WMU Rallies from Eight-Run Deficit to Complete Sweep of Miami - Western Michigan University Athletics (2024)

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan baseball team was down 8-0 after three-and-a-half innings on Sunday afternoon, but rallied to collect a 17-11 sweep-clinching victory over Miami. It extended WMU's winning streak to seven, its longest winning streak since 2021, and it marked the first sweep for the Broncos over the RedHawks since 1994.

FINAL SCORE: Western Michigan 17, Miami 11
LOCATION:Robert J. Bobb Stadium at Hyames Field (Kalamazoo, Mich.)
RECORDS:Western Michigan (19-13, 11-4 MAC) | Miami (14-19, 8-10)
W:DJ Thompson (2-0)| L: Connor Preisel (0-2)

All nine Western Michigan batters reached base at least once, with Jackson Kitchen, Michael Maloney and Cade Sullivan all collecting three hits apiece. Maloney also added a pair of walks and scored a career-high four times. Maloney, Sullivan, Dylan Nevar and Greg Budig each registered three RBIs.

The RedHawks jumped out to an 8-0 advantage with one in the second, four in the third and three in the fourth.

Western Michigan started to chip away with a pair in the bottom of the fourth. Budig got the Broncos going with a sacrifice fly, and Josh Swinehart came through with a two-out, RBI single to get WMU to within six, 8-2.

After Miami pushed across an unearned run in the top of the fifth, the Broncos tallied five in the home half. The Brown and Gold began the inning with four consecutive hits, starting with a Grady Mee lead-off triple. The sophom*ore then scored on a base hit by Kitchen. Two more singles followed to load the bases for Western Michigan. Nevar drew a walk to plate Kitchen and leave the bags full for Budig, who doubled home a pair. Swinehart capped the five-run inning with a sacrifice fly, closing the gap to 9-7.

DJ Thompson went out and got a quick three up, three down frame in the top of the sixth to turn things right back over to the Western Michigan offense.

The first seven Broncos who came to the plate in the bottom of the sixth all reached base, as Western Michigan erupted for 10 runs to move in front. Sullivan tied the game with a two-run double, and Maloney then raced home on a wild pitch to give WMU its first lead of the contest.

Nevar kept the ball rolling with a two-run base hit up the middle. With the bases loaded and two outs, Kitchen drew a free pass which allowed Nevar to touch home. The walk kept the bags full for Maloney, who cleared them with a three-run double to right center. Sullivan capped the 10-run outburst with a run-scoring single to make it 17-9.

It was the second time this season Western Michigan scored double-digit runs in an inning, with the Brown and Gold having tallied 12 in the second inning of a 19-1 win at Pepperdine back on Feb. 25.

Thompson earned the win for WMU after going 2.1 innings without allowing an earned run and racking up three strikeouts. Behind the sophom*ore, Western Michigan turned to the trio of Luke Thelen, Hayden Berg and Jake Gernon to preserve the lead, with Gernon retiring the RedHawks in order in the ninth to seal the victory and the series sweep.

Western Michigan continues its homestand on Tuesday afternoon as it welcomes Goshen to Robert J. Bobb Stadium at Hyames Field. First pitch is slated for 3:05 pm. For tickets to any WMU baseball home game, visit wmubroncos.com/tickets.