MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – The Western Michigan baseball team finished all three games of its series at Central Michigan in a marathon day of Mid-American Conference baseball on Friday. The day started with CMU winning the suspended game from Thursday, 8-7. The two teams then split their scheduled doubleheader, with WMU rallying with seven in the ninth to take the first game of the twin bill, 9-8, and the Chippewas holding off the Broncos to claim the rubber match, 6-3.
 
FINAL SCORE (G1): Central Michigan 8, Western Michigan 7
LOCATION: Keilitz Field at Theunissen Stadium (Mount Pleasant, Mich.)
RECORDS: Western Michigan (13-13, 9-4 MAC) | CMU (10-15, 4-9)
W: Cameron Niehaus (1-0) | L: DJ Thompson (2-1)
 
FINAL SCORE (G2): Western Michigan 9, Central Michigan 8
LOCATION: Keilitz Field at Theunissen Stadium (Mount Pleasant, Mich.)
RECORDS: Western Michigan (14-13, 10-4 MAC) | CMU (10-16, 4-10)
W: Ty Tomlinson (1-0) | L: Liam Stumpf (1-1) | Save: Turner Doran (6)
 
FINAL SCORE (G3): Central Michigan 6, Western Michigan 3
LOCATION: Keilitz Field at Theunissen Stadium (Mount Pleasant, Mich.)
RECORDS: Western Michigan (14-14, 10-5 MAC) | CMU (11-16, 5-10)
W: Jared Hanson (2-2) | L: Adam Lehmann (1-1)
 
The day started with the resumption of Thursday's game, which was suspended in the top of the eighth inning tied at 7-7. Both teams threatened in the eighth, with DJ Thompson striking out three straight Chippewas to leave the go-ahead run at third base. CMU did take the first contest of the series however, hitting a walk-off double in the bottom of the ninth.
 
In game two, Central Michigan took an early edge with a pair in the bottom of the second. The home team then added one in the fifth to extend the margin to 3-0.
 
The Broncos had opportunities early, including stranding a pair in both the fourth and fifth frames before breaking through in the sixth. After back-to-back singles opened the frame, Mason Pilarski sacrificed to move the runners up a base. Avery Thielman then came through with a pinch-hit, sacrifice fly to get WMU on the board. Thielman brought Western Michigan a run closer in the eighth with another sac fly.
The Chippewas answered with five in their half of the eighth to open up an 8-2 advantage.
 
Three straight walks to start the ninth loaded the bases for WMU. Michael Maloney and Mark Mennecke were then both hit by pitches to bring in two runs. Josh Polubinski followed with a grand slam to bring the Broncos level, 8-8. Pilarski kept things going for the Brown and Gold with a base hit, scooted over to second on a wild pitch and then over to third on a ground ball. Nolan Zajac then hit a bouncer to the right side and the throw home was late, as Pilarski slid in safely to put Western Michigan on top, 9-8.
 
Turner Doran came on in the bottom of the ninth and retired CMU in order to seal the victory for the Broncos and lock down his league-leading sixth save of the season. Ty Tomlinson earned the win in relief, the first of his career.
 
Central Michigan got the scoring started in the finale, plating one in the bottom of the first.
 
The one-run margin held up until the seventh, when Cooper Hums and Drew Howard each collected RBI singles to give WMU a 2-1 edge.
 
CMU answered with five in the bottom of the inning to go back on top, 6-2.
 
In the ninth, the Broncos got a lead-off double from Jacob Rowold, and he ended up scoring on an error to close the gap to three. Maloney followed with a base hit to bring the tying run to the plate, but WMU's rally attempt was halted there.
 
Western Michigan returns to Robert J. Bobb Stadium at Hyames Field on Tuesday to open up a five-game homestand against Valparaiso. First pitch is scheduled for 3:05 pm. For tickets to any WMU baseball home game, visit wmubroncos.com/tickets.