YPSILANTI, Mich. – The Western Michigan baseball team dropped the opener of its three-game weekend series at Eastern Michigan, 4-3, on Friday afternoon.  
 
FINAL SCORE: Eastern Michigan 4, Western Michigan 3
LOCATION: Oestrike Stadium (Ypsilanti, Mich.)
RECORDS: Western Michigan (17-16, 12-7 MAC) | Eastern Michigan (11-24, 6-13)
W: John Carmichael (1-5) | L: Zach Vriesenga (2-3) | Save: Fischer Hendershot (4)
 
Both teams had early threats, but the contest remained scoreless until Eastern Michigan plated the game's first run in the bottom of the fourth.
 
The Broncos answered in the next half inning. With two outs, Tanner Mally was hit by a pitch to extend the frame for Cooper Hums, who promptly launched a two-run shot to right field to put Western Michigan on top, 2-1. The home run was the first of Hums' collegiate career.
 
Eastern Michigan countered with a long ball of its own in the sixth, as a three-run homer put the hosts back in front, 4-2.
 
Western Michigan pulled one back in the eighth. Drew Howard led off with a triple to right and then came in on a ground ball off of the bat of Michael Maloney.
 
After keeping EMU off of the scoreboard in the seventh, Evan Shapiro gave Western Michigan a scoreless eighth inning as well, but the Brown and Gold were unable to get anything going offensively in the ninth.
 
The Broncos and Eagles continue their three-game weekend series on Saturday afternoon, with first pitch slated for 3 pm.