WMU News

Baseball Broncos defeat UIC, host Michigan State

May 11, 2000

KALAMAZOO -- The WMU baseball team survived a wild game at Hyames Field Wednesday (May 10), outlasting the University of Illinois-Chicago, 13-12.

Western Michigan evened its overall record at 24-24 with the win. The Broncos are 9-15 in Mid-American Conference play and host Toledo (6-18 MAC) on Saturday (May 13) and Sunday (May 14) in a crucial conference series. Both doubleheaders start at 1 p.m. at Hyames Field.

WMU currently trails Northern Illinois by one game in the race for the final playoff spot in the MAC West Division. NIU (9-13 MAC) plays a four-game set at MAC West leader Central Michigan (16-6 MAC) this weekend.

WMU and UIC combined to total 25 runs, 31 hits, and nine pitchers. The Broncos led 8-4 after three innings but saw the Flames take a 12-10 lead after five innings of play. Western Michigan tied the game in the bottom of the sixth and won the game on Chris Richter's two-out RBI single in the seventh.

Jason Richards continued his hot hitting with a 4-5 plate performance. Richards drove in five and scored three times. He slugged a three run homer in the bottom of the second, marking the third consecutive game he had gone deep. Ryan Kochen was 2-6 at the plate and drove in three runs while John Toner was 2-5 with two runs scored.

Richter's two-out single in the bottom of the seventh scored freshman Nate Doorlag with the go-ahead run. Rookie lefty Pat Misch earned the victory. He pitched 2 2/3 innings of relief, fanned four and allowed two hits. Kody Naylor pitched the final two innings to pick up the save. He allowed just one hit and struck out two batters.

With the Flames leading 12-10 in the sixth, Doorlag singled to score Mike Scott and bring WMU within a run at 12-11. After advancing to second on Brandon Baker's single to right, Doorlag came around to score the tying run on Kochen's single to center.

Media contact: Geoff Brown; 616 387-4138; geoffrey.brown@wmich.edu


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