KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Western Michigan left fielder Dylan Nevar celebrated his Senior Day by tying the program's all-time home run record in a 17-4 rout of Ohio on Saturday.
 
Prior to the game, Western Michigan honored its seniors with a pregame ceremony. Joining Nevar were Luke Kerrins, Brendan Harrity, Reese Gaber, Joe Shapiro, Aiden Hinds and Jake Gernon.       
 
FINAL SCORE: Western Michigan 17, Ohio 4 (F/7)
LOCATION: Robert J. Bobb Stadium at Hyames Field (Kalamazoo, Mich.)
RECORDS: Western Michigan (19-32, 12-18 MAC) | Ohio (14-37, 9-21)
W: DJ Thompson (1-2) | L: Hunter Winston (1-4)
 
Nevar's record-tying home run got the Western Michigan offense started in the bottom of the first, as the solo blast put his team in front 1-0. It was the Wisconsin Dells, Wis., native's 38th career long ball, tying him with former teammate Cade Sullivan for the program's all-time mark.
 
The Broncos added another run in the opening frame when Connor Ostrander picked up a two-out, RBI double.
 
WMU then erupted for the first of its two crooked innings, plating six in the second. Michael Maloney knocked in the first of his career-high tying four runs with a fielder's choice, and Nevar followed with an RBI single right back up the middle. Moments later, the Broncos executed a double steal, with Maloney swiping third and then dashing home when the throw from Ohio's catcher was errant. Avery Thielman then capped the inning with an opposite field three-run homer.
 
Ohio pushed across a pair in the third and then pulled two more back in the fourth to close the gap to 8-4. DJ Thompson buckled down and struck out the final two Bobcats to keep the visitors from getting any closer. Thompson worked 1.2 scoreless innings to collect the win in relief.
 
The Brown and Gold responded with another big inning in the home half of the fourth. Chris Akers was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to bring in the first run of the frame. Grady Mee and Tanner Mally followed with back-to-back RBI singles, and Maloney then cleared the bases with a three-run double. Nevar made a bid for the record-breaking home run, but it hit off of the right field wall for an RBI double to extend the margin to 15-4.
 
Ostrander led off the fifth inning with Western Michigan's third home run of the contest, as he launched his first of the season. The Broncos capped their offensive explosion with one more in the sixth, as an error helped Mally score WMU's season-high 17th run of the day.
 
With the win, Western Michigan concludes the season with a 19-32 overall record and 12-18 mark in Mid-American Conference play.