frame to move ahead, 8-5.
 
After the five early runs, the WMU offense was stifled for the remainder of the contest.
 
Western Michigan is back on the road again next weekend for a three-game set at Northern Illinois. First pitch for Friday's series opener against the Huskies is scheduled for 4 pm.