KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan baseball team hits the road this weekend for a three-game set at Eastern Michigan.

SERIES INFO: WMU (17-15, 12-6 MAC) at EMU (10-24, 5-13)
Game One: Friday, April 17 | 3 pm | VIDEO | LIVE STATS
Game Two: Saturday, April 18 | 3 pm | VIDEO | LIVE STATS
Game Three: Sunday, April 19 | 1 pm | VIDEO | LIVE STATS

FOLLOW ALONG: @WMUBaseball

LEADING OFF

• Western Michigan resumes MAC play this weekend with a three-game set at Eastern Michigan
• The two teams head into the weekend deadlocked 99-99 in the all-time series
• Eastern Michigan has taken two out of three from the Broncos each of the last two years
• WMU took two out of three from Toledo last weekend to move into a tie for second in the MAC
• Western Michigan starting pitchers owned a 3.32 ERA for the series
• The Broncos own the best ERA in conference play at 4.11, a full run lower than second (Toledo, 5.26)
• Sam Carlisle limited the Rockets to two runs in 7.0 innings and struck out eight to earn his third win
• Carlisle's 3.19 ERA ranks third in the MAC and his 2.23 ERA in league games is fourth-lowest
• Ricky Kidd went a career-high 8.0 innings, surrendering three runs to pick up his fourth victory
• Kidd's 2.61 ERA against MAC foes is the fifth-lowest in the league
• Turner Doran picked up his league-leading eighth save of the season in last Saturday's win
• Doran's eight saves are the fourth-most in a season and his 12 career are tied for fourth all-time at WMU
• Tanner Mally enters the weekend still atop NCAA DI in batting average (.483) and OBP (.589)
• He has also been the nation's toughest hitter to strike out, fanning just three times in 116 at-bats

ON THE ROAD AGAIN
After having Wednesday night's tilt against Michigan State at LMCU Ballpark in Comstock Park canceled due to weather, Western Michigan returns to Mid-American Conference play this weekend as it heads to Ypsilanti for a three-game set against Eastern Michigan. The Broncos are 9-8 in true road games this season and have won two of their first three road MAC series, taking two out of three at Akron and earning a three-game sweep at Ohio.

SERIES HISTORY
The Broncos and Eagles come into this weekend deadlocked at 99-99 in the all-time series. EMU has taken two out of three from the Broncos each of the last two seasons.  

LAST TIME OUT
Western Michigan took two out of three from Toledo last weekend to climb into a five-way tie for second place in the MAC, one game behind Kent State. After the Rockets took the series opener, the Brown and Gold bounced back to win the final two games, 8-6 and 6-3. WMU starting pitching was outstanding once again, with the starting trio of Zach Vriesenga, Sam Carlisle and Ricky Kidd all pitching at least into the seventh inning and combining for a 3.32 ERA against one of the league's top offenses. Michael Maloney went 5-for-12 (.417) for the series and knocked in four runs for the Brown and Gold, while Avery Thielman reached base in seven of his 10 trips to the plate. 

ALL-AMERICAN LEADOFF MAN
Leadoff hitter Tanner Mally comes into the weekend still atop NCAA Division I in both batting average (.483) and on-base percentage (.589). The junior also leads the Mid-American Conference in hits (56) and hit by pitches (17), and has been one of the nation's toughest hitters to strike out, having fanned just three times in 116 at-bats. He ranks inside the MAC's top-10 in numerous other offensive categories as well, including OPS (1.149, 3rd), runs (40, 4th) and stolen bases (15, 8th). Earlier this month, the Lisle, Ill., native was named a Midseason All-American by both D1Baseball (Second Team) and Perfect Game (Third Team). 

ONE-TWO PUNCH
Along with Mally, second baseman Drew Howard has given the Broncos a great one-two punch at the top of their order. The senior owns a .375 batting average and .486 on-base percentage, which are both the fifth-best marks in the conference. Howard leads Western Michigan in walks (19), is tied for the team lead in doubles (6) and triples (2), ranks second in hits (45), RBIs (23) and stolen bases (6), and is third in runs scored (29).

TERRIFIC TRIO
Western Michigan's weekend starting pitching trio of Zach Vriesenga, Sam Carlisle and Ricky Kidd has continued to shine for the Broncos in MAC play, with the three leading the Broncos to the best team ERA in conference play at 4.11, more than a full run lower than the second-best ERA (Toledo, 5.26). Overall, WMU owns a 5.69 ERA, the second-lowest in the conference.

SIZZLIN' SAM
Sam Carlisle continued to roll in MAC play for the Broncos against Toledo, limiting the visitors to two runs on six hits in a career-high tying 7.0 innings. The righty also struck out eight, his fifth straight outing with seven or more strikeouts. Overall, he is fourth in the league in opposing batting average (.190) and fifth in ERA (3.19), while in MAC games he is second in strikeouts (46), third in opposing batting average (.176) and fourth in ERA (2.23).

NEW KIDD IN TOWN
Michigan transfer Ricky Kidd is coming off of a career-high 8.0 innings last weekend at Toledo, the longest outing by a WMU starter in 2026, in which he earned his team-leading fourth win of the season. The right-hander has logged at least 5.0 innings and given up three earned runs or fewer in all six of his MAC starts. Kidd comes into the weekend fifth in the league in innings pitched with 50.1 and fifth in ERA in conference play at 2.61. 

DIGGING IN DEFENSIVELY
Western Michigan's defense has been one of the best in the nation so far this season, leading the MAC and ranking 28th in NCAA Division I with a .979 fielding percentage. The Bronco defense has turned 24 double plays, the third-most in the conference.  

BUNTING BRONCOS 
The Broncos have been effective at playing small ball and lead the league with 25 sacrifice bunts, which ranks WMU 27th in the nation. Western Michigan has three of the MAC's top bunters, with Drew Howard and Nolan Zajac tied for third in the conference with five sacrifices and Michael Maloney right behind with four.