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Western Michigan University Athletics

Rick Miami
16
Winner Western Michigan WMU 11-26, 7-12 MAC
15
Northern Ill. NIU 15-26, 4-15 MAC
Winner
Western Michigan WMU
11-26, 7-12 MAC
16
Final
15
Northern Ill. NIU
15-26, 4-15 MAC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Western Michigan WMU 0 0 1 0 5 2 6 0 2 16 18 0
Northern Ill. NIU 3 2 4 0 3 0 0 0 3 15 14 1

W: Hoover, Matt (1-0) L: M. Ruh (2-3) S: Thompson, DJ (3)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Broncos Blast Their Way Back From Eight-Run Deficit to Claim Series Opener

DeKALB, Ill. – The Western Michigan baseball team trailed 9-1 after three innings, but hit a season-high five home runs to rally back for a 16-15 series-opening victory at NIU on Friday.
 
FINAL SCORE: Western Michigan 16, NIU 15
LOCATION: Ralph McKinzie Field (DeKalb, Ill.)
RECORDS: Western Michigan (11-26, 7-12 MAC) | NIU (15-26, 4-15)
W: Matt Hoover (1-0) | L: Mason Ruh (2-3) | Save: DJ Thompson (3)
 
The Western Michigan offense put together season highs in runs (16), hits (18) and home runs (5) for the day. Five Broncos recorded multiple hits, led by Lucas Rick, who belted a pair of homers on the way to a career-high four knocks. Chris Akers, Grady Mee and Dylan Nevar notched three hits apiece, with Akers driving in a career-high four runs. Nevar and Rick each had three RBIs, while Rick and Michael Maloney each scored three times.
 
The Broncos trailed 9-1 heading into the fifth inning, but started to close the gap with a five-run frame. With one out, WMU put together three consecutive singles, the last of which came from Mee and brought Avery Thielman in to score. After a walk to Connor Ostrander loaded the bases, Akers launched a grand slam to trim the deficit to 9-6.
 
Northern Illinois answered with three in the home half of the inning to push the margin back to six.
 
With two outs in the sixth, Rick launched the first of his two home runs to close the gap to 12-8.
 
Western Michigan then put up another crooked number in the seventh to move in front. Three straight base hits again produced a run, with Tanner Mally plating Akers with a single. Maloney followed with a sacrifice fly, and Nevar cut the deficit to one with an RBI double. Thielman then stepped to the plate and gave the Broncos the lead with a two-run shot. The next batter, Rick, cranked a solo home run to left for the first multi-homer game of his career and a 14-12 WMU lead.
 
In the ninth, Nevar blasted a two-run shot to extend the margin to 16-12.
 
Northern Illinois tallied three in the bottom of the ninth, but DJ Thompson was able to preserve the lead and earn his third save of the season. Matt Hoover picked up his first win of the campaign after tossing a scoreless sixth frame for the Brown and Gold.
 
The Broncos and Huskies continue their three-game weekend series on Saturday afternoon, with first pitch scheduled for 3 pm.   

 
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