KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan baseball team heads out to the West Coast this weekend to take part in the 2026 Tony Gwynn Legacy Tournament. 

TOURNAMENT INFO
Game One: Friday, Feb. 20 | 4 pm | WMU vs. Omaha | LIVE STATS
Game Two: Saturday, Feb. 21 | 3 pm | WMU vs. Omaha | LIVE STATS
Game Three: Sunday, Feb. 22 | 4 pm | WMU at UC San Diego | LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATS

FOLLOW ALONG: @WMUBaseball

LEADING OFF

• In the midst of 11 straight games away from home to start the 2026 season, Western Michigan heads to the West Coast this weekend for the Tony Gwynn Legacy Tournament
• The Broncos are set to play Omaha on Friday and Saturday and then tournament co-host UCSD on Sunday
• WMU has faced Omaha just once prior to this weekend, dropping a 3-1 decision on March 1, 2014
• The Broncos have never met UC San Diego prior to Sunday's contest
• Western Michigan picked up one win during its Opening Weekend series against Pitt in Port Charlotte, Fla.
• Lucas Rick paced the Broncos at the plate, going 5-for-11 with a team-high 5 RBIs
• Michael Maloney also had a five-hit weekend, which included his first home run for the Brown and Gold

HEADED FOR THE WEST COAST
Western Michigan continues its run of 11 consecutive games away from home to start the 2026 campaign this weekend with three games in three days at the Tony Gwynn Legacy Tournament, hosted by UC San Diego, San Diego and San Diego State. The Broncos will play Omaha on Friday (at UCSD) and Saturday (at USD) and then face tournament co-host UC San Diego on Sunday. 

SERIES HISTORY
The Broncos have met up with Omaha just once on the diamond prior to this weekend, having dropped a 3-1 decision to the Mavericks on March 7, 2014, in Port Charlotte, Fla., at the Snowbird Classic.  Western Michigan and UC San Diego will be meeting for the first time ever on Sunday.

POWER SCHEDULING
WMU has made it a habit to schedule numerous Power Conference opponents over the years, and last weekend opened up against a Power Conference opponent for the fourth consecutive year with a three-game series against Pittsburgh in Port Charlotte, Fla. The Broncos won four games against Power Conference foes in 2025, taking down Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern and Notre Dame, and started off 2026 by picking up a win over Pitt. Western Michigan will play three more Power Conference teams later in the season, with Michigan, Notre Dame and Michigan State all on the slate once again. 

LAST TIME OUT
Western Michigan picked up the middle game of its three-game Opening Weekend series against Pittsburgh in Port Charlotte, Fla., last weekend. After a late surge broke a 4-4 tie to give the Panthers the series opener, the Broncos bounced back on Saturday, going ahead for good in the seventh inning and holding off Pitt from there. WMU got its first two home runs of the new season on Sunday but was outslugged in the series finale.

RAKING RICK
Designated hitter Lucas Rick came out of the gates swinging last weekend, collecting five hits in 11 at-bats (.455) and driving in five to lead the WMU offense. The redshirt senior got the Broncos going in Saturday's victory, plating a pair with a two-run double in the top of the first. He then collected three knocks and tied his career with three more RBIs in Sunday's series finale. 

MASHING MALONEY
Michael Maloney also went 5-for-11 last weekend against Pittsburgh and reached base multiple times in all three contests for a team-best .538 on-base percentage. Among the shortstop's five hits was his first home run as a Bronco in Sunday's series finale. 

SETTING THE TABLE
Leadoff hitter Tanner Mally picked up right where he left off at the end of 2025 in the Opening Weekend series against Pitt. The junior went 3-for-10 at the plate, drew one walk and four hit by pitches to reach base at a .533 clip. He scored four times, tied for the team lead, and picked up one of Western Michigan's two stolen bases. Going back to last season, Mally has reached base in 18 consecutive games.

BRAND NEW BRONCOS
A total of nine players made their Western Michigan debuts over the course of Opening Weekend. On the offensive side, true freshman Mason Pilarski started all three games at third base and had a three-hit game in Saturday's victory. Drew Howard slotted in at second base, went 4-for-11 (.364) at the dish and tied for the team lead with four runs scored. Mark Mennecke patrolled left field and knocked in a pair of runs for the Brown and Gold. The trio of Josh Polubinski, Jacob Rowold and Ty Tomlinson all saw action off of the bench. 

NEW ARMS IN THE STABLES
Four new pitchers took the mound for the first time as Broncos against Pittsburgh, including Saturday and Sunday's starters. On Saturday, redshirt junior Sam Carlisle made his debut after sitting out his first two seasons in Kalamazoo due to inury and fanned four in 3.1 innings. Michigan transfer Ricky Kidd took the mound on Sunday and collected three strikeouts over his 3.1 frames. Out of the bullpen, both Evan Shapiro and Ty Tomlinson saw action in the late innings of Friday's series opener.