PORT CHARLOTTLE, Fla. – The Western Michigan baseball team split its doubleheader on Friday at the Snowbird Classic defeating Lehigh 4-3 in game one and falling to Georgetown 12-8 in game two. Sophomore Nick Vogelmeier and junior Kurt Hoekstra recorded five RBIs on the day.
Game 1
Junior RHP Gabe Berman earned his 17th career save, breaking the Western Michigan record for career saves as the Broncos earned their second victory at the Snowbird Classic defeating Lehigh 4-3 on Friday afternoon.
Berman pitched 1.2 innings allowing no hits or runs and striking out one to earn the save, his third of the season. Senior RHP Chad Mayle earned his second win of the year going 6.1 innings allowing five hits, one earned run and striking out three.
After putting runners on base in the first two innings, the Broncos (7-7) would finally get on the board in the third thanks to Hoekstra. Sophomore Grant Miller led off the inning by slapping a single to center field and then stealing second base on the very next pitch. After Vogelmeier reached base in large part to the Lehigh center field losing the ball in the sun, Hoekstra delivered for the Broncos, rocketing a two RBI double to right center field, scoring both runners and giving WMU the early 2-0 lead.
Lehigh (3-8) capitalized off an error in the top of the fourth as Mayle sailed a ball over the first baseman on a bunt attempt that scored the runner from first and cut into the WMU lead. The Brown & Gold increased its lead in the bottom of the fifth scoring two runs off the scorching bat of Hoekstra. With runners on second and third, Hoekstra lined a triple, his fourth of the year to score both runners and put WMU up 4-1.
The Mountain Hawks scored runs in both the sixth and eighth innings highlighted by a home run from Lehigh centerfielder Justin Pacchioli. However, the duo of freshman RHP Josh Bays and Berman shut down the Lehigh offense preserving the victory. Hoekstra went 3-for-4 and drove in all four Bronco runs.
Game 2
Western Michigan gave up eight unanswered runs and 19 hits as the Broncos fell to Georgetown 12-8 in game two of the doubleheader at the Snowbird Classic on Friday night. Vogelmeier blasted the Hoyas going 3-for-4 with five RBIs and two runs scored.
Georgetown (5-8) jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the second when catcher Eric Webber hit an RBI single up the middle, scoring a runner from third. WMU (7-8) battled back in the bottom half of the inning thanks to Vogelmeier. With the bases loaded, Vogelmeier smacked a two RBI single to left field scoring senior Caleb Caton and junior Hunter Prince, giving the Broncos a 2-1 lead.
After the Hoyas pulled even in the top of the third, the Brown & Gold answered back yet again with four runs in the bottom of the fourth. The bases were loaded again when Vogelmeier came through in the clutch with a three-run double. Senior Jared Kujawa earned his 11th RBI of the season the next at-bat, scoring Vogelmeier to give the Broncos a 6-2 lead.
Georgetown and WMU traded two runs over the fifth and sixth innings and the Broncos led 8-4 heading into the top of the eighth. The Hoyas went on to score eight unanswered runs highlighted by third baseman Jake Kuzbel's grand slam to right field in the eigth, giving Georgetown its first lead, 10-8, since the second inning. The Hoyas tacked on two more insurance runs in the top of the ninth to secure the 12-8 victory.
After breaking the WMU record for most saves in a career, Berman blew the save in game two and ultimately earned the loss after not recording an out and giving up three runs and three hits. Sophomore LHP pitcher Keegan Akin made the start going four innings, allowing nine hits, three earned runs and two strikeouts. At the plate, Vogelmeier and Hoekstra would go a combined 5-for-9 with six RBI's and two runs scored. In the third inning, Kujawa recorded his 14th triple of his career and is now just two shy from breaking the WMU record for most triples in a career.
The Brown & Gold end its stay in Port Charlotte, Fla., at the Snowbird Classic with a 10 a.m. match-up against Seton Hall tomorrow. The Broncos return to Kalamazoo to host Miami in the Mid-American Conference opening series next weekend, March 20-22.
