April 16, 2011
Box Score
OXFORD, Ohio -- Kyle Weldon homered and drove in a pair, but three Western Michigan runs in the eighth inning lifted the Broncos to a 7-5 victory over Miami Saturday afternoon at McKie Field.
Ryan Brenner and Ryan Kaup joined Weldon with two hits each.
The Broncos (18-17, 7-4) struck for runs in the second and third innings to take a 2-0 lead, but RedHawks (18-18, 6-5) used a big fourth inning to erase the deficit and take a 3-2 advantage. Ryan Brenner led off the fourth with a single up the middle. He stole second and advanced to third on the play when Western Michigan catcher Brooks Beilke threw past the second baseman and into center field. Brooks Redeker drove Brenner in for the first Miami run with a double off the center field wall. Weldon followed that up with a bomb over the fence in right for the two-run home run.
Western Michigan answered right back in the top of the fifth to with a two-run homer by Tim Cross to put the visitors back in front 4-3.
Miami utilized the sacrifice bunt in the fifth and took advantage of a Bronco error in the sixth to retake the lead. Ryan Kaup singled to start the fifth and moved over to second on a walk to Jon Edgington. Both runners advanced on Brenner's sacrifice bunt and Kaup came in to score on a suicide squeeze with Brad Gschwind laying down a perfect bunt at the plate. Weldon doubled to center to lead off the sixth and moved to third on Adam Weisenburger's sacrifice bunt. He then scored to put Miami ahead, 5-4, when Kevin Bower hit into a fielder's choice and the Western Michigan second baseman threw past the catcher.
The Broncos rallied in the eighth as they loaded the bases with one out. Rosinski's wild pitch to the next batter allowed one runner to score followed by a single by Wehrmeyer that drove in another Western Michigan run to make it 6-5. Brandon Adkins relieved Rosinski (0-2) and allowed another runner to score on a bunt single by Beilke.
Miami threatened in the top of the eighth when pinch hitter Marcus Makuch walked and Ryan Kaup sent a deep drive to left center field, but Bronco left fielder Jimmy Martinez made a full-extension, diving snag to record the out and escape the threat.
RedHawk starter Tyler Melling went 5.2 innings, striking out four and allowing six hits and three earned runs, before leaving with the game tied at 4-4. David Brennan (2-1) picked up the win for Western Michigan, while Eric Heckaman earned his fifth save.
The RedHawks and Broncos meet again in the rubber game of the series on Sunday at 1 p.m. at McKie Field.
