Box Score
KALAMAZOO, Mich.- Western Michigan scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh in a 5-4 come from behind victory over Oakland Tuesday at Robert J. Bobb Stadium. It was the Broncos' sixth game in seven days.
Oakland (3-14) got on the board first with a run in its opening at bat. The Grizzlies threatened to score again in the second, but Kyle Galbraith gunned down a runner at the plate from center field for the third out of the inning.
Western Michigan (4-18) missed out on scoring opportunities early, leaving the bases loaded in both the second and third.
Oakland scored a run in the fourth and fifth to take a 3-0 lead. WMU finally got things going in the bottom of the fifth, scoring two runs to cut the deficit to 3-2. Brad Wehrmeyer drew a bases loaded walk and Zach Thoma drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. Despite getting two runs back, the Broncos could have made it more. WMU was retired from the inning with the bases loaded for the third time in the game.
Western Michigan tied the game at three runs apiece in its next at bat. Chris Lewis crushed an RBI double to straightaway center field that bounced off the outfield fence. Grant Simotes scored from first after drawing a leadoff walk.
Oakland pulled ahead once more in the top of the seventh, taking a 4-3 lead after a leadoff double.
Although trailing, the Broncos had begun to wear on Oakland's bullpen, which was on its fifth pitcher in the seventh, and WMU once again found itself with the bases loaded. Brad Wehrmeyer laced a leadoff single and Thoma hit a sac bunt to push him over to second. Andrew Butkus was issued a walk and Chris Bossenbery was hit by a pitch to juice the bases with one out. This time, the Broncos capitalized on the opportunity. Galbraith scored the tying run with a bloop single to center field and Simotes drove in the winning run with a sac fly to right field. A pop out ended the inning.
With a 5-4 lead, Tim Mowry took over on the mound in the top of the eighth. He threw two hitless innings, striking out two for his first save of the year. Derek Mosher (1-0) got the win tossing 2.1 innings of relief. He allowed one run on one hit and walked one. Sophomore right-hander Casey Hall started the game and went 4.2 innings.
Oakland used six pitchers total. Ryan Schario (0-1) took the loss, allowing the winning run in the seventh.
Western Michigan had 11 total hits. Lewis had the hot bat, going 4-for-5 (double) with an RBI and run scored. With his second hit of the day, Lewis moved into third on WMU's career hits list, passing Joel DeVisser. Lewis currently has 218 career hits, 21 shy of all-time leader Mark Abro's 239. Wehrmeyer also collected multiple hits, going 2-for-3.
Western Michigan is on the road for its next eight straight. The Broncos travel to Ohio for a three-game Mid-American Conference series at Kent State this weekend. First game Friday is at 3 p.m., followed by 1 p.m. contests Saturday and Sunday.
