WINTER HAVEN, Fla.- Western Michigan dropped a thrilling 10-9 affair to Illinois State Saturday, falling in its final game in Florida. The Broncos defeated Bradley earlier in the day, 7-0.

The Broncos (6-8) posted three runs in the first inning, but couldn't hold on to the early advantage against the Redbirds in the nightcap.

Boasting the third highest scoring offense in the nation (averaging 9.9 runs per game entering the week), Illinois State took the lead with four runs in the top of the fourth and didn't trail again in the game.

WMU tied the score twice, 4-4, with a run the bottom of the fourth, and then again 7-7 in the bottom of the seventh.

Illinois State (9-3) broke the seven-all tie with three runs in the eighth and held WMU to two runs in the bottom of the inning, stranding the tying run at third.

Bronco reliever Troy Forton kept ISU off the scoreboard in the ninth, but Illinois State closer Kenny Long stamped the win for the Redbirds, striking out the WMU side in the bottom of the ninth.

Facing a 7-4 deficit in the bottom of the seventh, WMU loaded the bases with two outs on a walk and two Redbird fielding errors. Designated hitter Zach Thoma tied the game at 7-7, driving a 3-2 pitch to right field for a bases-clearing triple.

Illinois State strung together three singles off of Chris Bossenbery to start off the eighth, scoring the go-ahead run. Eric Aguliera then hit a two-run single to put ISU up three, 10-7.

Sophomore Theo Piccirilli smacked a bases-loaded, two-out double down the third base line, pulling WMU within one in the bottom of the eighth, however the Broncos would leave the tying run on third.

Southpaw Kenny Long threw the final two innings for Illinois State, and sat WMU down in order in the ninth, recording three swinging strikeouts to earn his third save of the season. ISU right-handed pitcher Ryan Camp (2-0) earned the victory after relieving starter Brad Sorkin.

Bossenbery (1-1) was saddled with the loss for WMU, giving up all three runs in the eighth.

Illinois State has won its last nine in a row, the school's longest win streak since 1987.

Patrick Duncan and Dan Shutes both went 3-for-5 at the plate for WMU. Duncan drove in three runs and Shutes plated two.

Vinnie Booker singled in the second to stretch his hitting streak to eight games, recording a hit during every game on this Florida spring trip. The eight-game hitting streak is a career-best for Booker and ties a team season high.

Western Michigan travels to Evansville next weekend for a three-game series, March 16-18. The Broncos open home play with a three-game Mid-American Conference series against Bowling Green, March 23-25.