KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan baseball team loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, but had its comeback attempt thwarted and dropped the opener of its three-game weekend series with The Citadel, 7-4.
 
FINAL SCORE: The Citadel 7, Western Michigan 4
LOCATION: Robert J. Bobb Stadium at Hyames Field (Kalamazoo, Mich.)
RECORDS: Western Michigan (7-20) | The Citadel (17-14)
W: Andrew Stanley (2-2) | L: Ty McKinstry (1-6) | Save: CJ Van Slooten (1)
 
The visitors got out to the early advantage, scoring in each of the first four innings to grab a 5-0 lead.
 
Western Michigan's offense came alive in the bottom of the sixth. A one-out double by Chris Akers, the first of his career-high three hits in the contest, started a string of four consecutive knocks for the Broncos, which culminated in back-to-back RBI singles by Grady Mee and Michael Maloney. One out later, Lucas Rick delivered a two-run single to close the gap to 5-4.
 
The Bulldogs added a pair of insurance runs in the eighth to boost the margin to 7-4.
 
With two outs in the ninth, Avery Thielman kept Western Michigan alive with a base hit. Brendan Harrity was hit by a pitch, and Akers then served an 0-2 offering into left field to load the bases for Tanner Mally. Mally hit the first pitch he saw right on the button, but it was right at The Citadel's centerfielder, who made the play to end the game.
 
The Broncos and Bulldogs continue their three-game weekend series on Saturday afternoon from Robert J. Bobb Stadium at Hyames Field. First pitch is scheduled for 2:05 pm. For tickets to any WMU baseball home game, visit wmubroncos.com/tickets.